NASCAR silly season is basically a high-stakes game of musical chairs played at 200 mph. For months now, the garage has been buzzing with one specific, almost feverish question: Is there a corey lajoie kyle busch replacement plan actually in the works?
It sounds like a wild fan theory born in a Reddit thread at 3 a.m., right? But in this sport, "wild" is just another Tuesday.
Honestly, the timeline of the last two years has been a total blur. We saw Corey LaJoie—the guy who literally built Spire Motorsports from a back-marker into a legitimate threat—get shown the door. Then we watched Kyle Busch, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, suffer through a winless drought that felt more like a desert trek than a slump.
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When those two narratives collided, the rumor mill went into overdrive. People weren't just asking if LaJoie could replace Busch; they were trying to figure out if the entire grid was about to flip upside down.
The Spire Swap and the Origin of the Rumor
To understand why anyone is talking about a corey lajoie kyle busch replacement scenario, you have to look at the "Trade of the Century" that happened late in 2024.
Spire Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing did something we almost never see in modern NASCAR. They traded drivers mid-stream. Corey LaJoie went to the No. 51, and Justin Haley moved to the No. 7. It was jarring. It was messy. And for LaJoie fans, it felt like the "death spiral" he’s talked about on his Stacking Pennies podcast.
While this was happening, Kyle Busch was having a nightmare at Richard Childress Racing (RCR).
The No. 8 car wasn't just slow; it was inconsistently slow. People started connecting dots that weren't even there. The logic went like this: Spire has money and a new technical alliance with Hendrick. Kyle Busch sold his truck team to Spire. Spire needs a superstar.
Boom. The "Kyle Busch to Spire" rumors were born, which naturally led people to wonder if LaJoie—now a free agent of sorts—would somehow end up in the seat Busch vacated at RCR.
Why the LaJoie to RCR Move Never Stuck
Let's be real: Richard Childress isn't exactly known for hiring "project" drivers when he has a championship-caliber seat open.
While Corey is a "blue-collar" hero to many, the stats at the Cup level just didn't scream "RCR flagship driver." By the time we hit 2025, LaJoie had transitioned into a part-time role with Rick Ware and a heavy focus on his broadcasting gig with Amazon Prime Video.
He didn't replace Kyle Busch at RCR. Nobody did.
The 2026 Reality Check
As of January 2026, the dust has finally settled, and the "replacement" talk has shifted into a completely different gear. Here is the actual state of play:
- Kyle Busch is still at RCR. Despite the 70-race winless streak that humbled the "Rowdy" brand, Richard Childress picked up the option for 2026. They even brought in Jim Pohlman from JR Motorsports to be his crew chief. They are doubling down, not moving on.
- Corey LaJoie is the "Super Sub." Just this month, LaJoie was tapped to drive the No. 6 Ford for RFK Racing in the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray. He's filling in for Brad Keselowski, who's recovering from a broken femur.
- The Spire No. 7 Seat? That went to Daniel Suarez for 2026. Corey actually "leaked" this on his podcast before it was official.
So, the corey lajoie kyle busch replacement idea wasn't a direct swap. It was more of a ripple effect. LaJoie leaving Spire opened the door for the chaos that almost lured Busch away, but "Rowdy" decided to stay home in Welcome, North Carolina.
The "Stacking Pennies" Pivot
It's kinda fascinating to watch how LaJoie has handled this. Most drivers would have vanished into the local short-track scene. Instead, he’s become the voice of the garage.
He’s admitted that the "death spiral" is real. When you lose a full-time Cup seat, the phone stops ringing. He told The Athletic that he’s focusing on a carbon fiber business and his TV career.
Does he still want to race? Of course. He’s the guy who made the Daytona 500 the "hard way" multiple times. But he’s also a realist. He knows that at 33, being a "comparable and cheaper" option for a mid-tier team isn't where he wants to be. He'd rather hunt for a one-off win at Daytona or Talladega than grind out a 28th-place finish every week.
Breaking Down the "What If" Factor
If Kyle Busch had actually left RCR for Spire in 2025, would LaJoie have been the pick for the No. 8?
Probably not.
The industry consensus back then was that RCR would have chased someone like Noah Gragson or even a veteran like Martin Truex Jr. if he hadn't retired. LaJoie has always been a driver who thrives on building teams—he did it at Go Fas and he did it at Spire. RCR is already built; they just need the results.
The disconnect between the fan rumors and the garage reality often comes down to sponsorship. Kyle Busch brings brands. Corey brings a podcast and a loyal following, but in 2026, the "fun tokens" (as Corey calls them) are what keep the engines turning.
What's Next for the Two Drivers?
The corey lajoie kyle busch replacement saga is essentially a closed chapter, but the fallout remains.
For Kyle Busch, 2026 is a legacy year. If the pairing with Jim Pohlman doesn't produce a trophy, we might be looking at a Jimmie Johnson-style sunset for one of the greatest to ever do it. He’s already said he’ll re-evaluate things once his son, Brexton, is old enough to race nationally.
For Corey LaJoie, the path is less certain but arguably more diverse. He’s proven he can jump into an RFK car and be "of service." He’s the first person NASCAR calls when a top-tier driver gets hurt. That’s a powerful position to be in.
If you're looking for the "actionable" takeaway here, it's that in NASCAR, your brand matters as much as your lap time. Corey stayed relevant by talking. Kyle stayed relevant by being a legend.
The Bottom Line for Fans
Stop looking for the direct swap. The corey lajoie kyle busch replacement narrative was always about the instability of the mid-field.
If you want to follow what’s actually happening, watch the crew chief movements. When RCR hired Pohlman, it signaled that Busch wasn't going anywhere. When LaJoie signed as the RFK reserve, it signaled he was done chasing "dumpster fire" rides and only wanted quality equipment.
Keep an eye on the No. 6 car at the Clash. If LaJoie runs well at "The Madhouse," the conversation about him replacing someone full-time in 2027 will start all over again.
Next Steps for Following the 2026 Season:
- Monitor the No. 8 RCR Performance: The first five races of 2026 will tell us if the Jim Pohlman hire saved Kyle Busch’s career or if the winless streak is permanent.
- Watch LaJoie at Bowman Gray: This is Corey’s "audition" for a future top-tier seat. A win at the Clash would be the ultimate "I told you so" to his doubters.
- Check the "Stacking Pennies" Feed: Corey has a habit of "leaking" news before the press releases hit. If there's another driver swap coming, he'll likely be the first to hint at it.