Denny Hamlin said on Monday’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast that the driver trade sending Corey LaJoie to Rick Ware Racing and Justin Haley to Spire Motorsports is a “good” move for both drivers.

Hamlin believes the move helps take some of the pressure off of LaJoie, who has consistently been outrun by Spire teammate Carson Hocevar this season.

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“I think this is good for both,” Hamlin said. “The reason is, I think it takes pressure off of Corey. He had teammates, you know, where Zane [Smith] is coming into his own. Trackhouse letting go of Zane, I don’t know where Zane ends up, but he’s coming into his own really quickly. You had Carson Hocevar coming in as rookie performing great… He’s doing great, and that probably put some pressure on Corey. They’re performing really well. And then you push. And then when you push, you wreck. Certainly, you know, there’s a lot of trolls getting at Corey quite a bit here lately because of all the wrecks that he’s been in or caused.

“But you know, this is going to be best for him to go to Rick Ware. And if you can go get some good results in the 51 which it is capable of doing, Justin Haley has shown that it’s very capable of running well, then maybe that can springboard him back into a topflight team in the future.”

Corey LaJoie, Justin Haley trade places to close 2024 season

The move, announced by both teams at Bristol on Friday, goes in effect this Sunday at Kansas. Spire confirmed that Haley will drive for Spire in 2025, while it remains to be determined if LaJoie will be with RWR next season. RWR president Robby Benton called it a good opportunity to work with LaJoie for the final seven races of the season as the team evaluates its plans for next season.

LaJoie, 32, has had a tough final season with Spire, though the results have picked up recently. In his last three starts before finishing 36th at Bristol, he has finished P9, P15 and P8 at Darlington, Atlanta and Watkins Glen, respectively. The top 10s at Darlington and Watkins Glen were his first ever in the Cup Series at a non-superspeedway.

Justin Haley lands major opportunity with Spire

Haley, 25, became of high interest to several teams during Silly Season. Even with a year remaining on his contract at RWR, it always appeared 2025 would bring along a better opportunity. Haley has raced his way to ninth place finishes at the Darlington spring race and Gateway this season. Rodney Childers, one of the most accomplished crew chiefs in the sport who signed a multiyear deal with Spire in July, will serve as Haley’s crew chief next season.

Hamlin said the move to Spire is the “best opportunity he’s ever had.”

“Yeah, I think that’s going to be a great combination,” Hamlin said. “Certainly, the best opportunity that he’s had. It’s well deserved. Which is why I always try to tell people and young drivers when they ask for advice on this is that it doesn’t matter even if you’re on local short track level, it does not matter if you’re not winning. As long as you’re running better than what your car is capable of.

“People notice that when Justin Haley goes and he’s running top 10, top 15 at some of these tracks, that aerodynamics is a big deal. And we know that there’s no way that car is aerodynamically as sound as others, but he’s still wheeling it. You just take notice of those things. And that’s what gives you these opportunities.”

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