NASCAR: Why the Corey LaJoie rumor is a big deal below the surface

Corey LaJoie being rumored to return to Go Fas Racing for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season may not seem like a big deal on the surface, but it could have major implications.

Go Fas Racing’s Corey LaJoie, who is currently in his first season as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver after driving part-time for BK Racing in the 2017 season and part-time for TriStar Motorsports in the 2018 season, has been rumored to return to Go Fas Racing next season.

According to Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern, the 28-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native is “leaning toward staying” with the team as the driver of the #32 Ford.

LaJoie had been rumored as a replacement candidate for David Ragan behind the wheel of the #38 Ford at Front Row Motorsports, as Ragan announced in mid-August that he will be retiring from full-time competition after the 2019 season concludes.

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Go Fas Racing are one of the more underfunded teams in the Cup Series. For the most part, LaJoie has done a great job behind the wheel of the #32 Ford, despite the fact that he sits in 29th place out of 31 full-time drivers in the championship standings with just five top 20 finishes through the 36-race season’s first 32 races.

So how is this rumor even remotely significant?

For several months, there has been a rumor that Stewart-Haas Racing will form a technical alliance with Go Fas Racing and that they will use that technical alliance to bring Xfinity Series driver Cole Custer to the Cup Series next year.

With the Gen-7 chassis and body slated to be introduced ahead of the 2021 season and Stewart-Haas Racing expecting to have extra inventory after the 2020 season, they are reportedly looking to jettison some of their cars for next year.

This has been rumored assuming that Stewart-Haas Racing do what they have not done since between the 2015 and 2016 seasons and retain all four of their current four drivers for next year.

They have already confirmed that Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer are set to return to the team next year, and Daniel Suarez and the team are reportedly discussing a return for him as well. Custer has also been rumored as a possible replacement for Suarez if the team decide to move on from him.

But even with LaJoie having been rumored to return to Go Fas Racing next year, there is reportedly still a chance that the team will form a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing.

'@CoreyLaJoie is leaning toward staying @GoFasRacing32 for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, instead of switching to @Team_FRM, per sources.

➖GoFas and SHR deepening ties could position LaJoie well on multiple fronts.

➖This would open up the Front Row slot for @DanielHemric. pic.twitter.com/70vXWbkYNu
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) October 21, 2019

This could have several possible ramifications.

If Stewart-Haas Racing opt to retain Suarez, LaJoie returns to Go Fas Racing and the two teams still form a technical alliance with one another, would they effectively be putting LaJoie in line to replace one of their four drivers for the 2021 season?

Would they effectively be putting LaJoie in line to replace one of their four drivers even if they form this technical alliance and replace Suarez with Custer after the 2019 season?

If Stewart-Haas Racing retain Suarez, would Go Fas Racing become a two-car team and field a second car for Custer, or would Stewart-Haas Racing wait to promote Custer directly to their four-car team ahead of the 2021 season when the new Gen-7 car is introduced?

What if Stewart-Haas Racing end up not forming a technical alliance with Go Fas Racing? Would that be simply to keep Custer in the Xfinity Series for another season, or would it be to have him replace Suarez while LaJoie stays in the exact situation that he is in now?

Of course, there is still the possibility that LaJoie doesn’t return to Go Fas Racing next year, as there has not yet been confirmation that he is slated to return for a second season with the team, and that possibility would likely result in a technical alliance between them and Stewart-Haas Racing to promote Custer.

Regardless of where Custer ends up, if he lands in the Cup Series, that would have other ramifications. Who would replace him in one of the most competitive rides in the Xfinity Series?

All in all, the rumor that LaJoie may return to Go Fas Racing next season is more than just a rumor that one of the least competitive teams in the Cup Series may retain their lone driver, and there are still several questions to be answered.

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Will Corey LaJoie be confirmed at Go Fas Racing for a second year in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series. What will whatever situation plays out mean for Stewart-Haas Racing?

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