Corey LaJoie came agonizingly close to a Daytona 500 victory, praising his team's efforts while using the experience to fuel the rest of his season.

Corey LaJoie so badly wanted to race in the Daytona 500 that he gambled his children's college fund to secure a seat in “The Great American Race.” LaJoie was let go last season from Spire Motorsports and closed out the year driving the final six races with Rick Ware Racing with no promise of 2025 work.

Corey LaJoie breaks down the necessary moves that he made to get to the front and lead late in the Daytona 500.

Corey LaJoie throws a rugby ball before a practice for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris

Jones made a late charge in the closing laps to position himself at the front and came across the finish line side by side with Cindric as the field wrecked behind them. Meanwhile, open driver Corey LaJoie raced his Rick Ware Racing Ford into the Daytona 500 with a sixth-place finish.

I was at peace with letting that amount of money go as a bit of a faith tester,” LaJoie said. “It was like every day for weeks, and it got down to the 11th hour, right? Im

Allgaier, Castroneves, Johnson, LaJoie and Truex. Here is how they made it: The open drivers earn their spots in two ways. They can either get in by being the

Corey LaJoie leaves his garage to practice for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Team Penske’s Austin Cindric won the second Duel Qualifying race tonight. Ford has now won at least one Duel race in seven of the last eight years. Corey LaJoie raced his way into the Daytona 500 as an Open car.

Corey LaJoie so badly wanted to race in the Daytona 500 that he gambled his children’s college fund to secure a seat in “The Great American Race."

Corey LaJoie so badly wanted to race in the Daytona 500 that he gambled his children’s college fund to secure a seat in “The Great... Main Office 570-387-1234

Team members from Rick Ware Racing, including owner Rick Ware and drivers Corey LaJoie and Cody Ware, stopped by the Atlanta Motor Speedway infield media center to talk about last week’s performance in the Daytona 500 and what lies ahead in 2025.