Top Dog: Corey LaJoie
Reconfigurations can bring out the best in drivers, the worst in drivers and everything in between. Look at Phoenix Raceway for example. Ever since the start/finish was moved just off the exit of turns 3 and 4 following the 2018 spring race, nine-time Phoenix winner Kevin Harvick has not returned to victory lane since.
On the opposite side of that, some drivers take well to a reconfiguration. That can be said for Corey LaJoie, who earned another top five in his third race at the reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway in Sunday’s (March 19) Ambetter Health 400. In fact, his fourth-place finish was a new career-best, topping his previous high of fifth in this race a year ago.
Just as we have seen with schools like Princeton University and Fairleigh-Dickinson University in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament the past week (don’t worry, they broke my bracket too), LaJoie nearly pulled off a Cinderella upset in both Atlanta races last season. He recovered from a spin in the spring race to finish fifth, and he was in contention for the win in the summer race until he was swept up in a crash on the final lap.
Jumping to the present, LaJoie was a sneaky focus all Sunday, starting in 31st but quickly becoming a contender. The No. 7 slowly rose up the leaderboard and by the end of stage two, LaJoie had earned a stage point with a 10th-place result.
During the closing laps, LaJoie found himself inside the top 10. However, he was not content with running in the middle of that group. As the field entered turn 3 with two laps to go, LaJoie dove to the inside of Denny Hamlin to make it three-wide for fourth. What was most impressive is that he had little help on the bottom for the final lap, yet he stayed right in the mix. Just watch the No. 7 on the final lap:
The Charlotte, N.C. native would come up just short, but he served the NASCAR world a notice.
“It feels great … fourth is great for our Celsius Camaro and our small team,” LaJoie told FOX Sports about his showing. “We started off the year with the West Coast swing, really solid, and to get another career best here …
“I don’t show up and expect to win a race. You just have to keep putting yourself in these positions like Joey [Logano]. It’s why he wins all of the time, because he’s up front all the time. As I get myself some more confidence racing around these…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at …