The pain was real for NASCAR star Corey LaJoie after failing to make it into the season-opening Clash by just one spot at frigid Bowman Gray Stadium.
The twice-rescheduled Cup Series event was compressed into a single day this week with Qualifying directly followed by the race proper after brutal snowstorms had caused two cancellations.
LaJoie filled in for the injured Brad Keselowski in the No.6 Ford car for RFK Racing with the former Cup Series champion rehabbing a broken leg ahead of a planned return at Daytona next weekend. And he came very very close to making it into the big dance.
LaJoie was engaged in a terrific battle in the Last Chance Qualifier vs Austin Cindric, but he came up agonizingly short as Cindric claimed second spot behind convincing winner Josh Berry and the final berth in the Clash.
NASCAR TODAY: Denny Hamlin reveals painful injury as Cup Series star wins first race
LaJoie on agonizing Clash near miss
Asked for his emotions immediately after failing to make it to the Clash, LaJoie admitted he was frustrated. But he stressed the racing had been fair and he had no beef with Cindric.
“P****d off,” he told media including Toby Christie.
“Not at Austin [Cindric], I think everything out there was fair and above board for where we're at, Bowman Gray Stadium.
“I'll look back and watch it. I think I probably could have held him out there and be in that position that he was against me, but man it was good.”
LaJoie continued: “I hadn't been in a Cup car on a short track in almost two years, so tough jump in the deep end against these guys.
“These guys again and again show they are the best at driving stock cars. So it's cool to dice it up with them.”
Daytona 500 next for Corey
While Keselowski is expected to be back for that Daytona 500 showpiece next weekend, LaJoie will still be in action for RFK in Florida. He will race the No.99 car in a bid to qualify for ‘The Great American Race’.
READ MORE: NASCAR Cup Series TV schedule for 2026
