Corey LaJoie Steps In for Injured Keselowski at the Cook Out Clash
The unpredictable nature of life outside the race car has thrown a wrench into the start of the 2026 season for RFK Racing. In a turn of events that no one saw coming during the holiday break, veteran driver and team co-owner Brad Keselowski will be sidelined for the upcoming exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium. Stepping into the void is a familiar face with a knack for short-track aggression: Corey LaJoie.
LaJoie has been tapped to pilot the flagship No. 6 RFK Racing Ford during the Cook Out Clash on February 1. While the circumstances surrounding the substitution are unfortunate, it provides a unique opportunity for LaJoie to showcase his talents at a venue where he has previously tasted victory.
A Winter Break Gone Wrong
For Brad Keselowski, the offseason is usually a time to reset and prepare for the grind of the Cup Series schedule. However, a family ski trip in December turned into a nightmare scenario. It wasn’t a high-speed crash on the slopes or a daring jump that sidelined the 2012 champion.
Instead, it was a simple, “freak accident” while exiting his vehicle that resulted in a broken right femur.Keselowski’s description of the incident is a reminder of how fragile a season’s start can be. He slipped on a patch of ice, falling in just the wrong way to snap the largest bone in the body.
The pain, as Keselowski described it, was unlike anything he had experienced in his years of hard hits against retaining walls. Now, instead of testing setups, he is grinding through six to eight hours of rehabilitation daily, desperate to heal a devastating injury in record time.
Corey LaJoie Returns to The Madhouse
If RFK Racing had to pick a substitute for a race at Bowman Gray Stadium, they couldn’t have landed on a better option than Corey LaJoie. The narrow, quarter-mile oval is affectionately known as “The Madhouse” for a reason. It demands a driver who isn’t afraid of contact, tight quarters, and managing a temper.
Corey LaJoie fits that bill perfectly. He isn’t just a reserve driver filling a seat; he is a past winner at this legendary stadium. Back in 2012, LaJoie parked it in victory lane during a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East now the ARCA Menards Series East event. He knows the rhythm of the track and understands that patience at Bowman Gray is often a luxury you can’t afford.
After running a full schedule in 2024 and a partial slate in 2025, LaJoie is eager to prove he still belongs in top-tier equipment. Getting behind the wheel of the No. 6 Ford is a massive responsibility, but his familiarity with the venue should ease the transition. As LaJoie noted on social media, he is “happy to be of service” and ready to hunt for another trophy at the stadium.
The Race Against the Clock for Daytona
While the Cook Out Clash is a prestigious exhibition, the real deadline looming over Keselowski is the Daytona 500 on February 15. The decision to put Corey LaJoie in the car for the Clash was strategic. Rushing back for an exhibition race, no matter how exciting, would be “super foolish,” according to Keselowski. It would risk his recovery and potentially jeopardize his start in The Great American Race.
Keselowski owns an impressive “Iron Man” streak, having not missed a points-paying Cup Series race since October 2009, a run of 581 consecutive starts. Because the Cook Out Clash is a non-points exhibition, sitting it out won’t break the streak. However, if he isn’t medically cleared by his evaluation on February 5, that streak is in serious danger.
Expectations for the Cook Out Clash
When the engines fire at Bowman Gray, all eyes will be on the No. 6 car. The Cook Out Clash is already set to be a chaotic, bumper-banging affair. With Corey LaJoie behind the wheel, fans can expect RFK Racing to remain competitive. LaJoie has nothing to lose and everything to gain by putting on a strong performance in Keselowski’s absence.
For the team, the goal is simple: bring the car home in one piece and hopefully contend for the win. For the fans, seeing a hungry driver like Corey LaJoie get a shot in premier equipment adds a compelling storyline to an already electric event. While we wish Brad a speedy recovery, Sunday at the Madhouse just got a lot more interesting.
