The Atlanta race proved to be just as thrilling as the Daytona 500, showcasing a mix of scoring and chaos despite its shortened finish due to rain. The intensity of the racing led to several wrecks throughout the field, with one major crash occurring on lap 123.

It all began when Erik Jones and Corey LaJoie made contact in Turn 2, setting off a chain reaction that involved multiple cars. LaJoie was sent spinning through the field towards the wall, collecting numerous cars in the process. Ty Gibbs and Ross Chastain were among those caught up in the chaos, with Chastain’s car even briefly leaping into the air.

The crash ultimately involved LaJoie, Jones, Martin Truex Jr., Ty Gibbs, Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, and Todd Gilliland. Following the incident, Corey LaJoie faced criticism and was blamed by many, including Erik Jones and his team. However, recently, LaJoie opened up about the incident, offering his perspective on what had unfolded.

Corey Lajoie dissects the history and reveals the real reason behind the wreck

Corey LaJoie and Erik Jones had been involved in tight races in the past. During the Stakking Pennies podcast, Lajoie said, “Yeah, he wrecked me like three times and I race him hard because he has wrecked me before in the past several times—Bristol Dirt, Dover last year, couple of other places. I think him and I just raced into super tight but he’s came out on the better end of it a couple of times “

Revisiting the recent wreck in question, he said, “So, if you’re following somebody straight on, you’re a little bit tight. But if you start showing your right front headlight or right side door, it piles a bunch of front downforce in it and that’s what makes you looser.

“So, if I was kneading to block a run on top, I would have to put myself in a worse arrow position and less load because the banking, like, as you go higher, the load of the car is less and less. So I couldn’t cover, found myself in the middle. The #43 tried holding a wide open and got it in the left rear and then it was over for us.”

Then Corey revealed that he talked with Erik Jones after the race ended at the pit road. Corey said, “I don’t anticipate him driving me quite hard”

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The aftermath of Cory Lajoie and Erik Jones Crash

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The crash served as a stark reminder of the rapidity with which circumstances can shift in a NASCAR race. A minor error can cascade into a significant collision. The crash dealt a severe blow to LaJoie’s prospects of emerging victorious in the race. Up until the incident occurred, he had been performing admirably, securing a position within the top 10.

Jones, too, felt the repercussions of the crash. Prior to the incident, he had been comfortably positioned within the top-5 but was compelled to make a pit stop for repairs. Ultimately, he concluded the race in 11th place.

Ty Gibbs was in the middle of two cars during the crash and both of the cars hit him so hard that his crew chief Chris Gayle called him for inspection. Gayle said, “You gotta bring it to us because I don’t want to blow the tire off and have a major problem.”

Corey LaJoie discussed and tried to clarify the crash with his crew chief Ryan Sparks. Sparks said, “I think you just got sucked around middle three (wide) there.” However, Lajoie replied, “Nah, somebody got into the left rear,” believing that contact with his left rear had triggered the collision.

READ MORE: Corey LaJoie Cleverly Avoided Ross Chastain Treatment From Rick Hendrick After Adding to William Byron’s Atlanta Miseries