Analysis: Five candidates for the No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Justin Haley and Rick Ware Racing announced earlier this week that the 24-year-old driver and 2023 playoff hopeful would leave Kaulig Racing at the end of the season and join RWR beginning in '24. A surprise Silly Season move, Haley's departure opens up a seat in the No. 31 Chevrolet. Here's a look at some candidates to fill it.

Chandler Smith

In case the hat on Smith's head in the picture above didn't make it obvious, Smith is already in the Kaulig Racing stable. His first year with the team driving the No. 16 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series has produced a win and top-five points position so far. The question: Does Smith, just 21, need more seasoning before a Cup promotion?

Daniel Hemric

Here's another driver in the Kaulig stable already — and Hemric comes with a year of previous Cup experience as well. Hemric's results have cooled since his 2021 series championship with Joe Gibbs Racing. That '21 win at Phoenix to clinch the title remains the only Xfinity Series win of his career.

Austin Hill

Hill is in the Chevrolet camp already, and he's having a career year with three wins through 18 races. Driving Richard Childress Racing's No. 21, his path to the Cup Series is a little tricky at RCR, where Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon are anchors.

Carson Hocevar

Like Smith, Hocevar may not have enough experience to ultimately get the nod. But he's a good prospect in the Chevrolet pipeline and broke through for two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wins this year. He only has five national series starts between the Cup Series and Xfinity Series, four of which are at the Xfinity level.

Todd Gilliland

Gilliland's plans for 2024 are uncertain at this point. What's not uncertain is his performance this year, as Gilliland and Michael McDowell have both produced improved results over at Front Row Motorsports in the Ford camp.