Key players in 2023-24 Silly Season

NASCAR Silly Season 2023-24 has kicked into high gear as drivers solidify their plans for next season. Rumors are still swirling, questions are being asked and we are keeping track of the latest developments as the season progresses.

Chase Purdy, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (NCTS)

The scoop: Spire Motorsports announced on Jan. 3 that Chase Purdy will drive the No. 77 truck full-time in 2024, marking the team's first full season in the Craftsman Truck Series. Purdy drove the No. 4 Chevrolet for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2023, and the team and its assets were purchased by Spire in September.

Blaine Perkins, No. 29 RSS Racing Ford (NXS)

The scoop: RSS Racing and Blaine Perkins announced on Dec. 18 that Perkins will pilot its No. 29 Ford full-time for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign. Perkins competed in 30 races during the 2023 season splitting time for Our Motorsports and SS GreenLight Racing.

Noah Gragson, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (Cup)

The scoop: On Dec. 13, Stewart-Haas Racing announced it had signed Gragson to a multiyear deal to take over the No. 10 Ford previously held by Aric Almirola. Gragson requested his release from Legacy Motor Club in August after suspensions by the team and NASCAR. Competition officials lifted his suspension Sept. 12, reinstating his membership privileges.

Shane van Gisbergen to race full-time in Xfinity, part-time in Cup

The scoop: After it was announced on Sept. 13 that Trackhouse Racing signed Shane van Gisbergen for 2024, the team, in conjunction with Kaulig Racing, released the New Zealand native's full plans for next season on Dec. 13. Van Gisbergen will race full-time in the Xfinity Series and additionally compete in seven Cup races. Van Gisbergen participated in two Cup Series races -- including his Chicago Street Race win -- and one Truck Series race in 2023.

Joe Gibbs Racing names Xfinity Series lineup

The scoop: JGR announced its full-time and part-time roster on Dec. 13. Sheldon Creed and Chandler Smith will race full-time, while six drivers will compete part-time between two race cars. Aric Almirola, John Hunter Nemechek, Ryan Truex, Taylor Gray, William Sawalich and Joe Graf Jr. will make up the part-time portion of the lineup.

Grant Enfinger, No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet (NCTS) 

The scoop: CR7 announced on Dec. 12 that it signed Grant Enfinger to a multiyear deal to race full-time for the team, beginning in 2024. In GMS Racing's final year as a team, Enfinger raced to a Championship 4 berth in 2023 and compiled three wins. 

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 Faction46 Chevrolet (NCTS) 

The scoop: On Dec. 8, it was announced that Thad Moffitt would race full-time in the Truck Series with the newly announced team, Faction46. 

Timmy Hill, No. 56 Hill Motorsports Toyota (NCTS) 

The scoop: Hill Motorsports announced on Dec. 8 that Timmy Hill would race a full-time Truck Series schedule in 2024. Hill most recently ran a full-time Truck schedule in 2022, and in 2023, he finished inside the top 10 once in 14 Truck starts. 

Anthony Alfredo, No. 5 Our Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS) 

The scoop: Our Motorsports announced on Dec. 7 that beginning in 2024, Alfredo will race full-time in the No. 5 Chevrolet. This will mark Alfredo's third consecutive year competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. 

Tyler Ankrum, No. 18 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (NCTS) 

The scoop: With Ankrum joinning the MHR ranks, the team has completed its NCTS lineup for 2024. As a driver with Hattori Racing Enterprises in 2023, Ankrum finished inside the top five once and additionally compiled six top 10s.  

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NXS) 

The scoop: Kaulig Racing announced on Dec. 7 that beginning in 2024, AJ Allmendinger will race full-time in the No. 16 Chevrolet. In 2023, Allmendinger competed in five NXS races, earning two wins, four top-fives, five top-10 finishes and three pole awards.

Spire Motorsports names two Cup Series crew chiefs

The scoop: Spire Motorsports announced its two newest crew chiefs for its Cup Series efforts on Dec. 6. Veteran crew chief Luke Lambert moves to the pit box for the No. 77 Chevrolet driven by rookie Carson Hocevar, while first-year crew chief Stephen Doran will call the shots for Zane Smith in the No. 71 Chevrolet. Lambert has crew chiefed across the Cup and Xfinity platforms since 2011 and most recently served the role for the No. 42 car at Legacy Motor Club, working with Hocevar for eight races. Doran worked at Stewart-Haas Racing since 2012 and was a member of the No. 4 team with driver Kevin Harvick since 2014.

Jack Wood, No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing  Chevrolet (NCTS) 

The scoop: McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced on Dec. 6 that beginning in 2024, Jack Wood will race a 14-race schedule in the No. 91 Chevrolet. Only running 13 races throughout the 2023 season, Jack Wood amassed two top-10 finishes.

Dawson Cram, No. 4 JD Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS) 

The scoop: JD Motorsports announced on Dec. 6 that beginning in 2024, Cram will race full-time in the No. 4 Chevrolet. In 12 starts across the past three years, Cram has one top-20 finish, which came at Phoenix Raceway to close the 2023 season.

Kyle Sieg, No. 28 RSS Racing Ford (NXS) 

The scoop: RSS Racing announced on Dec. 1 that, beginning in 2024, Sieg would race full-time with the team. Across 31 combined 2023 Xfinity Series starts in the Nos. 28, 29 and 38, Sieg compiled one top-10 finish. 

Kaz Grala, No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota (NXS)

The scoop: Sam Hunt Racing announced Nov. 27 that Grala will not return to the No. 26 Toyota in 2024. Grala, who's competed across NASCAR's three national series since 2016, collected two top fives and nine top-10 finishes in his first full-time Xfinity campaign as Sam Hunt Racing's first full-time racer. Neither Grala nor Sam Hunt Racing have indicated their respective 2024 plans.

Josh Williams, No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: Kaulig Racing announced Nov. 16 that Josh Williams will pilot the No. 11 machine beginning in 2024. The 30-year-old Florida native competed full-time with DGM Racing during the 2023 campaign and compiled three top-10 finishes in 32 Xfinity Series starts. Now, Williams will have the opportunity to race a car with a team that made a deep playoff run in 2023.

Jake Garcia, ThorSport Racing (NCTS)

The scoop: ThorSport announced Nov. 15 that Garcia would join the lineup beginning in 2024. During his 2023 rookie campaign in the Truck Series with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, Garcia compiled three tops fives and nine top 10s. 

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Tricon Garage Toyota (NCTS) 

The scoop: Tricon Garage continued to lock in its 2024 contingent by announcing on Nov. 10 that Gray will race his first full Truck Series season as pilot of the No. 17 next season. In 20 Truck races in 2023, Gray amassed three top-five and six top-10 finishes. 

Tanner Gray, No. 15 Tricon Garage Toyota (NCTS) 

The scoop: Tricon Garage announced on Nov. 9 that Gray will return to the organization full-time for the 2024 Truck Series season.

Brennan Poole, No. 44 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet (NXS) 

The scoop: Poole and Alpha Prime announced on Nov. 9 inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame that the 32-year-old driver will run a full-time season in the No. 44 for the 2024 Xfinity Series season. 

Jeb Burton (No. 27 Chevrolet), Parker Retzlaff (No. 31 Chevrolet), Jordan Anderson Racing (NXS)

The scoop: Jordan Anderson Racing announced Nov. 2 that both Parker Retzlaff and Jeb Burton will return to the Xfinity Series in 2024 and pilot their respective Chevrolets. 

Cole Custer, No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (NXS)

The scoop: Stewart-Haas Racing announced Nov. 2 that Custer is returning to the Xfinity Series in 2024. The Ford team will keep the same lineup of Custer and Riley Herbst.

Jesse Love, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: The 18-year-old ARCA Menards Series phenom will make the leap to the Xfinity Series in 2024, taking over as pilot of the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet. Love will drive the machine on a full-time basis, beginning with the season opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17. 

Chandler Smith, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: Kaulig Racing announced Oct. 22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway that it would part ways with Smith for the 2024 season. It was announced Dec. 13 that Smith would race full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series.

Christian Eckes, No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)

The scoop: Eckes will return to drive full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2024 with crew chief Charles Denike also returning. At the time of his re-signing Eckes had won four races in the NCTS, including three this season. 

Sheldon Creed, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: Sheldon Creed announced Oct. 11 he would not return to the No. 2 Chevrolet or the 2024 Xfinity Series season. It was announced Dec. 13 that Creed would race full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series.

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (Cup)

The scoop: Hocevar got the call-up to the Cup Series as he'll pilot the No. 77 Chevrolet for Spire. Aside from his full-time Truck Series duties in 2023, he's competed in six Cup Series races and scored a best finish of 11th at Bristol. 

Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford (Cup)

The scoop: The 2022 Daytona 500 winner and former Sunoco Rookie of the Year confirmed Oct. 7 that he would return to the No. 2 Ford next season. The 2024 campaign will mark the 25-year-old driver's third season in NASCAR's top series.

Hailie Deegan, No. 15 AM Racing Ford (NXS)

The scoop: Deegan, 22, advances to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with AM Racing in 2024 on a multiyear deal. The shift follows a three-year stint in the Craftsman Truck Series, where she currently competes for ThorSport Racing with a career-best finish of sixth (Talladega, 2022; Texas, 2023).

Ryan Preece, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (Cup)

The scoop: The 32-year-old Connecticut native announced on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Sept. 26 that he will return to race in the No. 41 machine in 2024. The move will give Preece his second full-time season with the SHR outfit. 

Sammy Smith, No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: JRM fills the void left by Cup Series-bound Josh Berry by locking up one of the Xfinity Series' best budding prospects, bolstering the Chevy developmental pipeline. The 19-year-old Smith scratched the win column earlier this season at Phoenix Raceway and reached the 12-driver postseason field as a rookie. He'll slot in as the youngest driver in the JRM lineup, alongside 20-year-old Sam Mayer, 26-year-old Brandon Jones and Justin Allgaier, the team's veteran at 37.

Zane Smith, Spire Motorsports in alliance with Trackhouse Racing (Cup)

The scoop: Trackhouse Racing agreed to a multiyear deal with Zane Smith, the 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion. Smith willl move up to the Cup Series full-time next season, driving a Spire Motorsports Chevrolet in alliance with Trackhouse Racing. Trackhouse aims to add a third Cup car to its stable in 2025. 

Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (Cup)

The scoop: The 32-year-old journeyman will be back in the Cup Series next season, replacing Justin Haley in the Matt Kaulig-owned No. 31 Chevy. He was last a Cup regular in 2019 with Richard Childress Racing, and he became the Xfinity Series champion in 2021 in between premier-series stints.

Ross Chastain/Busch Light, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (Cup)

The scoop: With its longtime driver hanging up the fire suit after 2023, NASCAR premier partner Busch Light announced it signed a multiyear deal with Chastain, sponsoring the No. 1 for half the races beginning in 2024.

Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (Cup)

The scoop: The 2014 champion and future NASCAR Hall of Famer announced his retirement and impending move to the FOX Sports broadcast booth starting with the 2024 season. 

Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (Cup)

The scoop: LaJoie announced in August that he had re-signed with Spire Motorsports to return to the team full time in 2024 and beyond.

Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (Cup)

The scoop: After months of speculation and wild rumors, Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing announced in September that he would remain with the team to drive the No. 11 Toyota for the forseeable future.

Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (Cup)

The scoop: After pondering a retirement at the end of the season, Truex announced over the summer that he would return for at least one more season to drive the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in 2024. 

Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford (Cup)

The scoop: Burton will remain with one of NASCAR's longest-running teams, piloting its No. 21 entry in 2024, he confirmed to The Athletic at Talladega Superspeedway.

Justin Haley, No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (Cup)

The scoop: Haley announced in July he'd be moving from Kaulig Racing's No. 31 entry to take over a full-time ride for Rick Ware Racing in a multiyear deal beginning in 2024.

Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford (Cup)

The scoop: Front Row Motorsports announced in August that it was exercising its option on McDowell to return to the No. 34 Ford full-time in 2024.

Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford (Cup)

The scoop: Front Row Motorsports announced in August that it was exercising its option on Gilliland to return to the No. 38 Ford full-time in 2024.

23XI Racing (Cup)

The scoop: With Hamlin staying with Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota in 2024 and beyond, part of that package is that his satellite organization, 23XI Racing, will also remain with Toyota after some speculation about switching manufacturers.

Legacy Motor Club (Cup)

The scoop: The team announced in May it would part ways with Chevrolet and partner with Toyota in 2024. Team co-owner Jimmie Johnson, who won a record-tying seven Cup Series titles with Chevy, will pilot a No. 84 Toyota entry in 2024 in select races. The team additionally announced in October that NASCAR Hall of Famer Matt Kenseth would join the organization as a competition adviser, effective immediately. 

Josh Berry, No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: Stewart-Haas Racing announced in June that JR Motorsports driver Josh Berry would take over for the future Hall of Famer and pilot the No. 4 Ford entry starting in 2024.

Brandon Jones, No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: Jones confirmed in August that he would return to JR Motorsports to compete in the Xfinity Series in 2024. He was officially re-signed Sept. 15.

John Hunter Nemechek, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (NXS)

The scoop: Nemechek will move up from the Xfinity Series to make his much-anticipated return to the full-time Cup Series ranks, taking over the No. 42 Legacy Motor Club ride in 2024, keeping him in the Toyota camp.

Austin Hill, No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: After some speculation he could find his way into a full-time Cup Series ride, championship contender Hill announced he would remain with Richard Childress Racing and compete in the Xfinity Series for at least 2024.

Ryan Ellis, No. 43 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: Alpha Prime Racing announced that Ellis, with more than 100 career national series starts since 2012, will attempt his first full-time season with the team in 2024 in the Xfinity Series.

Parker Kligerman, No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet (NXS)

The scoop: Kligerman will return to Big Machine Racing in 2024, the team announced in August.

Rajah Caruth, No. 24 GMS Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)

The scoop: GMS Racing announced in August that it would shut down operations after the conclusion of 2023, leaving Caruth and his teammates with a murky future. He currently has no plans announced for 2024.

Matt DiBenedetto, No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet (NCTS)

The scoop: DiBenedetto announced in late August that he would not be returning to Rackley W.A.R. in 2024, though he currently has no plans in place and is "exploring all options in all series."

Daniel Dye, No. 43 GMS Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)

The scoop: GMS Racing announced in August that it would shut down operations after the conclusion of 2023. Dye joined McAnally-Hilgemann Racing for the 2024 season.