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.

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 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.

Aric Almirola, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford (Cup)

The scoop: Citing he's "ready for the next adventure," the 39-year-old Almirola announced on Oct. 28 that he would not return to Stewart-Haas Racing following the 2023 season. 2023 marked Almirola's sixth season as driver of the No. 10 machine, and two of his three career Cup wins have come with the organization. 

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. Smith has not yet announced his landing spot for next season.

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 will not return to the No. 2 Chevrolet or the 2024 Xfinity Series season.  Creed qualified for the 2023 Xfinity playoffs and is currently in the Round of 8. 

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

The scoop: Hocevar gets 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.

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (Cup, part-time)

The scoop: Van Gisbergen will officially come stateside in 2024. Trackhouse Racing announced on Sept. 13 that they signed the Auckland, New Zealand native to compete in a combination of NASCAR's three national series. The developmental deal will see the 34-year-old run select races in all three of NASCAR's national series, plus late model and other races. 

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.

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

The scoop: Allmendinger has indicated his 2024 plans are unclear, despite currently running full-time Cup with Kaulig and expecting to be back with the team next year. The longtime veteran hinted at a possible return to full-time Xfinity competiiton.

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

The scoop: After once again 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 that 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.

Noah Gragson, free agent (Cup)

The scoop: After suspensions by both the team and NASCAR, Gragson requested his release from Legacy Motor Club in August. A free agent currently, Gragson's 2024 plans are unclear. Competition officials lifted his suspension Sept. 12, reinstating his membership privileges.

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 that 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.

Grant Enfinger, No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet (NCTS)

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

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

The scoop: GMS Racing announced in August that it would be shutting 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 be shutting down operations after the conclusion of 2023.

Dye announced that he has signed a contract with a TBA team for the 2024 season.