Key players in 2024-2025 Silly Season

NASCAR Silly Season 2024-2025 is in full swing as drivers and teams 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.

Front Row Motorsports to expand to three-car team in 2025 (NCS)

The scoop: Front Row Motorsports revealed plans on May 29 to expand to a three-car operation starting in 2025.

Stewart-Haas Racing closes at the end of 2024 (NCS/NXS)

The scoop: Stewart-Haas Racing announced on May 28 that the team would cease operations in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series at the end of the 2024 season, opening up four charters to be sold.

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (NCS)

The scoop: Spire Motorsports announced May 8 that Michael McDowell will take over the No. 71 in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time, starting in 2025 in what will be a multiyear deal.

Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: Todd Gilliland is set to return to Front Row Motorsports on a multiyear deal that starts in 2025, the team announced June 5. Gilliland will move from their No. 38 Ford to the team's No. 34 Ford.

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

The scoop: 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. announced June 14 that he would retire from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 season.

Gene Haas to operate organization in 2025 (NCS/NXS)

The scoop: After announcing Stewart-Haas Racing would close operations at season's end, longtime team owner Gene Haas revealed plans on June 20 to operate one Cup charter and field two Xfinity Series programs under the name Haas Factory Team in 2025. 

Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (NCS)

The scoop: Martin Truex Jr.'s successor was named quickly, as Chase Briscoe landed a multiyear contract to drive the No. 19 Toyota starting next season. The move includes the continuation of primary sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops for the majority of the 2025 races. JGR indicated that James Small will continue as No. 19 crew chief.

Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford (NCS)

The scoop: With Stewart-Haas Racing closing, Wood Brothers Racing scooped up Berry, the five-time Xfinity Series victor and short-track favorite. Berry, who was in his rookie season with SHR, will start his sophomore campaign in 2025 for Wood Brothers replacing Harrison Burton, who had been driving for the team full-time since 2022.

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

The scoop: AM Racing announced on July 8 that Deegan would part ways with team effective immediately. Deegan piltoed the. No. 15 Ford for the first 17 races of 2024 averaging a finish of 26.8.

Rodney Childers, No. 7 Spire Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: With Stewart-Haas Racing closing operation at the end of the 2024 season, Spire Motorsports tapped the 40-time Cup Series race winning crew chief to lead the No. 7 team starting in 2025, moving current crew chief Ryan Sparks to a full-time competition director role at the end of the 2024 season.  

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: With the news of Front Row Motorsports expanding to three charters and Michael McDowell leaving the No. 34 team to join Spire in 2025, that left a seat open for Gragson to fill. The sophmore driver will join FRM on a multiyear deal and remain in the Ford Performance camp next season. On Jan. 3, Front Row Motorsports announced that the 26-year-old Gragson will pilot the No. 4, with Drew Blickensderfer acting as crew chief. 

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team (NCS)

The scoop: Making his return to the Cup Series after two seasons of more seasoning in the Xfinity Series, Cole Custer will pilot the No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford for the newly revamped team, with an alliance formed with Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.

Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports (NXS)

The scoop: One of NASCAR's up-and-coming future superstars has a full-time home in 2025 with Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Xfinity Series operation. The Charlotte, North Carolina native has excelled across multiple racing disciplines and should be an instant contender in a coveted NXS ride.

Daniel Suárez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet (NCS)

The scoop: Trackhouse Racing announced on Aug. 9 that Suárez will return to pilot the No. 99 Chevrolet for the 2025 Cup Series season. The extension includes the continuation of primary sponsorship from Freeway Insurance for one third of the 2025 season. 

Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota (NCS)

The scoop: Jones is set to return to the team co-owned by Maury Gallagher and Jimmie Johnson on a multiyear deal starting in 2025. A two-time winner of the Southern 500 and a Michigan native, Jones will continue for a fifth season and beyond in the legendary No. 43 car made famous by Richard Petty.

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (NCS)

The scoop: It's back to the Cup Series full-time for Allmendinger, who also did a full-time Cup stint for the team in 2023. Two of Allmendinger's three Cup wins have come while driving for Kaulig, an organization he joined in 2019.

Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, Haas Factory Team (NXS)

The scoop: Haas Factory Team announced on Aug. 17 that Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed will complete its driver lineup for 2025. The team announced earlier that Cole Custer will take over the lone Cup Series charter next season, leaving two Xfinity seats open. Creed will pilot the No. 00 Ford and Mayer will drive the No. 41 Ford in the Xfinity Series.

Daniel Dye, Kaulig Racing (NXS)

The scoop: Kaulig Racing announced on Aug. 23 that Daniel Dye will drive the team's No. 10 Chevrolet full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2025.

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing (NCS)

The scoop: Trackhouse Racing announced on Aug. 24 that Shane van Gisbergen will race full-time for the team in the Cup Series beginning in 2025 as pilot of the No. 88 Chevrolet. 

Christian Eckes, Kaulig Racing (NXS)

The scoop: Kaulig Racing announced on Aug. 31 that Christian Eckes will drive the team's No. 16 Chevrolet full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2025.

Brandon Jones, Joe Gibbs Racing (NXS)

The scoop: Joe Gibbs Racing announced on Sept. 3 that Brandon Jones will drive for the team in the Xfinity Series in 2025 on a multiyear deal, after previously driving for JGR from 2018 to 2022.

Nick Sanchez, Big Machine Racing (NXS)

The scoop: On Sept. 12, Parker Kligerman announced he would not be returning to the No. 48 Chevrolet in 2025. It left the seat open for Nick Sanchez to move up from the Truck Series and ink a full-time ride deal for the 2025 season that was announced on Sept. 18. 

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing (NCS)

The scoop: On Sept. 18, 23XI Racing announced that Bubba Wallace would return to drive the No. 23 Toyota for the 2025 season and beyond.

Harrison Burton, AM Racing (NXS)

The scoop: AM Racing announced Sept. 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway that 2024 Daytona summer race winner and driver of the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Harrison Burton would return to the Xfinity Series to compete for a championship in its flagship Ford entry.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., JR Motorsports (NXS)

The scoop: Earnhardt Jr. annouunced Sept. 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway that he did not have plans to drive in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025. Earnhardt had been participating in one-off Xfinity races for JR Motorsports in partnership with sponsor Unilever, including the 2024 event at Bristol. He had run at least one race in the series every year since 2001.

Justin Haley and Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports and Rick Ware Racing (NCS)

The scoop: It was announced Sept. 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway that starting with the 2024 Kansas Cup race Haley and LaJoie would trade Cup rides for the rest of the season. Haley moved to the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, where he has signed a mulityear deal, while LaJoie switched to the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford and got a tryout for 2025. 

Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing (NCS) 

The scoop: Kaulig Racing announced Sept. 28 that Ty Dillon will return to the Cup Series in 2025 and drive the newly acquired No. 10 Chevrolet. Dillon returns to Cup after racing full-time in NASCAR's premier series for six seasons between 2017 and 2023.

Taylor Gray, Joe Gibbs Racing (NXS)

The scoop: Joe Gibbs Racing announced Oct. 16 that Taylor Gray will pilot the No. 54 Toyota in the Xfinity Series full-time next season. In 13 career Xfinity Series starts, Gray has three top-10 finishes. 

Dawson Sutton, Rackley W.A.R. (NCTS)

The scoop: Rackley W.A.R. announced Oct. 17 that Dawson Sutton will pilot the No. 25 full-time in the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series season. Sutton scored a fifth-place finish at Kansas Speedway in September 2024. 

Ryan Ellis, DGM Racing (NXS)

The scoop: DGM Racing announced Oct. 18 that Ryan Ellis will drive for the team full-time next season in the Xfinity Series. Ellis departed Alpha Prime Racing at the end of the 2024 season after three years with the organization.

William Sawalich, Joe Gibbs Racing (NXS)

The scoop: Joe Gibbs Racing announced Oct. 21 that William Sawalich will pilot the No. 18 Toyota in the Xfinity Series full-time next season. In 13 career Craftsman Truck Series starts at the time of the announcement, Sawalich had three top-10 finishes and one pole. 

Frankie Muniz, Reaume Brothers Racing (NCTS)

The scoop: Reaume Brothers announced Oct. 22 that Frankie Muniz will race full-time for the team in 2025 as driver of the No. 33 Ford. Muniz raced full-time in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023 and has additionally made a handful of Truck and Xfinity Series starts in 2024 at the time of the announcement, including two Truck starts with Reaume Brothers Racing.

Jesse Love, Richard Childress Racing (NXS)

The scoop: Richard Childress Racing announced Oct. 31 that Jesse Love will return to the No. 2 Chevrolet for the 2025 Xfinity Series season, with sponsor Whelen Engineering extending its partnership with RCR.

Corey Heim, Tricon Garage (NCTS)

The scoop: Tricon Garage annouced that Corey Heim will be back in 2025 to pilot the No. 11 Toyota in the Truck Series. Heim has been wildy successful his first two season with Tricon, piling up nine wins and back-to-back apperances in the Championship 4. 

Matt McCall, RFK Racing (NCS)

The scoop: RFK Racing announced Nov. 7 that crew chief for No. 6 Ford, Matt McCall will not return to the team for 2025. McCall joined RFK in 2022 and has been paired with driver and team co-owner Brad Keselowski since the move. The duo earned their first together in the spring of 2024 at Darlington Raceway. 

Tanner Gray, Tricon Garage (NCTS)

The scoop: Tricon Garage annouced that Tanner Gray will return full-time for the team in 2025, continuing to pilot the No. 15 Toyota. Gray has been a full-time staple in the Truck Series for the team since 2020.

Ryan Preece, RFK Racing (NCS)

The scoop: RFK Racing announced Nov. 19 that Ryan Preece will join the organization as full-time driver of the No. 60 Ford in 2025. With the move, RFK Racing will now race with three full-time Fords. 

Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing (NCS)

The scoop: 23XI Racing announced Nov. 20 that Riley Herbst will join the organization as its third full-time driver beginning in 2025. Herbst will pilot the No. 35 Toyota in what will be his first full-time campaign in NASCAR's premier series. 

Kris Wright, Our Motorsports (NXS)

The scoop: Kris Wright announced Nov. 20 that he will pilot the No. 5 Chevrolet full-time for Our Motorsports for the 2025 Xfinity Series season. He replaces Anthony Alfredo, who finished 15th in the final standings of 2024. 

Daniel Hemric, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (NCTS)

The scoop: McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced Nov. 20 that Daniel Hemric will pilot the No. 19 Chevrolet full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series for 2025. He replaces Christian Eckes, who made the Championship 4 in 2024. Hemric previously ran the No. 31 Chevy for Kaulig Racing in the Cup Series and finished 29th in points. 

Chris Gabehart, Joe Gibbs Racing (NCS)

The scoop: Joe Gibbs Racing announced a pair of changes on Nov. 22 surrounding the No. 11 team. Crew chief Chris Gabehart will become the organization's competition director while Chris Gayle, who has been the crew chief for Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 team for the past two seasons, will call shots from atop the pit box for Denny Hamlin.

Jeremy Bullins, RFK Racing (NCS)

The scoop: RFK Racing announced Nov. 21 that Jeremy Bullins will take the reins as crew chief for Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford team in 2025. The move reunites Bullins and Keselowski, who worked together for two seasons (2020 and 2021) at Team Penske and collected five wins.

Matt McCall and Dax Gerringer, Spire Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: On Nov. 25, Spire Motorsports announced that longtime crew chief Matt McCall would move over to the organization as Director of Vehicle Performance. The team also announced that the former lead engineer at Stewart-Haas Racing, Dax Gerringer, would join as Technical Director. 

Tyler Ankrum, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (NCTS)

The scoop: After making the playoffs in his first season driving the No. 18 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet, Tyler Ankrum will return to the team in 2025 for his seventh season in the Truck Series. 

Toni Breidinger, Tricon Garage (NCTS)

The scoop: On Nov. 26, Tricon Garage announced that Toni Breidinger will move up from the ARCA Menards Series to the Craftsman Truck Series full-time in 2025. Breidinger is set to drive the No. 5 Toyota.

Gio Ruggiero, Tricon Garage (NCTS)

The scoop: Tricon Garage announced Dec. 2 that they inked a deal with 18-year-old standout Gio Ruggiero to pilot the No. 17 Toyota. Ruggiero, who takes over for Taylor Gray, scored nine top 10s in the ARCA Menards Series in 2024.

Tyler Allen, Joe Gibbs Racing (NCS)

The scoop: JGR announced Dec. 2 that Tyler Allen will move from crew chief of the No. 20 Toyota in the Xfinity Series to Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 team in Cup starting in 2025. Allen was orginally announced as Taylor Gray's crew chief for next season in the Xfinity Series, but after a shuffle of moves due to Chris Gabeheart moving to competition director, Jason Ratcliff will act as crew chief for Gray in 2025.

Connor Mosack, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (NCTS)

The scoop: On Dec. 3, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced it had signed Mosack to drive the No. 81 Chevrolet in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025. Mosack has made 11 starts in the Truck Series and 28 in the Xfinity Series during his career. 

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports (NCS)

The scoop: The team announced Jan. 2 that Smith, who won a Truck Series title for Front Row in 2022, would re-join the organization and pilot the No. 38 Ford in a newly acquired charter entry for 2025, with Ryan Bergenty as crew chief.