Bobby Labonte to compete in three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events for Sadler-Stanley Racing

Posted on January 16, 2024 by Staff Report

Bobby Labonte, the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, will compete in three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events in 2024 for Sadler-Stanley Racing.

Labonte will race in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events at Richmond Raceway (March 29), North Wilkesboro Speedway (Oct. 5) and Martinsville Speedway (Oct. 26).

This will mark Labonte’s second season racing for the team, which is co-owned by retired NASCAR competitor Hermie Sadler and Virginia Attorney and State Senator Bill Stanley.

“I can’t thank Hermie and Bill and everybody at Sadler-Stanley Racing enough,” Labonte said. “I’m looking forward to being part of the team again in 2024 for our limited schedule together. I really appreciate the support of Pace-O-Matic and their commitment to racing and the team. I’m also happy to continue to represent Cook Out in our events. I can’t wait to get started.”

Last year, Labonte competed in three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour events for Sadler-Stanley Racing as a teammate to Ryan Newman. His best finish in four career Whelen Modified Tour events came last year at Richmond, where he finished sixth.

Posted on January 16, 2024January 16, 2024 by Staff Report

Jeffrey Earnhardt will return to the No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for multiple races in 2024, the team announced Tuesday.

Earnhardt’s first race back with the organization is slated for Feb. 24 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 34-year-old’s full schedule with the team will be announced at a later date, according to a press release. Earnhardt previously drove with Sam Hunt Racing part-time in 2022, earning a best finish of seventh at Nashville Superspeedway in the No. 26 Toyota.

“Jeffrey is a great guy that everyone enjoys being around and working with,” team owner Sam Hunt said in a press release. “We’ve had some great conversations over the past couple months and know he is committed to the program, as well as to the TRD family. His experience and full perspective view on the sport is always refreshing, and feel we had great speed together in 2022. I’m excited to build on that momentum and pick up where we left off and look forward to welcoming the ForeverLawn family back to the Sam Hunt Racing camp.”

MORE: Xfinity Series schedule

Earnhardt, the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, made 24 Xfinity starts in 2023 in a part-time schedule with Alpha Prime Racing, nabbing a season-best 11th-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in August. In 168 Xfinity Series starts, Earnhardt has collected two top fives and five top 10s in addition to one pole award — earned while driving the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway on his way to a career-best second-place finish.

His history with Toyota, however, dates back to 2018 in the NASCAR Cup Series with BK Racing and Gaunt Brothers Racing ahead of 2019 in the Xfinity Series with a part-time schedule at Joe Gibbs Racing.

“I’m really excited to be returning to Sam Hunt Racing and the TRD family,” Earnhardt said in a release. “We had strong races in 2022, and I feel like we have some unfinished business. Sam’s program continues to impress, and Toyota makes me feel so welcome. I know this is the right move and can’t wait to get back in the ForeverLawn GR Supra with Sam & team.”

ForeverLawn, a longtime sponsor of Earnhardt’s racing endeavors, will follow the fourth-generation racer back to Sam Hunt Racing, marking his fourth season with ForeverLawn while piloting the fan-favorite Black and Green Grass Machine, according to a press release.

“We are so excited to be back together with Sam Hunt and the whole SHR team,” Dale Karmie, co-founder of ForeverLawn, said in the release. “We have watched them develop over the past few years and believe they give Jeffrey a great shot at top-tier finishes. Additionally, we align with Sam very closely on our values. And Jeffrey? He is just a hardworking, dedicated young man who is earning his way up the ranks yet remains so focused on his fans. We love Jeffrey. God has blessed us with amazing relationships in our time in NASCAR, and we are excited to see what we can accomplish here.”

Posted on January 16, 2024January 23, 2024 by Staff Report

Daniel Suárez is heading back to his racing roots to begin the 2024 season.

Suárez, the NASCAR Cup Series veteran, will return to the NASCAR Mexico Series for the division’s upcoming exhibition race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, claiming the event’s lone spot for a special guest driver. Suárez will drive the entry provided by Jimmy Morales, with crew chief José Blasco-Figueroa calling the shots.

MORE: 2024 Cup schedule | Buy tickets for the LA Clash

Now heading into his eighth year at NASCAR’s highest level, Suárez stormed onto the stock-car racing scene through his five full-time seasons in the Mexico Series, collecting 10 wins, 26 top fives and 39 top 10s in 76 starts while earning a runner-up finish in points in 2013.

Suárez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, went on to win the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship with Joe Gibbs Racing before ascending to the Cup Series full-time in 2017. Driving the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, the 31-year-old became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race in 2022 at Sonoma Raceway, joining a list of just four other drivers born outside the United States to win at the Cup level: Australia’s Marcos Ambrose; Colombia’s Juan Pablo Montoya; Italian-born Mario Andretti; and Canadian Earl Ross.

This year marks the third time the Busch Light Clash will be held at the LA Coliseum, with the green flag set to fly Sunday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. ET (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). However, 2024 marks the first appearance of the NASCAR Mexico Series at the storied arena, with 21 other competitors set to race ahead of the Cup Series’ first exhibition of the new season.

SHOP: Gear up for the Busch Light Clash

Defending and two-time Mexico Series champion Salvador de Alba Jr. will compete for glory at the Coliseum alongside four-time series champion Rubén García Jr. and Andrés Pérez de Lara, both of whom advanced to the Championship 4 a season ago.

Max Gutiérrez, who was just shy of advancing to the final round in 2023, has made appearances across the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Mexico Series, and returns to the Mexico Series for the event.

In addition to Suárez’s return comes a renewal of sponsorship. Quaker State announced an extension with Suárez and Trackhouse Racing on Tuesday. Quaker State will serve as a primary sponsor for Suárez and the No. 99 team at Richmond Raceway (March 31), Darlington Raceway (May 12) and the playoff opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Sept. 8). It will also serve as the primary for Suárez’s entry in the Mexico Series event at the LA Coliseum.

Trackhouse Racing

The King Taco la Batalla en El Coliseo is set to begin at 5 p.m. ET from the LA Memorial Coliseum.

MORE: Visit the NASCAR Mexico Series website

Posted on January 16, 2024January 16, 2024 by Staff Report

NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson announced the remainder of his 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule on Tuesday during an NBC TODAY Show appearance.

We’re catching up with @JimmieJohnson about his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the new partnerships and sponsorships for @LEGACYMotorClub, adjusting to driving in London and the support he receives from fans. pic.twitter.com/QfhXdbAxXj

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 16, 2024

As part of that reveal, Carvana announced it would on board for the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 18, 2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) as “Seven-Time” aims for a third “Great American Race” victory. Carvana will also be on Johnson’s No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota XSE for marquee events at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“I’m so proud to represent Carvana for a second NASCAR season, and our fourth season overall as partners, at some of my favorite races,” Johnson said in a team release. “Carvana is a fun brand that captures the joy of cars and racing, and they do a great job leveraging their partnership with Legacy M.C. I’m excited to have a shot at another Daytona 500 trophy in our new Toyota Camry XSEs, and the paint scheme is sure to be a fan favorite.”

In addition to those events, Johnson will also race at Texas Motor Speedway (April 14), Dover Motor Speedway (April 28), Kansas Speedway (May 5, Sept. 29), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 26) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Oct. 20).

MORE: Carvana extends partnership with Johnson, Legacy Motor Club

Forty of the 2024 Hall of Famer’s 83 wins have come at the tracks on Johnson’s plate this season. The nine races planned for 2024 will be the most for Johnson since his final full-time season in 2020.

The El Cajon, California native is set to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday.

THROUGH THE YEARS: Jimmie Johnson’s Hall of Fame career

Posted on January 16, 2024 by Staff Report

Ryan Pemberton, a veteran crew chief and competition manager who was atop the pit box for five NASCAR national-series wins and more than 600 starts, died Sunday. He was 54.

Pemberton was most recently director of competition at JR Motorsports, where he held that post from 2012 to 2022. He was also a crew chief for that Xfinity Series operation, most prominently in 2014 when he and Regan Smith combined for one win (at Daytona in the season opener) and a second-place result in the final standings.

“Ryan Pemberton was instrumental to JR Motorsports’ success during the decade he spent with us,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, JRM’s CEO. “He had such a passion for competition and, as a leader, knew how to motivate everyone he worked with. He will always be part of the JRM family. Our hearts go out to his wife Andrea and daughters Payton and Britton during this tremendously difficult time.”

Pemberton’s first stint as a crew chief also came in what is now called the Xfinity Series. He paired with Larry Pearson for a two-win campaign in 1995 and a sixth-place outcome in the season-long points.

He moved to the NASCAR Cup Series in 1997 and was the crew chief for 561 starts in a 16-year span. Pemberton was a part of two Cup victories, with Joe Nemechek (Kansas, 2004) and Brian Vickers (Michigan, 2009) both winning from the pole position. Among the other drivers he worked with in the Cup Series: Ernie Irvan, Mark Martin, Aric Almirola, David Reutimann, Robert Pressley and Derrike Cope.

Pemberton’s three siblings also carved a career in motorsports. Older brother Robin was a veteran Cup Series crew chief who later served as NASCAR Vice President of Competition. Randy Pemberton, who died in 2022 at age 62, was a popular broadcaster as a pit reporter and studio host, and brother Roman Pemberton has worked as a spotter in various NASCAR national circuits.

Posted on January 16, 2024January 31, 2024 by Staff Report

NASCAR officials unveiled the format for the 2024 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum on Tuesday morning.

The Cup Series’ third annual trip to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum culminates in a 150-lap exhibition feature on Feb. 4 with 23 drivers set to bang fenders in the battle for preseason glory, all atop a 0.25-mile short asphalt oval located in the same arena that has hosted Super Bowls, World Series games and the Olympics.

On-track festivities for the non-points event begin with three practice sessions on Saturday, with up to 40 entrants split into three groups. Each competitor’s fastest lap time from their final practice session will determine the starting lineup for the four heat races, the first significant alteration of this event’s format after prior years featured single-round, single-car qualifying to set heat lineups.

Saturday’s four 25-lap heat races will have up to 10 drivers per heat. The fastest practice time in the final sessions earns pole position in Heat 1, second-fastest on pole for Heat 2, third-fastest on pole for Heat 3 and fourth-fastest in practice on pole for Heat 4, and so on. Only green-flag laps will count in each of the heat races, with no overtime allotment.

The top five finishers in each heat will automatically advance to Sunday night’s main event, while the drivers who finish below fifth in each heat will advance to Sunday afternoon’s 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). Starting position for the LCQ will be determined by finishing order from the heat races. The top two finishers in the LCQ will advance to the Clash and start 21st and 22nd, respectively. Like the heat races, only green-flag laps will count with no overtime.

SHOP: Gear up for the Busch Light Clash

The 23rd and final position in the grid for the Clash is reserved for the driver who finished highest in the 2023 season points standings and did not transfer via the heat races or LCQ. Ryan Blaney, the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion, is locked into the main event.

That sets the stage for the 2024 rendition, scheduled for 150 laps under the lights in the heart of Los Angeles (8 p.m. ET, Feb. 4 on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM). Below is how the starting lineup will be set for the 23-car field, a return to the grid size for the inaugural Clash at The Coliseum:

Position	Criteria
1	Heat 1 winner
2	Heat 2 winner
3	Heat 3 winner
4	Heat 4 winner
5	Heat 1 second place
6	Heat 2 second place
7	Heat 3 second place
8	Heat 4 second place
9	Heat 1 third place
10	Heat 2 third place
11	Heat 3 third place
12	Heat 4 third place
13	Heat 1 fourth place
14	Heat 2 fourth place
15	Heat 3 fourth place
16	Heat 4 fourth place
17	Heat 1 fifth place
18	Heat 2 fifth place
19	Heat 3 fifth place
20	Heat 4 fifth place
21	LCQ winner
22	LCQ second place
23	2023 Points Provisional

Tune into the Clash at The Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR

Posted on January 16, 2024January 19, 2024 by Seth Sharp

From championships to race wins, any single moment in time can define a driver forever. When it comes to 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Donnie Allison, it’s a rather unique case. The defining moments most commonly tied to Allison are, oddly enough, ones that didn’t see him come out on top.

The conclusion of the 1979 Daytona 500, a race he was leading during its final moments, is usually first to the tongue of any race fan. The success of “The Alabama Gang,” including his brother Bobby and nephew Davey, is as well.

Allison wasn’t your typical driver on paper. He never raced a full-season schedule and doesn’t have high season-long points finishes because of it. Simply looking at his stats won’t ever tell anyone the full story about his career.

He was better than you think.

SHOP: Celebrate the 2024 Hall of Fame class

Allison only drove in more than half of the races on the schedule five times in his 21-year career and never started more than 70% of the schedule. That didn’t stop him from being one of the best drivers in NASCAR. From 1968 to 1980, Allison ranked ninth in wins.

In 1970, Allison tied for third in wins (3) and was fifth in laps led (697). He was surrounded on those lists by Richard Petty, Bobby Isaac, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and David Pearson. A true Hall of Fame group.

He had the third-best average starting position in 1971 (4.2), thanks to five pole positions. Only Petty (46 starts) and his brother Bobby (42 starts) had more poles, both with nine. Allison grabbed his five in just 13 starts.

1980 was the final season Allison drove double-digit races, mainly due to the injuries he would sustain in a crash at Charlotte in 1981.

At the conclusion of the 1980 season, he had cemented himself as one of the greatest drivers over NASCAR’s first 30-plus seasons.

MORE: NASCAR Classics races from the vault

Allison shined no matter what number was on his door. His 11 starts for Wood Brothers Racing in 1971 accounted for one win and eight top-five finishes. He was the first driver for DiGard Racing in 1973, qualifying 11th or better in 40 of his 45 starts. Four of the five times a Hoss Ellington car visited Victory Lane, it was Allison behind the wheel.

At the end of the 1988 season, Allison took off his helmet for the final time. He had 10 victories to his name, as all 10 came with a fellow NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee finishing in second.

Whenever Allison was behind the wheel of a car, he was a threat to win, and it didn’t matter who was in the field.

He won against the best of the best. It is only fitting that Allison will be enshrined as one of those legends himself in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Posted on January 16, 2024January 23, 2024 by Cameron Richardson

Editor’s Note: Today’s Spire Motorsports preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2024 Cup Series season, ranked in reverse order of best finish in last year’s owner standings.

Spire Motorsports

Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: Hendrick Motorsports
Driver-crew chief pairings: Corey LaJoie-Ryan Sparks (No. 7), Zane Smith-Stephen Doran (No. 71), Carson Hocevar-Luke Lambert (No. 77)

Team outlook: Spire Motorsports leaped in performance last season as Corey LaJoie took his No. 7 Chevrolet from a 24.3 average finish in 2022 to 20.8 in 2023. With positive momentum entering 2024, Spire expands to a three-car operation after forming an alliance with Trackhouse Racing. Spire welcomes two full-time newcomers in the Cup Series as Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith are set for their respective rookie campaigns.

Stephen Doran makes his debut as a crew chief as he’ll sit atop the No. 71 team’s pit box for Smith. Before linking with Spire, Doran worked at Stewart-Haas Racing for 11 years and the No. 4 team, where he won a championship with driver Kevin Harvick in 2014. Luke Lambert moves from Legacy Motor Club to Spire, where he will crew chief Hocevar. Lambert has been atop the box for multiple teams and drivers in the Cup Series since 2011, most recently for the No. 42 car at Legacy where Hocevar drove eight races in 2023.

With Smith set to transition to Trackhouse in 2025, there will be added expectation to perform well this upcoming season and improve on the gains found in 2023.

COREY LAJOIE, NO. 7 CHEVROLET

Experience: Five full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
2023 stats: 25th in final standings; 0 wins, 2 top fives, 3 top 10s
2024 championship odds (DraftKings): 600-1

Outlook: Finding stability in the Cup Series after pairing with Spire in 2021 has bore improvement in each season for LaJoie. 2023 was the most consistent year for the 32-year-old as he was consistently in contention for top-20 results and saw the biggest gain in average finish between full-time seasons, going from 24.3 in ’22 to 20.8 last year. The combination of a technical alliance with Trackhouse and LaJoie now serving as the veteran leader for the organization and rookies Hocevar and Smith could culminate in a dark-horse run to one of the 16 playoff spots, whether that comes via victory or on points alone.

ZANE SMITH, NO. 71 CHEVROLET

Experience: 9 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.
2023 stats: Seventh in final Truck Series standings; 2 wins, 10 top fives, 10 top 10s (Truck); 1 top 10 (Xfinity); 1 top 10 (Cup)
2024 championship odds (DraftKings): 400-1

Outlook: The 2022 Truck Series champion makes his awaited full-time debut in the Cup Series this year. Smith turned heads in 2022, filling in for Chris Buescher and RFK in the No. 17 at World Wide Technology Raceway with a clean day around the 1-mile oval and a 17th-place finish. Smith made eight Cup starts in 2023, highlighted by a 10th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600. Under contract with Trackhouse Racing ahead of the 2025 campaign, the 24-year-old will have more pressure and expectations to perform than your average rookie.

CARSON HOCEVAR, NO. 77 CHEVROLET

Experience: 9 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series.
2023 stats: Fourth in final Truck Series standings; 4 wins, 11 top fives, 13 top 10s (Truck); 2 top 10s (Xfinity)
2024 championship odds (DraftKings): 400-1

Outlook: Even competing with the likes of Josh Berry and Zane Smith for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, Carson Hocevar will likely have the most to prove among his Cup Series peers. An outstanding 2023 campaign with Niece Motorsports, highlighted by Hocevar’s first national series victories and a Championship 4 berth, sparked moments that ruffled the feathers of his fellow competitors, culminating in a dustup with Corey Heim in the final laps of the Phoenix title race that rattled the Truck Series championship picture. However, the 20-year-old’s talent shined at the Cup level in his select starts in 2023, scoring an eye-popping 11th-place finish in the Bristol Night Race to pair with four other top-20 runs. With upgraded assets and a pair of talented teammates, Hocevar should continue to impress when the Cup Series kicks off its season at Daytona.

MORE: Hocevar inks multiyear deal with Spire

BOLD PREDICTION: Make it two bold predictions: Corey LaJoie reaching the playoffs and Zane Smith taking home Rookie of the Year honors. LaJoie’s overall improvement in terms of average finish should continue in 2024, and with Daytona and Atlanta kicking off the season on a back-to-back, it offers LaJoie a golden opportunity to stun the field early and lock in one of the first spots in the Cup Series Playoffs. As for Smith, he has the capabilities to exceed already high expectations for 2024. After an underwhelming year for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2023, it’s difficult to tap Josh Berry for the award as he transitions from Xfinity to Cup full-time, and Smith should outperform his Spire counterpart in Hocevar for the majority of race weekends.

NASCAR.com 2024 team previews schedule

Jan. 15: Legacy Motor Club
Jan. 16: Spire Motorsports
Jan. 17: Kaulig Racing
Jan. 18: Wood Brothers Racing
Jan. 22: Rick Ware Racing
Jan. 23: Richard Childress Racing
Jan. 24: Stewart-Haas Racing
Jan. 25: Front Row Motorsports
Jan. 26: JTG Daugherty Racing
Jan. 29: Trackhouse Racing
Jan. 30: RFK Racing
Feb. 6: 23XI Racing
Feb. 7: Joe Gibbs Racing
Feb. 8: Hendrick Motorsports
Feb. 9: Team Penske

Posted on January 16, 2024January 16, 2024 by Press Release

PHOENIX, AZ — Carvana, an industry pioneer for buying and selling used cars online, today announced the continuation of its partnership with racing legend Jimmie Johnson and Legacy Motor Club in 2024. Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame class inductee, has partnered with Carvana since 2021, when he competed in the IndyCar Series for the first time after more than two decades as a leading NASCAR driver.

For the 2024 racing season, Johnson will compete in three key races this year with Carvana on the hood of his No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE: the season-opening Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Jimmie and Legacy M.C. for a second season,” Carvana Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer Ryan Keeton said. “Jimmie is not only the true embodiment of a champion, as recognized by his Hall of Fame induction this year, he is also a leader on and off the track, and we can’t wait to see what he accomplishes this season.”

This season, Carvana’s paint schemes will honor the legacy Johnson has built across his NASCAR and IndyCar career with three unique designs. Carvana will unveil the Daytona 500 paint scheme before the start of the 2024 season in February.

“I’m so proud to represent Carvana for a second NASCAR season, and our fourth season overall as partners, at some of my favorite races,” Johnson said. “Carvana is a fun brand that captures the joy of cars and racing, and they do a great job leveraging their partnership with Legacy M.C. I’m excited to have a shot at another Daytona 500 trophy in our new Toyota Camry XSE’s, and the paint scheme is sure to be a fan favorite.”

Posted on January 15, 2024January 23, 2024 by Holly Cain

Editor’s Note: Today’s Legacy Motor Club preview starts NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2024 Cup Series season.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Toyota Racing Development
Driver-crew chief pairings: No. 42 John Hunter Nemechek-Ben Beshore, No. 43 Erik Jones-Dave Elenz, No. 84 Jimmie Johnson-Jason Burdett (partial schedule)

Team outlook: There is a lot of optimism for Legacy Motor Club, which will start its second year of competition with the new-look ownership group that includes a pair of seven-time NASCAR Cup Series championship drivers in Jimmie Johnson and team ambassador Richard Petty. Additionally, NASCAR Hall of Famer and former series champion Matt Kenseth has joined the team to work with Jones and Nemechek in their continued development. After completing a run with the Chevrolet banner in 2023 that resulted in seven top-10 finishes, the Legacy team moves to Toyota horsepower in 2024, taking a place alongside the manufacturer’s championship-contending teams of Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing. Both of Legacy’s full-time drivers, Jones and the new addition, Nemechek, have raced Toyotas coming up the career ranks. The 2024 season may feel a bit like a re-launch for this team, but expectations are higher than ever.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK, NO. 42 TOYOTA

Experience: One full-time season in NASCAR Cup Series
2023 stats: Fourth in final Xfinity Series standings; 7 wins, 17 top fives, 24 top 10s (Xfinity)
2024 championship odds (DraftKings): 100-1

Outlook: This will unquestionably be a transitional year for the team but also for the young Nemechek, who returns to NASCAR’s premier ranks full-time for a “second-go” of sorts. He has certainly proven himself capable of both winning races and challenging for championships in the Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. This will be the year to simultaneously get acclimated with the new team and raise his game to the next level after reestablishing himself as a top prospect.

ERIK JONES, NO. 43 TOYOTA

Experience: Seven full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series
2023 stats: 27th in final standings; 0 wins, 1 top five, 7 top 10s
2024 championship odds (DraftKings): 100-1

Outlook: Jones won his Truck Series title driving Toyotas and a return to the manufacturer should be a promising situation for him. Last season, he ran up front often only to have late-race situations derail a better finish. Even though Jones is only 27 years old, 2024 marks his eighth full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series, and after proving himself a perennial title contender in other series — as well as a Cup Series race winner — there are great expectations for Jones this year with perhaps more firepower under the hood.

He has earned double-digit top-10 finishes in five of his previous seven seasons and led at least 100 laps in three of them. With Legacy Motor Club in a more established competitive situation in 2024, and Jones starting a third year now with crew chief Elenz, the combination should be running up front more consistently as the de facto lead car on this team.

MORE: Opening championship odds | 2024 schedule

BOLD PREDICTION: Erik Jones will win a race to qualify for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. He’s been competitive against the odds and with the organization in a better position with a year under its belt and the return to Toyota – a familiar make for Jones – it’s time for Jones to show himself the title competitor he’s shown flashes of in seasons past.

NASCAR.com 2024 team previews schedule