Bob Pockrass
FOX NASCAR Insider
With the Silly Season in full swing, here’s a look at what each team’s lineup might look like for 2025.
These forecasts/outlooks may change as the discussions progress. We will keep you informed.
Here is my prediction as of August 23, including some updates based on information I learned here at Daytona and following the announcement that Zane Smith will be released from Trackhouse Racing after this year, making him an immediate free agent.
Joe Gibbs Race
11: Denny Hamlin has a contract at least until next year and no changes are expected.
19: Chase Briscoe will replace Martin Truex Jr. next year, the team announced Tuesday. Crew chief James Small will remain with the team.
20: Christopher Bell has signed at least until next year and no changes are expected
54: Ty Gibbs is the grandson of the team owner and is expected to drive as long as Joe Gibbs is with the team. Whether he would ever switch to the No. 18 – the signature and original JGR number – would probably be the biggest question. Joe Gibbs indicated that a number change is not imminent.
Hendrick Motorsports
5: Kyle Larson has signed at least until next year and no changes are expected.
9: Chase Elliott has a contract at least until next year and no changes are expected.
24: William Byron has a contract at least until next year and no changes are expected.
48: Alex Bowman has signed his contract until at least next year. His victory on July 7 at the Chicago Street Course has largely ended – at least temporarily – speculation that he might drop out of this race. Even with this victory, he does not seem to be able to afford many misfires.
23XI Race
23: Bubba Wallace has not yet signed for next year, but is expected to return.
45: Tyler Reddick has a contract at least until next year and no changes are expected.
67 (or another number for the third car with charter, probably acquired by SHR): Since the team already has a relationship with Monster Energy, it would make sense to add Riley Herbst and his Monster deal, but Herbst has indicated that his future is not yet set. Corey Heim is the driver of the team’s future, but it could be another year or two before he’s fully ready for Cup.
Team Penske
2: Austin Cindric hinted last week that he has signed for next season (it didn’t seem like he was on the hot seat anyway). It wasn’t an announcement that he signed anything recently, but rather a clarification of any confusion that had arisen from some comments following his Gateway win earlier this year.
12: Ryan Blaney has signed a contract at least until next year and no changes are expected.
22: Joey Logano has a contract at least until next year and no changes are expected.
RFK race
6: Brad Keselowski is a co-owner and is expected to be back in this car next year.
17: Chris Buescher has a contract at least until next year and no changes are expected.
60: RFK Racing is in the running for Kroger sponsorship for 2025 and could potentially field a third full-time car if that happens. Brad Keselowski said on Aug. 23 about being willing to field a third full-time car, “Not today, but hopefully soon.” He even left open the possibility of fielding a third car without a charter. Kroger previously sponsored Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece and had good relationships with both when they drove for JTG Daugherty Racing.
Trackhouse racing
1: Ross Chastain has a contract at least until next year and no changes are expected.
99: Daniel Suarez has signed a contract extension that will secure his place next year, the team announced on August 9.
TBA (charter probably acquired by SHR): After Trackhouse announced on August 23 that Zane Smith was fired, it is likely that the team will promote Shane van Gisbergen (who primarily drives for Kaulig in the Xfinity Series) to a Cup car next season. Smith is now looking for a ride.
Chase Briscoe reacts to Christopher Bell’s JGR spoiler
Richard Childress Racing
3: Austin Dillon is signed to a contract at least through next year. While there are rumors that he might retire (like his grandfather Richard Childress did for Dale Earnhardt decades ago), it’s much more likely that he’ll be back in that car next season.
8: Kyle Busch has a contract at least until next year and no changes are expected.
33: The team had considered purchasing a third full-time car for next year, but that seems much less likely than it did in early June.
Haas factory team
41: Cole Custer was announced on July 20 as the driver for this team next year. The reigning Xfinity Series champion and current series points leader, who spent 2020-2022 in the Cup Series with SHR, was the natural choice for this car with his Xfinity performance and the Haas sponsorship he has held throughout his career. The team will remain Ford and have an RFK alliance.
Motorsport-News.de – Motorsport-News.de
34: Noah Gragson has signed with the team for next year. The team has not yet announced if he will be the number 34 or the third car.
36 (charter acquired from SHR): Zane Smith was the top candidate for that spot, but the longer the process goes on, the more speculation there are hurdles (sponsorship required) to get that deal across the finish line. Chandler Smith was the other likely candidate. Sam Mayer has been in talks with the team, but has signed to stay in the Xfinity Series with the Haas Factory Team. The race number is also yet to be determined, as Front Row is considering changing its race number lineup.
38: Todd Gilliland has signed a contract at least through next season and no changes are expected.
Todd Gilliland discusses unexpected contract extension with Front Row Motorsports
Spire Motorsports
7: Corey LaJoie was under contract through next season but learned on July 24 that he will not drive for Spire. Justin Haley, whose performance at Rick Ware Racing has attracted the attention of some major teams, is the favorite for that spot. The team, whose relationships and partnerships include some overlap with Hendrick and Trackhouse, has announced that current SHR crew chief Rodney Childers will be the car’s crew chief next year while current crew chief Ryan Sparks focuses on his role as competition director.
71: Michael McDowell (currently driving for Front Row Motorsports) has signed with Spire through at least next season to replace Zane Smith. McDowell will likely bring crew chief Travis Peterson with him to Spire.
77: Carson Hocevar is under contract until at least next season. His performance this year was strong enough to potentially get other teams looking at him, but he is expected to stay with Spire until 2025.
Legacy Motor Club
42: John Hunter Nemechek has signed a contract at least through next season and no changes are expected.
43: As announced on August 13, Erik Jones has signed a contract extension that should keep him at No. 43 at least through 2026.
JTG Daugherty Racing
47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has a contract at least until next season and no changes are expected.
Rick Ware Racing
15: With multiple drivers (Kaz Grala is the final driver), this deployment would be possible if a driver came with sponsorship. Ryan Preece has experience as a driver for RWR, having driven two races with the team in 2022.
51: Justin Haley is signed through at least next year, but it seems there are options for him to leave or get out of the contract. He is the favorite for Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 car. Why the move? Spire and Hendrick have a close relationship, and a strong showing at Spire could make him more of a contender for a Hendrick (or another Chevrolet) car. This could potentially end up almost like a trade, as soon-to-be former Spire driver Corey LaJoie is a candidate to replace him.
Kaulig Racing
16: AJ Allmendinger will return to Cup full-time in 2025, in the same car he drove during the 2023 season.
31: Daniel Hemric is out of contract for next season. That job will likely depend on sponsorship. The team and Ty Dillon flirted with each other last year before failing to close the deal. Dillon has started a few times this year in Kaulig’s No. 16 car and shouldn’t be ruled out for that car in 2025.
Wood Brothers Race
21: Josh Berry has been announced as the driver of this car for 2025, as the SHR driver will replace Harrison Burton. Burton has some sponsors he could bring with him, but his landing spot for 2025 is unclear, as a return to Trucks or Xfinity is possible.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has covered motorsports for decades, including over 30 Daytona 500s, and has worked for ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene Magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @Subscribe.
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