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As the 2024 season approaches, the speculation turns to which race teams can get better in 2024. Every race team hopes they got better in the offseason, but, which race teams are most likely to show improvement in 2024? Here are the 5 teams most likely to improve in 2024.
Frankly, this is largely a “There’s no way to go but up” scenario, but, there are good reasons for why Rick Ware Racing is likely to head upwards. They signed Justin Haley to drive full-time, who is by far the team’s most talented full-time driver they have ever had. They also have an alliance with RFK Racing, which is on an upward trajectory.
Now, Rick Ware Racing’s bar is very low as their chartered entries finished 34th and 35th in owner’s points in 2023, and an RWR car has never finished higher than 33rd. Consistently running in the top 25 with some top 20 runs is a good goal for RWR this season.
However, this team has yet to prove they can consistently run anywhere outside of the bottom of the scoring pylon. They have been consistently there since they joined NASCAR in 2017, so, even a small step like this would be a major change for the team.
23XI Racing had a very successful 2023 season. Both drivers made the Playoffs and Tyler Reddick won three races on the way to the Round of 8. When it comes to improvement, the only way 23XI can top 2023 is by making the Championship 4.
Reddick has two three-win seasons under his belt, so, fans know he can drive. Bubba Wallace has shown consistent improvement year after year as well with his first Playoff appearance in 2023. If that trend continues, this team should continue to get better.
However, making the Championship 4 is a tall task, and 23XI is still heavily tied to Joe Gibbs Racing. Can 23XI Racing escape JGR’s shadow to compete with the heavyweights? Doing it one weekend is one thing, but, beating them throughout a season to make a Championship 4 is a tall task.
RFK Racing surprised everyone as both drivers made the Playoffs and Chris Buescher won three races. Throughout the late summer stretch into the early races in the Playoffs, Buscher looked like a borderline Championship contender. Still, Brad Keselowski failed to win a race, and Buescher was knocked out in the Round of 8, so, there is room to grow in the race team.
Buescher had three wins and an average finish of 6.9 between his win at Richmond and the Bristol Night race in 2023, that’s a Championship level performance. If he can stretch that over the course of a full season, making the Championship 4 is more than reasonable. His three wins in 2023 make it very possible that Keselowski can notch his first win as a team owner as well.
However, the end of their 2023 season was not great. Buescher fizzled out some as the Playoffs wore on, and Keselowski had a similar stretch. They’ve shown what they can do at their best, now it is about doing that on a consistent basis.
Spire Motorsports stole the headlines throughout the fall by buying a new charter, buying Kyle Busch Motorsports, and signing two exciting rookies. 2023 also saw their best driver performance yet as Corey LaJoie finished 26th in points, and he was in the top 20 during the summer.
Bringing in Carson Hocevar, who outperformed Spire’s second driver in 2023, Ty Dillon, and Zane Smith on loan from Trackhouse means Spire’s driver lineup is as talented as ever. Their recent influx of cash and new shop means the team has as many resources as it has ever had. Consistent top-20s and maybe a Playoff appearance could be a good goal for the team in 2024.
However, Hocevar and Smith are both young. They will likely struggle some throughout their first season as most rookies do. It’s also no guarantee that LaJoie will get better alongside the team. Remember how he performed with Hendrick Motorsports at Gateway in the summer?
Legacy Motor Club has turned almost everything upside down for 2024. The team has new employees, a new driver in John Hunter Nemechek, and they are now a key partner Toyota team. Everything is in place for the team to improve.
With the combination of the talented Nemechek and the return of 2022 Southern 500 winner, Erik Jones, the driver lineup for Legacy Motor Club is as good as it has ever been. Making the Playoffs would be a great goal for the team heading into 2024. With all of their new resources in place, this team should improve.
However, making a shift to a brand-new manufacturer is not always smooth. There is a lot of new surrounding Legacy Motor Club, and it may take a while to work out the kinks. Once they do, watch out.
Which team is most likely to improve heading into 2024? Did we miss everyone on this list?
