These Are the Next Moves in NASCAR Silly Season

What’s Happening?

NASCAR Silly Season has been kicked into high gear with Martin Truex Jr. stepping away and Gene Haas staying in the sport via the rebranded “Haas Factory Team.” However, these moves only raise more Silly Season questions. Which moves will we see next in Silly Season?

  • Some of these future moves are directly related to the recent announcements. However, some have been in the works for a while, and no one knows when they will be announced.
  • Many people already have a solid idea of how some of these moves will work. On the other hand, others remain relative mysteries.
  • Fans love to follow Silly Season. These moves are the stories fans are watching for, and they are curious to see how everything works out.

Martin Truex Jr.’s Replacement (Chase Briscoe?)

Martin Truex Jr. will not race full-time in 2025 for Joe Gibbs Racing, and his replacement seems all but assured. Multiple reports indicate that Chase Briscoe is the favorite to land this ride. Freddie Kraft claimed on a recent episode of “Door, Bumper, Clear” that an announcement could come as early as next week.

This would make a lot of sense. Briscoe is currently the top driver at SHR, and he’s impressed while in lackluster equipment. Drop him into a top team, and he could reach his full potential.

Charter Acquisitions (Front Row?, Trackhouse?, 23XI?)

Multiple reports have indicated that Front Row, Trackhouse, and 23XI Racing are each set to purchase one of the three SHR charters available. However, the current charter agreement negotiations could put this on hold.

Until a charter agreement, there probably won’t be any announcements on these charters. Yes, Front Row announced they plan to start a third team in 2025, but that announcement did not indicate they officially purchased a charter. Until the charter agreement comes together, these moves won’t happen.

Trackhouse Musical Chairs

With Zane Smith out at Spire Motorsports at the end of the season, Trackhouse has five drivers under contract with maybe three cars available if they purchase a charter. With Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain expected to be back, Trackhouse needs to accommodate Zane Smith and SVG somehow.

Who do they put in the Cup Series? If one driver needs to stay in Xfinity, what does Trackhouse do with Connor Zilisch, a hotshot young prospect? Trackhouse has plenty of tough decisions to make.

SHR Free Agents

With Stewart-Haas Racing rebranding to Haas Factory Team and three charters being sold, the SHR free agents are the ones to watch. Each of these candidates, Noah Gragson, Ryan Preece, and Josh Berry could all end up at Front Row Motorsports. However, The Wood Brothers could have a seat open in 2025 if they release Harrison Burton.

Riley Herbst could go elsewhere, as sources have told us that he could go to 23XI Racing in 2025. Whether that opens up or not is uncertain, but if not, maybe he will stay at Haas for 2025.

What to Do with Corey Heim

Another driver to watch at 23XI Racing is Corey Heim. He will race for 23XI this summer at Nashville on June 30th. However, it’s uncertain how much funding Heim brings with him, so he probably needs some help from Toyota.

He definitely deserves an opportunity in the Cup Series. In his 34 starts since the beginning of 2023, he has 29 top-10 finishes and seven wins. He’s arguably the top prospect in the Truck Series, and Toyota likely doesn’t want to lose out on him like they did with Jesse Love.

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Lionel Racing Reveals First Wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics Diecast

What’s Happening?

Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.

  • This line will include six throwback paint schemes from NASCAR’s 2025 throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Though they did not release one in 2025, this move restarts an annual tradition of Lionel releasing at least one wave of cars carrying the colors of that prior season’s throwback designs.
  • Included in this wave of cars are Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Sammy Smith. Alongside these paint schemes’ debuts in the Authentics line is a new design for the packaging of the 2026 line of NASCAR Authentics.
  • Last season was somewhat turbulent for Lionel as, alongside issues with tariffs, the brand only released three waves of NASCAR Autentics, one wave of NASCAR Autentics Winners Circle diecast, and two waves of Haulers.
  • Lionel announcing the first wave of 2026 early on in the new year is perhaps a sign that 2026 could return this line to its regular release schedule. The post from Lionel Racing also confirmed that the brand will announce another wave by the end of the week, further hinting at a recommitment to the Authentics line.

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SPARTA, KY - JUNE 26: Chase Pistone, driver of the #9 NTS Motorsports Chevrolet, talks with his crew during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 26, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Chase Pistone, NASCAR Trucks and Nationwide Series Driver, Passes Away

What’s Happening?

Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.

  • Chase’s brothers Nick and Tom Pistone confirmed the North Carolina natives’ passing to LegendsNation.com. The cause of Pistone’s passing is unknown. The family asked that media share the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which is 988.
  • Pistone, the grandson of NASCAR legend “Tiger” Tom Pistone, made his way to NASCAR after competing on short tracks in Legends cars and Late Models. He would make his jump to NASCAR via the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2005, racing for Green Light Racing at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Pistone would continue his NASCAR pursuits in 2006, racing in ARCA and the NASCAR Busch Series. Unfortunately, these two starts, at Martinsville with the Busch Series and Iowa with ARCA, would be his last for nearly a decade.
  • Pistone returned to NASCAR in 2014, racing in a combined eight NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races. During this season, his final in NASCAR, the then 30-year-old scored his best National Series finish, ninth place in the Truck Series annual trip to Gateway.

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8 Takeaways From NASCAR At COTA

Three races in, the 2026 season is finally starting to show its hand. COTA shifted narratives, exposed weaknesses, and raised new questions about contenders, pretenders, and everything in between.

  • Has Shane van Gisbergen officially been proven mortal after getting outraced late at Circuit of the Americas?
  • Is 19-year-old Connor Zilisch already ahead of schedule after slicing through the field multiple times?
  • With three straight wins, is Tyler Reddick basically a lock for the postseason this early?
  • And how concerned should the 48 team be after a rough weekend for Alex Bowman?

From substitute drivers being forced into action to points gaps growing faster than expected, COTA delivered more than just a road course chess match. There were momentum swings, reputation hits, and at least one young driver stacking up enemies before stacking up results.

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