With less than two weeks until drivers take the green flag at Daytona for the 2025 NASCAR National Series season, fans can finally look back at the 2025 Silly Season. This was one of the busiest Silly Seasons in recent NASCAR history. Of all these moves, what ones may be looked back on as “overrated” in the future?
Jack Wood will make his return to full-time Truck Series action in 2025 with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. Wood joins newcomers Daniel Hemric and Connor Mosack, as well as a returning Tyler Ankrum at a new-look MHR.
MHR had a dominant presence, with Christian Eckes driving the No. 19 in 2024. Eckes tallied 22 top-tens in 23 races, falling short of a championship in the playoffs. MHR is taking this momentum to expand from two to four full-time trucks in 2025.
While former Xfinity Series Champion Daniel Hemric takes over the No. 19, the team is bringing their part-time No. 91 full-time with Wood in 2025. Wood has 61 career Truck Series starts with teams like MHR, Kyle Busch Motorsports, and GMS Racing.
Despite this resume, including a full-time season with GMS in 2022, Wood has just three top tens finishes, including a high of ninth with KBM in 2023. This signing wasn’t exactly at the top of anyone’s Silly Season list; however, it could cause a downturn in momentum at MHR.
While Wood could use some consistency as the new young driver at MHR, his past stats do not fill the gap left by Eckes’ departure to Kaulig Racing. This signing could go either way in 2025. On track, MHR and Wood will have to prove the doubters wrong.
What’s Happening? Today, after a short period of speculation, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing confirmed they will field a fourth truck in 2025. Jack…
Entering the 2025 Xfinity Series season, many fans are focused on the battle between JR Motorsports teammates Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch. However, in the 2024 ARCA Menards Series season, Zilisch fought hard against one driver week in and week out.
Since 2023, William Sawalich has laid ownership of the ARCA Menards Series. In 27 races in 2023 and 2024, Sawalich has 13 wins with Joe Gibbs Racing, including nine in 2024. He also won back-to-back ARCA East titles in 2023 and 2024, winning four races in the former and three in the latter season.
With all this hype, Sawalich is jumping full-time Truck Series action and setting his sites on the Xfinity Series title. However, his limited stats in the NASCAR National Series suggest that he could disappoint in 2025.
In 2023, his first season of part-time Truck Series competition, Sawalich showed skill with Tricon Garage, scoring three top-tens in six races. However, in his expanded 10-race 2024 schedule, Sawalich had a best finish of 11th despite solid starting spots.
These stats followed into his Xfinity Series debut with JGR at Homestead. In his three races, Sawalich started outside the top ten twice and finished no better than 13th. Though he had a pole start in his last race in 2024, it was a tough year for the young driver.
He could adjust throughout 2025; however, if he struggles once again, the hype surrounding this Rookie could wear off.
What’s Happening? William Sawalich is Joe Gibbs Racing’s next top prospect. Monday afternoon, JGR awarded him a full-time ride with the…
One of the first NASCAR Cup Series Silly Season moves of 2024 was Spire Motorsports announcing their signing of Front Row Motorsports veteran Michael McDowell. The former Daytona 500 Champion went on to have a winless yet fast 2024 season, leading the Cup Series in Poles before departing FRM.
As Spire continues to grow, this signing is rather interesting. For their 2025 lineup, they have one of the most veteran drivers in the field, an experienced winner in Justin Haley, and the reining Rookie of the Year in Carson Hocevar. When looking at their current talent, McDowell is an odd choice to give a “Multi-Year Contract.”
While McDowell showed a lot of speed in 2024 and is a fan favorite, he is 40-year-old. When evaluating his age and the 2025 Silly Season class, it feels almost as if they signed the first available winning free agent.
Looking at that Silly Season class the drivers on the move for 2025, included Ryan Preece, Chase Briscoe, and even the 2024 driver of the No. 71, Zane Smith.
Smith was not under contract with Spire last year but with Trackhouse Racing, which released him after early struggles. Spire couldn’t have known Smith would be available long-term in May when they announced the McDowell signing.
Depending on his and the team’s performance, this could be viewed as an “Overrated” move by year’s end. However, McDowell’s signing could equally represent the changing tide at Spire. As the team continues to grow and gain youth, McDowell could serve the role of a crafty tenured teacher to their young talent.
What’s Happening? Spire Motorsports has had a stellar Silly Season this year, making big addition after big addition. Now, the team…
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