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NASCAR Silly Season has been as silly as silly can be at this point. Plenty of driver changes, and plenty of moving pieces that were completely unexpected. It can be hard to keep up, so here is a look at every major silly season move so far.
Josh Berry is finally about to get his chance at the sport’s highest level as he moves to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024 to drive the 4 car. Kevin Harvick is gone, and that opened up the spot for Berry. People are happy for Berry, but, given SHR’s decline in performance, some wonder whether or not this is the best place for Berry.
In a shock of all shocks, Justin Haley announced that he was moving on from Kaulig Racing to Rick Ware Racing in 2024. Many assumed that Haley would stick with Kaulig, but, it seemed that Haley’s lack of funding could have played a role in this split. Rick Ware Racing’s stock has definitely risen over the last year, but, is Haley the driver that will take them to the next level?
Denny Hamlin’s contract extension took far longer than many expected, and it even caused some crazy speculation about 23XI Racing potentially switching manufacturers. However, Hamlin re-signed with JGR, and 23XI will stay with Toyota aligned with JGR, at least for now. In a few years when Hamlin and 23XI are potentially in a different place, we will see.
Front Row Motorsports was one of the most interesting race teams throughout Silly Season because they would likely have to pick two drivers out of the crop of Todd Gilliland, Michael McDowell, and Zane Smith. FRM elected to turn down Smith in favor of the same lineup for 2024. The move has some residual effects we will see later in this list, but, it makes sense in a lot of ways for FRM.
After a chaotic and difficult season, things are looking up for Legacy Motor Club as they signed John Hunter Nemechek to join the team in 2024. Nemechek joins Legacy Motor Club alongside Toyota for 2024 after Noah Gragson was granted his request for release. Nemechek makes his return to the highest level of the sport after an unsuccessful 2022 campaign for Front Row Motorsports
Chris Rice teased a “surprise” for a replacement for Justin Haley in the 31 car, and Daniel Hemric was…not the surprise fans expected. It is the definition of a safe bet, even if it may not be the most flashy choice. Regardless, Hemric makes his return to Cup competition after a few seasons away from the top level.
So, here’s the story. Trackhouse signed Zane Smith to a contract, but he will drive for Spire in 2024 as the two teams form a technical alliance as Spire fields a third car from a charter purchased from Live Fast Motorsports. However, Spire owns the charter, not Trackhouse. Get it? Well, even if you don’t the bottom line is that Zane Smith is finally going Cup racing after years of success in the Truck Series.
Carson Hocevar was the hot pick of many to land this ride, and he officially announced a multi-year contract with Spire on NASCAR Race Hub. It’s a move that many people predicted, but, now that it has happened, it officially means Spire will have a three car team in 2024. It’s also the end of an interesting road for Hocevar, who had not won an ARCA race or a NASCAR National Touring Series race before this season began.
Aric Almirola confirmed what had been rumored for weeks, that he would be retiring from full-time Cup Series competition. However, he is not retiring from racing full-time, however, so, he is a candidate to drive part-time in 2024. There are plenty of teams that offer one-off and part-time rides, so, Almirola may find himself in some sort of series in 2024.
SVG will run a full Xfinity Series schedule with Kaulig Racing alongside a 7-race Cup Series slate. WeatherTech will sponsor the majority of SVG’s races in 2024. He recently stated that he hopes to run in the Cup Series full-time in 2025, and this may put him on the path to that.
Stewart-Haas Racing signed Noah Gragson to replace Aric Almirola in the 10-car for 2024. Gragson signed a multi-year deal, but, sponsorship was not announced. Drew Blickensderfer will be the crew chief.
Kaz Grala will be in the Cup Series for at least 29 races in 2024. He will compete for Rick Ware Racing in 25 races along with Daytona and Talladega races for Beard Motorsports. This comes after a full-time Xfinity Series season with Sam Hunt Racing in 2023.
Kaz Grala will compete in at least one extra race for Front Row Motorsports in their 36 open entry into the Daytona 500. The #36 car made 9 appearances with Riley Herbst and Zane Smith driving, and each driver recorded one top-10 finish.
For the second season in a row, Riley Herbst will race part-time for Rick Ware Racing in the Cup Series. His first race will be the Daytona 500, where he finished 10th for the team in 2023. Herbst joins Kaz Grala (25 races) alongside a reported entry for Cody Ware (10 races) to fill out RWR’s 2nd car alongside Justin Haley, who will drive full-time in the #51.
Many people tabbed Austin Hill as a candidate to land a Cup ride such as the Kaulig Racing 31 car, but, he instead decided to re-sign with Richard Childress Racing. It may be a surprising move to many, but, why would Hill not want to keep racing for wins in the Xfinity Series? His best option up the ladder was likely with a mid-pack team, so, why not go back to RCR?
Many people were left speculating for months about who would replace Josh Berry, and they got their answer. Sammy Smith is moving on from Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024 to drive for JR Motorsports. It may not have been the most expected move, but it could allow some of Toyota’s top prospects to move up quicker than expected.
Hailie Deegan has struggled in her time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, so, she is moving on to the Xfinity Series. Yeah, it normally doesn’t work like that, but, her performance in her lone Xfinity Series start last year has given people some hope. Is this the move she needs to make to finally hit her stride?
Riley Herbst has re-signed with Stewart-Haas Racing. This comes after a tough season in 2023 where he missed the Playoffs, but he brings funding and some youth to a terribly depleted Ford pipeline. However, it does not do much else to answer the plans of SHR for 2024 except that Herbst will not replace Aric Almirola should he retire.
Kaulig Racing officially announced that Chandler Smith received a buyout of his contract at Kaulig Racing. While Smith did not officially announce his plans for 2024, the rumor is that Joe Gibbs Racing would be the place for Smith in 2024. Smith has a history in the Toyota camp, so, it could happen.
Jesse Love dominated the ARCA Menards Series with 10 wins in 20 races this season. He became a hot commodity, but Toyota decided to let him go for 2024. RCR signing Love means they have a young prospect to build up, and it also means that Chevrolet has poached two Toyota prospects in the same Silly Season.
Cole Custer announced he would be returning to SHR in the Xfinity Series for 2024, which means that SHR will have the same Xfinity Series lineup for 2024. Custer was mentioned by some as a candidate to take over for Aric Almirola in the 10-car in the Cup Series, however, SHR decided to bring him back to Xfinity. This may open the door for the most recent favorite for the 10 car, Noah Gragson, to take over the ride.
Jordan Anderson Racing will run it back with Parker Retzlaff and Jeb Burton for 2024. Burton brought home the team’s first Xfinity Series win this season at Talladega, and Retzlaff had some solid runs as well. Retzlaff was rumored by some fans to be a candidate for the RCR #2 ride, but that went to Jesse Love.
Alpha Prime has signed on their second full-time driver for 2024, Brennan Poole. Poole spent the 2023 season with JD Motorsports along with a part-time Cup Series schedule with Rick Ware Racing. Poole joins Ryan Ellis as the two full-time drivers for the team in 2024, which did not have a full-time driver for any of its’ 2023 cars.
Kyle Weatherman will finally get his opportunity to race full-time in 2024 with DGM Racing. Weatherman raced part-time for DGM this season, which was along with starts for JD Motorsports and Our Motorsports. His best finish this season was 13th.
A major surprise to many in NASCAR Silly Season, Josh Williams makes the move from DGM to Kaulig Racing for 2024. He replaces Daniel Hemric in the 11 car, who moves on to the Cup Series for 2024 with Kaulig. This is a major opportunity for Williams, and it will be interesting to see how he does.
Sam Hunt Racing announced that Kaz Grala would not be returning to the team for 2024. This opens up at least one full-time seat at the team for 2024. With Toyota completely revamping their NASCAR teams, it will be interesting to see who takes over this seat.
Kyle Sieg will drive full-time for his father Rod at RSS Racing in 2024. He ran in 31 of the 33 races in 2023 with one top-10 finish at Atlanta. This will be the first time he has run full-time in his Xfinity Series career.
Dawson Cram will be the next full-time driver for JD Motorsports in 2024. Sources tell Daily Downforce that team owner Johnnny Davis was impressed with the 22-year-old Cram’s late-season runs in the Xfinity Series.
Kaulig Racing’s full-time Xfinity Series lineup is now set with A.J. Allmendinger teaming up with Josh Williams for 2024. Allmendinger returns to the Xfinity Series full-time after two Cup Series seasons with Kaulig Racing. Kaulig mentioned that Allmendinger will run select Cup Series races, but those races have not been announced. Bob Pockrass reported that Allmendinger will race in select Cup Series races in either a third Kaulig car or in the second chartered car part-time should a full-time driver not be signed.
Anthony Alfredo moves back to Our Motorsports for 2024 full-time in the renumbered 5-car. Alfredo spent 2022 with the team, recording 1 top-5, 4 top-10s, and 1 pole. 2024 will be Alfredo’s third full-time Xfinity Series season.
JGR will expand from 3 to 4 full-time Xfinity Series cars in 2024. Sheldon Creed and Chandler Smith will drive full-time for the team in the 18 and 81 car respectively. John Hunter Nemechek (10 Races) and Aric Almirola will split the 20 car for “The majority” of the races. Ryan Truex, Joe Graf Jr., and Taylor Gray will split the 19 car before William Sawalich takes over for the final three races.
Blaine Perkins joins RSS Racing full-time in 2024. This rounds out RSS Racing’s lineup for 2024 with Ryan Sieg and Kyle Sieg being teammates with Perkins.
Leland Honeyman Jr. will join a brand new Xfinity Series team in 2024, Young’s Motorsports. Young’s Motorsports has run full-time in the Truck Series since 2014, but this will be their first Xfinity Series season.
Alpha Prime Racing announced that their 3rd car, the #45 car, will be reduced to a part-time schedule. Caesar Bachcarella will race for the team in four Superspeedway races, including the season opener at Daytona.
Josh Bilicki returns to DGM for 2024 on a partial schedule. Kyle Weatherman will drive for the team full-time in 2024. Bilicki will race in the Daytona 500 in addition to a to be announced amount of additional races.
Brad Perez announced he would be piloting an Alpha Prime car part-time in 2024 along with serving as the team’s reserve driver. The only race announced so far for him is Circuit of the Americas in March.
Corey Heim will join Sam Hunt Racing on a part-time schedule starting with the spring race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Heim raced four times for Sam Hunt Racing in 2023 with one top-10 finish.
Jeffrey Earnhardt will join Sam Hunt Racing for an undetermined amount of races in 2024. His first race will be at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February, and ForeverLawn will be his sponsor.
Kaulig Racing has signed their first driver for the number 10. Daniel Dye will race the car for 10 races in 2024 in addition to his full-time Truck Series schedule.
Sage Karam returns Sam Hunt Racing for 2024. He spent 2023 with Alpha Prime, MBM, and one race with Sam Hunt. He finished 4th in his one start with SHR at Road America.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a busier man than Patrick Emerling in 2024. Emerling will compete full-time in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, and he will also compete in 24 races for SS Greenlight in the #07 car.
In another shocking move, Spire Motorsports showed they may be living at the end of a rainbow by buying out Kyle Busch Motorsports. Spire is undoubtedly showing that they have major plans for their future, but it is still uncertain what they will do with the assets they bought from KBM. As for Kyle Busch, it allows him to spend more time with his family and on his Cup Series efforts.
One of the Truck Series’ most prominent teams, GMS Racing, announced they would close their doors in 2024. As for their drivers, Daniel Dye is moving on to Bill McAnally, but Grant Enfinger and Rajah Caruth have yet to announce their plans. It is a tough day for many Truck Series fans as GMS had many great moments through the years.
Matt DiBenedetto surprised many by announcing he would be moving on, but more were surprised when Rackley W.A.R. cut ties with DiBenedetto before the season ended. Neither side has announced their plans for 2024, and their divorce was a messy one.
Daniel Dye keeps the same number on a different team in 2024. He moves to McAnally-Hilgemann Racing from GMS, who shut down following the 2023 season. His only top-10 of 2023 came at Talladega, where he finished sixth.
Carson Hocevar’s replacement was announced the day after Hocevar signed with Spire. Matt Mills comes to the team for his first full-time Truck Series season, but he is by no means a rookie. He’s mainly competed in the Xfinity Series throughout his career, and he showed some promise in limited action with Kyle Busch Motorsports this season. Maybe this is the move he has been waiting for.
Dean Thompson struggled this season with TRICON Garage, but, they will re-up with him for 2024. Thompson did enjoy his best career finish at Talladega and Charlotte, finishing third. Some wondered if this seat could go to Jesse Love after a 10-win ARCA season, but Thompson stays in the seat for 2024.
Bayley Currey has enjoyed his best racing season yet with Niece Motorsports. He had four top-10 finishes and three top-5s in 10 races for Niece Motorsports this season. It’s the perfect time seemingly for him to jump up to a full-time ride in the series, and, with Carson Hocevar gone, he has a chance to be a number 1 driver.
ThorSport has announced their Hailie Deegan replacement, and it is Jake Garcia. Garcia had 9 top-10s and 3 top-5s this season for Bill McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. This will be his first complete full-time Truck Series season as he missed the season opener at Daytona due to it being before his 18th birthday.
Bob Pockrass reported first that Chase Purdy and Nick Sanchez will officially be driving for Spire Motorsports in 2024 in the Truck Series. This does not come as a major surprise as both were under contract with KBM for 2024. Pockrass later clarified that Sanchez will still rive a Rev Racing truck in 2024, keeping the alliance alive from when Spire bought out KBM.
Tyler Ankrum joins McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the new 18 truck for 2024. This means McAnally will run three full-time trucks in 2024, up from 2 in 2023. Ankrum has one Truck Series win, and he partners with Christian Eckes and Daniel Dye.
Timmy Hill will be a full-time owner-driver in 2024. This is his first full-time NASCAR season since 2022, when he was in the Truck Series as well.
Grant Enfinger will pilot the number 9 truck for CR7 in 2024. He nearly won the Championship in 2023, and he raced for CR7 in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023. The team recorded only one top-10 finish in 2023 in the Truck Series.
Front Row Motorsports now has its full driver lineup for 2024. They signed Layne Riggs to a multi-year deal to race for the team in the Craftsman Truck Series. Riggs impressed in the CARS Tour this year, and he raced for Kaulig a few times towards the end of 2023 in the Xfinity Series.
William Sawalich rounded out his 2024 racing schedule with a part-time ride in the Truck Series with TRICON Garage. Sawalich is only eligible to run on short tracks until he turns 18 in November.
Thad Moffitt, the grandson of Richard Petty, joins the new Faction46 race team for 2024. It will be Moffitt’s first full-time season in the Truck Series. Faction46 is based out of Oklahoma, and they will have an alliance with Niece Motorsports
Ty Dillon joins Rackley W.A.R. in the Truck Series for 2024. Dillon struggled with Spire Motorsports in 2023, but, he has 3 career Truck Series wins. Rackley W.A.R. made the Playoffs for the first time in 2022 with Matt DiBenedetto.
In an expected move, Chase Purdy signed with Spire Motorsports for the 2024 season. Purdy spent 2023 with Kyle Busch Motorsports before KBM was bought out by Spire. 2024 will be Purdy’s fourth full-time Truck Series season.
Spencer Boyd and Chris Miller have formed Freedom Racing Enterprises, who Boyd will drive for in 2024. Former NASCAR on Fox analyst, Jeff Hammond, will serve as the team’s GM. Boyd spent 2023 with Young’s Motorsports.
Stefan Parsons has signed a deal with Henderson Motorsports to drive the 75 truck in 2024. He did not specify if it would be part-time or full-time. He competed in 18 races with various teams across the Xfinity and Truck Series in 2023.
Lawless Alan moves on from Niece Motorsports to Reaume Brothers Racing for 2024. Alan struggled in 2023, failing to record a top-10 with Niece, while teammate, Carson Hocevar, made the Championship 4.
Bret Holmes Racing announced some interesting changes for 2024. While Bret Holmes will return to the team to run full-time, the team now has a technical alliance with Spire Motorsports. Spire is a newer Truck team, but they have resources after buying out Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Rajah Caruth will be the third full-time driver under contract at Spire Motorsports for 2024. Caruth joins the team after 3 top-10s in the final 7 races for GMS Racing in 2023. HendrickCars.com will sponsor Caruth for 10 races.
Niece Motorsports will field an All-Star Truck in 2024 with Ross Chastain, Johnny Sauter, Kaden Honeycutt, and Connor Mosack. Sauter will race at Daytona, while Chastain will compete in 5 races. Niece was not specific on Honeycutt and Mosack’s schedules.
Young’s Motorsports has their full-time Truck Series driver for 2024. Mason Massey will drive the #02 car for the team in his first full-time season at any level of NASCAR. Massey replaces Spencer Boyd as the team’s anchor driver. Boyd moved on to start his own team, Freedom Racing Enterprises.
Silly season continues to be crazy, and it is not done yet. Refer back to this page for more major Silly Season updates!
