What’s Happening?

NASCAR Silly Season is in full swing, and fans and pundits are searching high and low for clues to all the unanswered questions. For Silly Season to exist, there have to be rides available for drivers to slot into, and these are all of the open seats in the 2025 NASCAR Silly Season.

• For this list, we will include every seat where it is either announced or reasonably expected that the current driver may not return in 2025. We will also include brand-new teams entering into the Cup Series.
• Just because a driver’s contract is expiring does not mean they expect to move on. We want to keep the focus on the seats that are the most likely to change in 2025.
• Fans watch Silly Season like a hawk, especially as the season moves into its’ later stages. It can feel like musical chairs as drivers search for the few seats open for 2025.

No. 15 AND No. 51 (?) – Rick Ware Racing

Rick Ware Racing is a bit of a mystery, with one All-Star Car competing alongside Justin Haley in 2024. Haley’s name has popped up occasionally for other rides, but he has publicly declared he is committed to Rick Ware Racing, at least for now. The second RWR seat could potentially be interesting to watch for someone with funding who could potentially gain a full-time ride.

No. 16 AND No. 31 – Kaulig Racing

Kaulig is in a similar spot to Rick Ware Racing with one “All-Star Car” and one full-time driver. Daniel Hemric has not impressed in his first Cup Series season with Kaulig, and Bob Pockrass recently reported that sponsorship could determine who ends up here. Maybe drivers with funding could end up here instead of RWR.

No. 21 – The Wood Brothers

Harrison Burton seems all but gone from The Wood Brothers as he has shown no improvement in his third season. Josh Berry is the latest name linked to The Wood Brothers, but this is not the only team he has been linked to. This ride might come down to how other rides shake out.

No. 34 and No. 36(?) – Front Row Motorsports

Front Row Motorsports needs to fill two cars, with Michael McDowell leaving for Spire and the intention to field a third car in 2025. Plenty of drivers are candidates for this ride, according to a recent Bob Pockrass report, including SHR free agents Noah Gragson and Josh Berry, along with lower series drivers Sam Mayer and Christian Eckes. This ride might be the most highly coveted of Silly Season.

No. 43 – Legacy Motor Club

Pockrass also reported that Erik Jones is exploring his options for 2025. However, it’s tough to envision any other open team Jones can realistically go to being an upgrade. Anything is possible, but it seems most likely that Jones stays put.

No. Unknown – Trackhouse

Trackhouse is one of three teams linked to purchasing one of SHR’s four open charters. The team will likely have five drivers under contract, with only three seats available for 2025. Zane Smith, Shane Van Gisbergen, and Connor Zilisch could all be in new places in 2025, with SVG and Smith both potentially fighting for that third Trackhouse seat.

No. Unknown – 23XI Racing

23XI Racing is also linked to purchasing an SHR charter, and the ride seems to be a two-horse race. Riley Herbst brings funding and a partnership with the current 23XI Racing sponsor, Monster Energy. Corey Heim is Toyota’s top lower-series prospect, but could Toyota keep him down for one more season?

No. Unknown – Haas Factory Team

Gene Haas will retain one charter to start Haas Factory team from what is left of Stewart-Haas Racing. All signs point to Cole Custer being involved with the team in some capacity, but is the Cup Series where he ends up? We will have to see.

**This article will be updated as Silly Season rolls on**