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Another week down means another week of NASCAR Silly Season news. With the Cup Series officially at the halfway mark, plenty of questions still need answers as to who’s going where for the 2025 season. Chase Briscoe is confirmed to go to the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 next year, but what about some other names still looking for a home? Let’s dive into this week’s edition of NASCAR Silly Season.
The worst-kept secret in the garage is officially out (in part thanks to Christopher Bell). Chase Briscoe was confirmed to drive the No. 19 at Joe Gibbs Racing next season, replacing Martin Truex Jr. After weeks of speculation and PR blunders from a certain Loudon winner, we finally know where the Indiana native will drive in 2025. Bass Pro Shops will stay on as a primary sponsor, including for the season-opening Daytona 500.
Briscoe sits 16th in the standings and is coming off a second-place finish at New Hampshire in Sunday’s race. Briscoe brings the perfect balance of youth and experience that Joe Gibbs is looking to add to his lineup. A driver lineup of Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Bell, and now Briscoe is one to watch for JGR in 2025.
Could Josh Berry finally have a home for next season? The SHR rookie came out last week, saying he feels better about his chances in Cup than a few weeks ago. This could correlate with the report that Josh Berry has been talking with the Wood Brothers about driving the No. 21 car in 2025. It is likely that Harrison Burton will not return to the 21 next season, and with Briscoe off the market, their attention looks to shift towards the five-time Xfinity Series winner.
It makes sense for Ford to keep Berry in the stable after losing Briscoe to Toyota. The No. 4 team is riding a wave of momentum, with four top-10s in the last six races. Berry was in contention to win the last two races at Iowa and New Hampshire, finishing seventh and third in those races. He’ll still most likely need a win to make the playoffs, but the Hendersonville, Tenn., native is making a strong push to stay in Cup for a sophomore season.
A new name for NASCAR Silly Season is Erik Jones. Bob Pockrass reported that Jones is unsigned for 2025, though Legacy Motor Club does intend on keeping the two-time Southern 500 winner. While the team has struggled during the season, it was to be expected with the switch to Toyota, coupled with the injury Jones sustained at Talladega in the spring.
Jones does have options in terms of open seats available. He could push for a third 23XI seat if they buy a charter, though that would likely go to Corey Heim or Riley Herbst and stay in the Toyota camp. He could push for one of the two seats at Front Row Motorsports, especially with the team reaching “Tier One” status, though it seems highly unlikely. The Wood Brothers are a possibility, but similar to Front Row, Jones’ name has not been in the mix. It’s more than likely Jones will stay in the 43 for at least one more year as the team builds on its new Toyota alliance.
If Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down wasn’t a big enough shocker, Gene Haas keeping a charter and starting his own team might take the cake. Haas announced last week that he’d keep the fourth SHR charter, in addition to retaining the two-car Xfinity Series team. This opens the door for many possibilities as to who will take those three seats in 2025.
Cole Custer is the presumed favorite to land the Cup ride. The 2023 Xfinity Series champion leads the Xfinity Series standings, and with his father, Joe Custer, taking command of operations, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 2020 Cup Series Rookie of the Year make his return to full-time Cup duties. As for the Xfinity Series rides, names like Harrison Burton and Ryan Preece could fill those seats, though Herbst could stay put if he doesn’t move up to Cup.
Which name will be the next to fall in Silly Season? Where do these guys end up? What do you think about all this? Let us know on Discord or X what your take is, and don’t forget you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and even YouTube.
