What’s Happening

It’s been a quiet week for NASCAR Silly Season for the first time in weeks. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any announcements soon, and there are still plenty of seats available for drivers. So, who could get those seats? Front Row and the Haas Factory Team are still searching for talent, and the lower series are always in flux. Let’s have some fun with this one. Let’s speculate on who could fill these seats for the 2025 season.

• Fans are looking out for three seats in the Cup Series: the third Front Row car, the third 23XI car, and the third Trackhouse car. 23XI and Trackhouse have yet to purchase a third charter, though they have been linked to buying the final two Stewart-Haas charters.
• The Xfinity Series has two cars to watch, both from the re-branded Haas Factory Team. With Cole Custer and Riley Herbst likely moving to Cup, two competitive rides are open for the taking.
• Fans have eagerly waited for announcements on these seats. But who will get them? Let’s speculate!

3rd Front Row Car

Noah Gragson was confirmed as the second driver for Front Row, leaving one seat to fill for Ford’s newest “Tier One” team. Originally, it was rumored that Cole Custer could take over that ride, but now he’ll likely race for the Haas Factory Team in 2025. So who gets it? Thanks to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, there are three drivers in the running: Zane Smith, Christian Eckes, and Sam Mayer. Three young drivers, the type Front Row are looking for, but one stands out above the rest.

Smith is no stranger to FRM. A former Front Row development driver, he raced for the team in the Truck Series from 2020–2023, collecting nine wins and the 2022 championship. FRM is looking for young, experienced drivers, and Smith fits the bill. With his Trackhouse future up in the air, the cards could align for a Zane Smith/Front Row reunion.

3rd 23XI Car

Despite not purchasing a third charter, there has been much speculation at the time of this writing on who would land a third 23XI seat. Originally, it seemed Truck Series phenom Corey Heim would get the seat but now reports suggest that Riley Herbst could move into the ride while Heim stays in the Truck Series for one more year.

Fans are not happy about the thought of Herbst moving to a top Cup Series ride. Despite improvement over the last season and a half, the stats show that the Las Vegas native hasn’t produced results close to Heim. But, as many fans know, money plays a big role in the sport, and Herbst’s deep pockets could overturn Heim’s talent.

Both drivers bring something to the table. Heim brings boatloads of talent, while Herbst brings boatloads of cash. With every passing day, it looks more and more likely that Herbst will land the third 23XI ride, with Heim sticking it out for one more year in the Truck Series. If that does happen, while it won’t be the popular pick or based on merit, Herbst should still be given a chance, just like any rookie stepping into the Cup Series.

3rd Trackhouse Car

Despite being linked to one of the Stewart-Haas charters, Trackhouse has been quiet regarding talks of acquiring one. While Front Row has already purchased one and 23XI has been in talks to buy one, the Justin Marks-led team has been in near-radio silence over the past few months. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t buy a charter, and with a new investor announced this week, it seems more than likely the team will acquire at least one charter. So, who gets the seat?

Two drivers are in the running: Zane Smith and Shane van Gisbergen. Smith is on loan to Spire Motorsports this year, but with Michael McDowell heading to the No. 71 in 2025, he will not have a ride. His rookie struggles have been well documented, although he’s run better in recent weeks, which could scare Trackhouse from putting him in-house (no pun intended).

Meanwhile, SVG has had an impressive rookie season in the Xfinity Series. While he averages an 18th-place finish on the ovals, his road-course results are nothing short of phenomenal. His three road course wins have vaulted him to first place in the playoff standings with 17 playoff points. SVG already has a Cup Series win on his resume, and though he still needs to develop his oval craft, his chances of nabbing a win on a road course might be too good for Trackhouse to pass up.

Haas Factory Team (Xfinity)

Cole Custer is the favorite to land the Haas Factory Team seat in the Cup Series. With an announcement from Custer on Saturday regarding his 2025 plans, it looks more than likely he’ll make his Cup Series return next season. With Custer and Herbst likely to move up, that leaves two competitive seats that the HFT will need to fill next year.

There’s been no chatter on drivers linked to the Xfinity Series seats, so this is pure speculation. Two names that haven’t found homes are Harrison Burton and Ryan Preece. Both have not panned out in the Cup Series and could use a fresh start to revive their careers. They both run for Ford, whom Haas will run with next season. Both are race winners at the Xfinity level, which could be what the Haas Factory Team needs. It could be a win-win for both drivers to get competitive equipment, and Haas could add two quality drivers to his lineup.

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