Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series program will undergo a complete overhaul in 2024. John Hunter Nemechek will move to Legacy Motor Club in the Cup Series, and Sammy Smith will move on to the JR Motorsports 8 car. This season, the 19 car has been an All-Star car, but, should Gibbs consider making this car a full-time car for 2024?
Joe Gibbs Racing has three drivers who are realistic candidates for the ride in 2024 as follows: Sheldon Creed, Chandler Smith, and Ryan Truex. Of course, a surprise candidate like Trevor Bayne or Myatt Snider could jump in there as well, but those are the three most likely based on on-track performance.
Well, JGR had only two cars run full-time this season. Truex, who won this year at Dover, admitted in April that his goal is to race full-time in Xfinity in 2024. Sheldon Creed’s plans to join JGR were potentially outed by Austin Hill at Martinsville, and Chandler Smith was reported to want to buy out of his Kaulig contract to get to JGR.
This means JGR may have too many drivers with not enough full-time seats. However, would it make sense to get rid of that All-Star car given what the purpose of it is?
All-Star cars are used by different race teams for owner’s points, particularly in the lower series. The idea is that you fill a car with drivers that specialize in certain types of racing throughout the season, and the result is you get good results for good owner’s points. This is how many Cup Series drivers get lower-tier series starts despite the current limitations on driver participation in lower series.
Sometimes, these cars can finish ahead of the full-time drivers in owner’s points. Daniel Hemric switched his car number from 11 to 10 for the Xfinity Series Playoffs so that he could race in both the driver’s and owner’s Playoffs. This can help race teams who may struggle with their full-time drivers to still finish well in the Owner’s Standings.
Now, JGR had both of their full-time drivers in the Playoffs this year, so, they do not need it as badly as other race teams may. The All-Star Car also allows Cup Series drivers to get some reps at different types of tracks in the Xfinity Series, so, that benefit exists for JGR as well. However, the Owner’s Points benefit is not as big for JGR as it may be for other race teams.
Ultimately, it comes down to whether or not there is a third driver who can race full-time with the team. If they find that driver, then it could make sense. It gives JGR and Toyota an extra full-time driver that could be in place to take over for other Cup Series drivers or teams.
If they can find the driver, it may be worthwhile to at least think about it. JGR has to consider that getting rid of the All-Star Car could hurt their standing in Owner’s Points, and it gives them an extra full-time driver that maybe they do not need that much given how many drivers they already have. However, a third full-time driver could also have them add another driver who could become the next big JGR prospect.
Ultimately, it will take until JGR announces their 2024 Xfinity Series plans to see what they do. However, they may have a situation where there are enough drivers to have a third full-time driver. Could that 19 car have a permanent driver in 2024?
Just when things finally seemed to calm down in the NASCAR garage, a bombshell dropped. Joe Gibbs Racing is officially suing former competition director Chris Gabehart, and the allegations are serious. Power struggles, confidential data, secret photos, and a potential move to Spire Motorsports.
From competition department tension to an $8 million damages figure, this lawsuit could have major implications beyond just one team. Gabehart helped elevate Denny Hamlin back into championship form and played a key role in JGR’s recent success, which makes this split even more shocking. This preview only scratches the surface. The full breakdown dives into the timeline, the alleged evidence, and what this could mean for the Cup Series balance of power moving forward. Watch the full video to learn much more
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NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell says the Cup Series schedule is not guaranteed to remain at 36 races, and the sanctioning body is evaluating whether a different structure would make more sense.
Speaking about the long-term outlook, O’Donnell said everything from the total number of events to when they are held is under consideration.
“It’s worked for us, but I would not say this is the way it will always be. Is there a number of races that makes more sense? Could it be 30, or even more? Could we introduce midweek races and shorten the season? All of that is on the table.”
The Cup Series has run a 36-race points schedule for more than two decades, typically from February through November.
NASCAR’s current media rights deal spreads races across multiple broadcast, cable, and streaming partners, having been in place since 2025. Compared to the previous deal, far fewer races now air on traditional broadcast television, so fans have to follow the season across several networks and platforms, including FS1, USA, Prime Video, and TNT Sports. O’Donnell previously acknowledged that the transition led to a late-season dip in viewership as coverage has been on broadcast TV less often, and it clashes directly with the NFL.
O’Donnell says weekday races are an option if NASCAR wants to shorten the overall calendar without dramatically reducing the number of races. The sport last had midweek races during the 2020 season, when it was the first sport to return to action, at Darlington. During that time, NASCAR did multiple midweek races, including at Darlington, Charlotte, and Kansas, to compensate for the weeks missed during quarantine, and the audience showed up in TV ratings.
A shorter season could also reduce direct competition with football, which dominates the U.S. sports calendar each fall, while additional races would create more inventory for media partners.
Across sports, schedules are increasingly shaped by media strategy rather than tradition. The NFL, for example, has expanded its reach without drastically lengthening its season, adding standalone games on holidays, exclusive streaming packages, and international matchups to maximize value per game. The league also added a 17th regular-season game in 2021, its first expansion in decades, as part of a broader revenue push.
Other U.S. leagues are following similar paths. The NBA introduced an in-season tournament to create new broadcast inventory without extending the schedule, while MLB continues to sell national windows and streaming packages across its existing 162-game season.
In motorsports, Formula 1 has expanded the calendar itself. The series ran 21 races in 2021. 10 years earlier, it ran 19 races. And now it has a record-breaking 24-race schedule, despite being a global championship. Much of that growth is driven by hosting fees from cities and governments, as well as rising international demand, but drivers and the industry have already shown displeasure regarding the ever-growing schedule, deeming it too exhausting.
The shifts across sports accelerated drastically after the pandemic, when leagues became more dependent on media revenue and more willing to adjust calendars, formats, and distribution to match changing viewing habits. NASCAR, for example, rarely changed its calendar before 2020, but after the pandemic, it’s become one of the most diverse calendars in motorsports: racing on dirt, in stadiums, reviving old tracks, adding road courses, expanding internationally, and constantly changing its post-season race placements.
NASCAR has not announced any plans to alter the Cup schedule. O’Donnell’s comments indicate the organization is evaluating options as it plans future seasons under an evolving sports media environment.
What do you think? Should NASCAR have more, fewer, or the same number of races going forward? Would you like to see midweek races? Let us know what you think on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Following days of intense online speculation and rumors within the diecast community, Lionel, LLC has officially confirmed that it is set to be acquired by Round 2, a portfolio company of Praesidian Capital.
The two giants of the hobby and collectibles industry will eventually merge to form a new entity known as the Lionel Brands Group.
The Daily Downforce reached out to Lionel, and they confirmed Round 2’s intent to purchase the company, noting that the transaction is expected to progress over the coming weeks. The move signals a major shift in the landscape of NASCAR merchandising and diecast production, bringing together two of the most recognizable names in the business.
“We are aligned around a shared vision to build a stronger, fan-first platform that supports the brands, communities, and partners that have made each company successful,” the statement read.
For fans and collectors worried about immediate disruptions to their pre-orders or current programs, Lionel emphasized that the transition will not affect day-to-day operations in the short term.
“In the near term, it remains business as usual,” the company stated. “Our priority is maintaining continuity and supporting the programs already underway.”
Lionel, which has long held the exclusive license for NASCAR diecast, and Round 2 (known for brands like AMT, Johnny Lightning, and Racing Champions) aim to leverage their combined “strong legacies” to create new growth opportunities.
While the announcement confirms the intent to merge, specific details regarding future product lines or changes to the “Lionel Racing” brand remain under wraps. The company noted that future updates will be shared via their official social media channels as the transaction moves forward.
The statement concluded with a nod to NASCAR fans: “We’ll be in touch once we have more to share – Enjoy the race Atlanta!”
Are you a diecast collector? What do you think about this latest move? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
