The Drivers Fighting for the Last Available Cup Series Seats

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What’s Happening?

Silly Season is as much about the drivers as it is about the teams. Those who are free agents are always looking for the best opportunity out of these, and these drivers are fighting for the very few Cup Series seats that remain open for 2025.

  • Some of these drivers might be candidates for multiple Cup Series rides. Others might have their foot in the door for one, but they may have a lot of competition for the ride.
  • We will avoid drivers who are largely expected to stay put. Even if some drivers have a chance to make a big move, we will focus on those who are either definitely on the move or likely to be on the move.
  • Fans often have a closer attachment to individual drivers than race teams. As a result, fans will usually focus on the drivers rather than the race teams as Silly Season rolls on.

Christian Eckes

Christian Eckes has followed-up his beakout season in 2023 by leading the points 13 races into the 2024 Truck Series season. Bob Pockrass reports that Eckes is a candidate at both Kaulig and Front Row Motorsports. It’s uncertain how much funding he brings, but he’s definiely earned his stripes in the lower series. Front Row could be the bes opportunity out of the gate, while Kaulig has struggled in 2024, making some uncertain about who could end up where.

Riley Herbst

Sources have told us that Riley Herbst is a candidate at 23XI Racing thanks to his funding. While Corey Heim might be the more popular pick for this seat, Herbst definitely brings funding, while Heim’s funding situation is more uncertain. With Pockrass reporting that Heim is eying 23XI Racing for his future, could Herbst end up being a palceholder for a season?

Ryan Preece

Ryan Preece is the lone SHR driver without a ride for 2025. The only teams Pockrass linked Preece to are Rick Ware Racing and Kaulig Racing, which might be Preece’s only options at the cup level. If those rides do not open up, maybe Preece could look at Ford Xfinity Series teams like AM Racing, Haas Factory Team, or RSS Racing.

Shane Van Gisbergen

Trackhouse is in a unique situation where they could have only three cars available and four Cup Series drivers under contract. SVG has impressed in the Xfinity Series with three road course wins, and that may be just enough to jump him up to the Cup Series. Still, Trackhouse has to consider their other driver looking for a 2024 ride, Zane Smith.

Corey Heim

Pockrass most recent reports suggest that Corey Heim may have to wait another year or two to jump up to the Cup Series full-time. This may come as a surprise to many as Heim has nine wins, 27 top-fives and 40 top-10s in 54 Truck Series races. However, his funding situation is unclear, and Toyota seems committed to getting him up to Cup sometime soon.

Sam Mayer

Like Eckes, Pockrass reports Mayer as a candidate for Front Row and Kaulig. While FRM would easily be the more appealing eam since they are a “Tier One” team, Kaulig is more of an unknown as they have struggled in 2024. If Kaulig is the only option open, could Mayer stay in Xfinity for one more year before a better opportunity comes along?

Cole Custer

Alongside the Josh Berry news, Adam Stern reported that Cole Custer is expected to fill the Cup Series seat at the new Haas Factory Team. This would come to the surprise of absolutely no one as Custer has been affiliated with Haas for his entire career, and his father Joe Custer will be the new team’s president. Cole won the 2023 Xfinity Series Championship, and he’s hovered around the top of the standings for all of 2024.

Daniel Hemric

Pockrass reports that both of Kaulig Racing’s cars are still open for 2025. Daniel Hemric currently races the No. 31 in the Cup Series, and he has struggled with only three top-10s in the first 20 races. Who knows what the future holds for the 2021 Xfinity Series Champion.

A.J. Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger is the most accomplished NASCAR-specific driver that Kaulig has, yet he’s in the Xfinity Series. He’s there due to funding, and it’s uncertain if the money exsts to move Allmendinger up to Cup for 2025. However, Pockrass reports that if they can find the money, Allmendinger could move back up.

Zane Smith

Zane Smith is looking for a new ride for 2025 as Michael McDowell takes over his spot at Spire Motorsports. If SVG takes over at Trackhouse, is there any spot for Trackhouse to loan him out to? If not, Front Row Motorsports general manager Jerry Freeze did express interest in bringing Smith back is possible. If another year loaned out to another team is where Smith, Pockrass reports Trackhouse might look towards Kaulig Racing, a team aligned with Trackhouse.

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