The chaos of silly season continued on Wednesday when Matt DiBenedetto announced that he and Rackley WAR would part ways at the conclusion of the 2023 season. Rackley followed Matt’s statement saying that the separation was mutual, but many fans are asking if Rackley already has someone in mind to drive the 25 truck next season. After all the timing of this announcement does seem slightly odd seeing how the 25 is still in the playoffs even though they currently sit below the cutline. So who could drive the 25 next season?
The current Truck Series star has confirmed that he does have 2024 plans but has yet to reveal what those may be. Is it possible that the 19-year-old star will end up at Rackley WAR? His pre-standing relationship with Chevy and experience in the Truck Series make him a viable candidate. Add in his personality that has set him apart in the garage and with fans, he could be just the guy Rackley WAR has in mind.
Assuming he goes through the necessary steps to be reinstated by NASCAR, Noah Gragson is a legit contender for the 25 seat. Noah previously has 47 starts in the Craftsman Truck Series where he was able to rack up 2 wins and lead over 6700 laps. It is also worth mentioning that Noah and team owner Willie Allen have similar personalities that could propel the two to get along well.
Here me out with this one. Yes, it could be a slight stretch seeing how he currently is behind the wheel of a Toyota in the ARCA Menards series, but Jesse Love is still worth mentioning as a contender for the 25 seat. After all, he has practically dominated everywhere the Arca series has gone this season. Moving up to the truck series would be a true test of the driver outside the equipment level.
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The Malcolm in the Middle star has been making heads turn in the ARCA series this year. In late June, Muniz confirmed that he was eyeing a promotion to a higher series in NASCAR for 2024 but we have yet to hear any plans confirming that this move will be happening. Could Muniz end up at Rackley for 2024?
He would be switching manufacturers but would bring a large fan base with him that could be an enticement for Rackley. He has proved that he is serious about his racing career and has a passion that would no doubt carry him far in the NASCAR Truck series.
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On another hand, it could be possible that Rackley WAR takes 2024 in a different way than before and puts multiple young stars behind the wheel. After all, they do run a driver development program in the Late Model scene and have several stars sitting in their pipeline who may be ready for a real chance.
One of those being the CEO of Rackley’s son, Dawson Sutton. Dawson is young, at only 17, but has already managed to pull together several wins and strong finishes in his rookie year in a Pro Late Model for Rackley WAR. He has shown that he is diligent with the work he puts in outside of the car to be better and that he is capable of getting a car to Victory Lane with little to no experience.
Another one of those three is Connor Zilisch. Zilisch also checks in at only 17 but recently made his ARCA debut at Watkins Glen. He grew up racing road courses and is currently competing full-time in the Trans Am’ Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers TA2 Series while also making several late model starts for Rackley WAR. With the direction it seems NASCAR is going, having an experienced road course racer in-house could be of large value to the small team.
The last of the three who could split the ride is up for discussion. The Rackley Development Program has several up-and-coming big names who are 14 and while they will certainly be ready for a truck ride soon, 2024 just isn’t realistic. A smart move may be to mix a more seasoned veteran in the mix with Sutton and Zilisch to act as both a mentor and staple for a fan base. Could team owner, and 2007 NASCAR Truck Series Rookie of the Year, Willie Allen be that person and get back behind the wheel for select races?
Whoever the driver–or drivers– are that get behind the wheel of the 25 next season, they have some large expectations to live up to.
