Many NASCAR Cup Series teams and team owners start in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Today, a few Xfinity-only teams could be on the move upwards when the time is right, and these are the Xfinity teams who might be next to move up to the Cup Series.
When this question comes up, JR Motorsports is the first name that comes to mind because Dale Earnhardt Jr. is interested in owning a Cup Series team. Seeing him in the Cup Series as an owner would be awesome, but it’s a tall order to get there.
Earnhardt Jr. has now expressed interest in potentially investing in a Cup Series team. JRM may not be in the Cup Series, but Earnhardt Jr. could be involved in a team. It will be a while before JRM comes to the Cup Series, if at all.
Jordan Anderson has built his race team from the ground up. Going from a struggling Truck Series outfit to a respectable Xfinity Series program in less than a decade is very impressive. The next step is the Cup Series, and there is some inkling that there could be interest.
JAR Xfinity Series driver Parker Retzlaff is scheduled to make his Cup Series debut at Daytona for Beard Motorsports. Longtime sponsor John Bommarito of the Bommarito Automotive Group became a co-owner of the team with Anderson during COVID. Bommarito, who is also involved in Legacy Motorsports, IndyCar, and WWT Raceway, has been the major contributor to the team’s recent successes and will likely be a huge factor in any future Cup Series scenarios.
Parker Kligerman and Big Machine Racing are one of the most lovable underdog tandems in the Xfinity Series. Despite not being affiliated with any Cup Series team, Kligerman sits in the top 10 in points 19 races into the season. Could Scott Borchetta and Big Machine Racing jump up to the Cup Series?
Borchetta made his money in music and has plenty of other business interests outside of racing. If he has the capital to go Cup Series racing, this team could be one to watch.
DGM Racing is also a mid-pack Xfinity Series team that finds themselves fighting towards the front from time to time. DGM has attracted the likes of Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez to drive their cars, which means there’s respect in the industry for what they do.
However, jumping to the Cup Series would be a drastic move for Mario Gosselin. It would be tough to turn down the opportunity if it presented itself, but it’s hard to imagine it happening.
RSS Racing also frequently punches above their weight in the Xfinity Series. Ryan Sieg is on the doorstep of the Xfinity Series Playoffs, points 19 races into the 2024 season. Could this team move up to the Cup Series?
They’re arguably the second-best Ford team in the Xfinity Series, so maybe Ford would support a move up. However, RSS Racing has been an Xfinity-only team for a long time, and it’s tough to imagine making such a big jump.
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