What’s Happening?

NASCAR Silly Season is bigger than just the driver movement in the NASCAR Cup Series. The NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series always has driver movement throughout the offseason, oftentimes with more turnover than in the Cup Series. These are the rides to watch for that either are or could open up in 2025.

• In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, one team has at least one seat open for 2025. However, other teams could see seats open up, including one potentially expanding to five race cars.
• The Truck Series has one of its top prospects eyeing a move upward. That, combined with a part-time driver competing well in 2024, could mean some driver turnover in the near future.
• Oftentimes, lower series teams wait longer to fill their seats for the upcoming season. As a result, these storylines often linger deep into the off-season.

Xfinity Series: JR Motorsports No. 1, No. 9, and/or a Fifth Car?

Multiple JRM drivers could be on the move this silly season. Bob Pockrass reports that Sam Mayer is a candidate for a Front Row Motorsports Cup Series ride, and Brandon Jones’ future remains uncertain. In the background, Adam Stern reports that Connor Zilisch is in talks to join JRM full-time in 2025 as part of an alliance with Trackhouse.

If both Mayer and Jones stay and Zilisch joins, we could see JRM add a fifth full-time car, which is allowed in the lower series. JRM currently fields the No. 88 car on a part-time basis, but the car has seen extended action this year with 16 races scheduled for the season. If Mayer and/or Jones leave, maybe JRM will stick with a four-car lineup.

Truck Series: McAnally-Hilgemann No. 19

Not only is Mayer a candidate at FRM, but Christian Eckes is also, according to Pockrass. Eckes has the Truck Series regular-season Championship in sight and is a genuine threat for the overall Series Championship.

If he leaves, it will open a big hole in the Chevy development pipeline. Will McAnally-Hilgemann go with a young gun like Kaden Honeycutt or a veteran driver like Brett Moffitt? It all depends on whether Eckes stays or goes.

Xfinity Series: Haas Factory Team No. 00? and/or No. 98?

We already know Cole Custer will drive for the Haas Factory Team in the Cup Series in 2025, but the Xfinity Series remains a mystery. Team President Joe Custer revealed that the team has offered Riley Herbst a ride and that they have discussed the ride with Hailie Deegan.

Herbst probably has other offers from the table, including interest from 23XI Racing. Deegan would probably jump at the chance to get back into the Xfinity Series after her ride with AM Racing turned sour halfway through the season.

Truck Series: Niece Motorsports No. 41 and/or No. 42

Niece Motorsports has struggled mightily in 2024. Matt Mills and Bayley Currey are well outside the Playoffs, a far cry from Carson Hocevar making the Championship 4 in 2023.

However, the team has seen success with its’ “All-Star Truck,” scoring a win with Ross Chastain at Darlington. Kaden Honeycutt has four top-10s in six starts, so could he move up to full-time with the team in the near future?

Xfinity Series: Kaulig Racing No. 97

Shane Van Gisbergen is a genuine contender to move up to the Cup Series. He has three road course wins, and with Trackhouse a candidate to buy a third charter, the spot could be open to jump up to Cup.

Kaulig Racing may need to fill this seat, but remember that it started due to an alliance with Trackhouse. Will No. 97 continue, or will Trackhouse take those resources to JRM to help Connor Zilisch? We will have to see.

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