What’s Happening?

As Silly Season rolls on, the picture becomes more clear at all levels of NASCAR. Today, we focus on the second-tier series, the Xfinity Series, to see which drivers could be on the move for 2025.

• Any full-time Xfinity Series driver is eligible for this list. Fans tune in to watch these drivers every week, and they are always candidates for new rides that pop up in the series.
• Drivers on the move can head to multiple different places. Some may move up to Cup, while others may jump to another Xfinity Series team or even out of the sport.
• Fans are interested to see more Xfinity Series drivers on the move for 2025. These moves can jump-start careers and are often the big breaks drivers are searching for.

Riley Herbst

With Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down, the future of the team’s current drivers, Riley Herbst and Cole Custer, is also uncertain. Whereas Custer seems likely to end up at Haas Factory Team in some capacity, it’s not as simple for Herbst. However, he brings a lot of funding and has performed reasonably well this season in the Xfinity Series.

The latest rumors indicate that Herbst could end up at 23XI Racing. Someone else will probably pick him up if that does not work out, but we will have to see who.

Sam Mayer

Sam Mayer admitted after Iowa that he was upset more Cup Series teams were not looking at him. Bob Pockrass reported in June that Mayuer is a candidate at Front Row Motorsports. There are two seats available, and three candidates for it.

Pockrass described Noah Gragson as the “Favorite”, and another candidate, Josh Berry, is already signed to The Wood Brothers. That means Mayer may need to fight with another lower series driver, Christian Eckes, for the ride. Who ends up where?

A.J. Allmendinger

In late June, Bob Pockrass reported that Kaulig Racing still has open seats for 2025, and it all depends on funding. While Pockrass did mention A.J. Allmendinger as a Cup Series candidate, does the funding exist to take him there? Allmendinger is in the Xfinity Series in first place due to a lack of sponsorship.

When specifically discussing NASCAR, Allmendinger is Kaulig’s most experienced and accomplished racer. He has the talent to be in the Cup, and he has won three races there. However, life is not always that simple.

Cole Custer

Cole Custer seems very likely to go to Haas Factory Team in 2025, and Adam Stern reported earlier this week that Custer is the favorite to land the team’s only Cup Series ride. This would be a big move for Custer, as he dropped to Xfinity in 2023 after three subpar seasons in the Cup Series.

Haas Factory Team is being born from the ashes of the current Stewart-Haas Racing. Custer’s father, Joe Custer, will be the team President, so everything is there for Custer to head up to Cup. Performance, funding, and connections all help Custer.

Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane Van Gisbergen needs to move up to Cup eventually, and the opportunity might open up for him at Trackhouse. With SHR shutting down, Trackhouse is reportedly in line to purchase one of the team’s three available charters, giving them three cars. However, SVG has some internal competition for this seat.

Zane Smith is another Trackhouse development driver looking for a ride for 2025. Trackhouse will have to choose between Smith and SVG, and who knows where they will end up.

Brandon Jones

Brandon Jones has been a disappointment in his first two seasons at JR Motorsports. he went from the doorstep of the Championship 4 in 2022 to out of the Playoffs in 2023 and nearly a full race outside of the Playoffs 17 races into 2024. Jones told Fronstretch in 2023 that he initially signed a two-year deal with JRM.

If his contract is out, and Connor Zilisch is reportedly coming into the fold, could Jones lose his ride? Time will tell, but JRM plans to field five entries in nearly half of the races in 2024, and Jones brings funding from Menards.

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