What’s Happening?

Another week means another batch of Silly Season news to cover. Moves many were expecting fell into place, but there were also some surprises thrown into the mix. With the 2025 picture looking even clearer, let’s take a look at what moves were made this week in Silly Season.

• Hailie Deegan and AM Racing announced they have officially parted ways. Deegan will not return to the No. 15 Mustang and the team will need to look for its new set of drivers, starting this week with Josh Berry.
• Noah Gragson was confirmed to Front Row Motorsports for next season on a multi-year deal. No number or crew chief was confirmed for Gragson, who becomes the third Stewart-Haas Racing driver to find a 2025 seat.
• With two seats filled at FRM, many have speculated as to who will get the final seat. Three names were reported as the leading candidates, one could result in a surprise reunion.
• Rumors are swirling that Brandon Jones could be out at JR Motorsports at the end of this season. Nothing is confirmed, but JRM might look to replace Jones after a disappointing year-and-a-half at the team.

Hailie Deegan and AM Racing Split Up

This Monday, Hailie Deegan and AM Racing parted ways, effective immediately. This comes after the team pulled Deegan out of the seat for the Chicago Street Race, replacing her with Joey Logano. Josh Berry will run the No. 15 Mustang at Pocono, with the rest of the season still TBD. After a struggling season that saw zero top-10s and last in points among full-time drivers, Deegan is out of an Xfinity Series ride.

Many fans are wondering where Deegan will go after losing her ride. She’s only 22 years old and is one of the sport’s most marketable drivers. Recently, she was spotted at Iowa Speedway for the IndyCar race weekend and even followed IndyNXT and Andretti IndyCar on Instagram. Is Deegan gearing up for a switch from NASCAR to IndyCar? Stock cars have been a struggle, and she has experience with open wheels on dirt. Perhaps a move to the home of the Indy 500 is what she needs to revive her racing career.

Noah Gragson Heads to Front Row

The third SHR driver to find a home in 2025 is Noah Gragson. Front Row Motorsports announced they have signed Gragson to drive for the team starting in 2025 on a multi-year deal. He’ll be joining his third Cup Series team in just three seasons competing at the Cup level. No crew chief or number was announced for Gragson, with the team saying they’re keeping all options open for number choices.

Gragson has impressed in his time at Stewart-Haas. He has six top-10 finishes, and if not for a points penalty early in the season, he would have been in the thick of the hunt for the playoffs. He has put his disastrous stint at Legacy Motor Club behind him and will now get the chance to join a team on the rise in Front Row, who look to make full use of their “Tier One” status with Ford in 2025.

Who Gets the Final Front Row Seat?

With Gragson signed, along with Todd Gilliland inked to an extension, that leaves one seat up for grabs. Originally, Cole Custer and Riley Herbst looked to be the favorites for that seat, but a report from Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports brings three new names into the light as leading candidates for the ride.

According to Pockrass, Sam Mayer, Christian Eckes, and Zane Smith are the leading candidates for the final Front Row seat. That’s right, Zane Smith, who left Front Row to join Trackhouse and Spire, could reunite with his former team if Justin Marks elects to put Shane van Gisbergen in a third Trackhouse car. After six wins in 12 months, this could be the opportunity Mayer’s been looking for. Eckes, who many assumed would be a “Truck lifer,” is finally getting Cup notice after an impressive 2024 season so far. So who will get the seat? Regardless of who drives, Front Row will be set up for the future with a very young driver lineup.

Brandon Jones Out at JRM?

Brandon Jones could be looking for a new home in 2025. The current driver of the JRM No. 9 talked with Frontstretch about his future, hinting that he could be out of a ride after the 2024 season. It’s been a struggle for Jones at JR Motorsports. He only has 15 top-10s in 51 races with the team, and after being a consistent top-10 contender with Joe Gibbs Racing, he missed the playoffs in year one with JRM and looks to do the same in year two. With Connor Zilisch rumored to go to JRM in 2025, Jones could be the odd man out. He brings funding from Menards and has shown that, under the right circumstances, he can compete. This one will be one to monitor throughout the year.

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