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Connor Zilisch’s full-time schedule with JR Motorsports in 2025 began a whirlwind of talk of what JRM may look like next season. The latest rumors are that Sam Mayer could be out at the four-car operation for 2025 and, in doing so, would leave the No.1 car open.
A new member of the 2025 NASCAR free agent market, Cup Series veteran Corey Lajoie could see consideration from JRM and its ties to Chevrolet.
Lajoie, whose father is a two-time series champion, has not started an Xfinity Series race in almost seven years. Having run full-time in the Cup Series since 2019, Lajoie has shown minimal results, and his longtime team, Spire Motorsports, has decided to move on from the 32-year-old.
Lajoie has maintained a quality relationship with Rick Hendrick, a co-owner of JRM, even starting a race in the No.9 car last season for a suspended Chase Elliott. While Lajoie has shown success at times, his on-track performance and age could limit him, as JRM already has two veteran drivers in this given scenario.
Rajah Caruth has made significant progress in the past three seasons. First, he made his Truck and Xfinity Series debut in 2022 and is now a winner in the Truck Series this spring. In this process, Caruth developed connections in high places.
Much like Lajoie, Caruth made friends with Rick Hendrick, who gave Caruth a break in the Xfinity Series in last Season’s Finale at Phoenix. Caruth and Hendrick extended that relationship into the truck series this season.
Hendrick initially sponsored 10 Truck Series entries for Caruth and Spire Motorsports, with sponsor Hendrickcars.com. After quality runs by Caruth, Hendrick extended the deal to last through the season.
While Caruth is making good runs in the Truck Series this season and currently sits fifth in points, sponsorship could be an issue in his ascension to the next level.
Even so, if Hendrick wanted to support Caruth in the Xfinity Series, it might be practical to assume that Henrick would instead run Rajah as a Hendrick Motorsports entry.
Since moving to Chevrolet from Toyota in 2023, Christian Eckes has looked like an entirely different racer these past two seasons for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.
Eckes has won seven races for the No. 19, and the former ARCA Menards Series Champion is the current Truck Series points leader.
While he has never raced in the Xfinity Series, it’s to be assumed that his day is coming soon. With an open door in the Chevrolet camp, he would be a solid bet for consistent runs in a top-caliber car.
Sponsorship could be problematic for Eckes, who has benefitted from McAnally’s longtime relationship with NAPA on the hood of his Silverados.
But having proven himself to be a top talent in the Truck Series, Eckes might be in the series soon, whether with JR Motorsports or not.
A surprise Xfinity Series performance this season comes from second-generation star and two-time CARS Tour Champion Carson Kvapil.
Kvapil, son of former Cup Series driver Travis Kvapil, races full-time for JR Motorsports racing Late Models in the CARS Tour. Much like former JR Motorsports driver Josh Berry.
Berry took late model success with JR Motorsports to a “prove it” part-time Xfinity Series schedule that turned into a full-time ride in the series. Signing to drive in the Cup Series for Stewart-Haas Racing for this season, Berry is an example of the path Kvapil could take.
Kvapil has already taken on the part-time Xfinity Series Schedule; this season, his debut season, he has three top-fives in six starts in the No. 88 for JRM. He has also continued to win in the CARS Tour for the JRM.
The problem that kept Berry from moving forward was sponsorship. He lacked consistent sponsorship until Tire Pros stepped up to help him. If Kvapil could find help, it may be hard for Earnhardt to say no.
More so, with three more races on his 2024 Xfinity calendar, Kvapil could force Earnhardt’s hand with continued quality performances.
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