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The Haas Factory team’s announcement this weekend that Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer would be in their lineup for next season has left fans with questions. Those mainly involve the two rides left open by the pair, alongside JR Motorsport’s No. 1, is the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18. The No. 18 has long been a top ride in the Xfinity Series, so who could be the driver in 2025?
Sawalich has long looked to be Toyota’s top choice heading forward. The 17-year-old, who will be 18 by October, is scheduled for part-time duties in the No. 19 later this season. This early connection with JGR makes him a prime candidate for the No. 18.
Alongside his future starts with JGR, the Minnesota native runs a part-time schedule this season in the Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series. In ARCA this year, Sawalich has won six races in nine starts and has traded wins with Connor Zilisch since the June 14 race in Iowa.
In his Truck Series outings this season, Sawalich has shown promise but has yet to show results. However, TRD may want to see what he does in an Xfinity car rather than a TRICON Garage truck.
Heim may be the fan favorite of all TRD Drivers, having been with TRD since 2020 and has since won in the Trucks and ARCA Series.
Currently the lead driver at TRICON Garage in the Truck Series, Heim joined the team after Kyle Busch Motorsports shifted its operation to Chevrolet in 2023. In 2022, Heim ran part-time with KBM, winning two races in 16 starts.
Since joining TRICON, Heim has dominated, winning three races last season and five in 16 entries this season. Heim, the Truck Series points leader, has already stepped into Xfinity and the Cup Series in the past.
On a part-time schedule, Heim has raced for Sam Hunt Racing in the Xfinity Series for the past two seasons. While not having won with the team, Heim has shown speed for the winless team.
Heim has also raced in the Cup Series this season, filling in for Erik Jones twice at Legacy MC and once in an open car for 23XI. 23XI is the main reason some speculate Heim may not race full-time in the Xfinity Series, as rumors of 23XI gaining a third charter have circled his name alongside Riley Herbst.
Gray, while winless, is the only young TRD driver on this list who has shown performance with JGR at the Xfinity level. In nine entries this season in the No. 19, Gray has two top-fives and three top-tens.
Taylor, the younger of the two Gray brothers, has been with TRD since 2023. That 2023 season was slightly underwhelming, having missed three races due to age restrictions at the beginning of that season.
Gray has improved dramatically this season and sits eighth in Truck Series points, the second-best TRD driver behind points leader Corey Heim. Now, with an opening in familiar territory, could Gray be the comfortable call by Gibbs to pilot the No. 18?
There are a few outside options, familiar faces, and veterans.
Ryan Truex, brother of Cup Series Champion and JGR driver Martin Truex Jr, is racing part-time for JGR in the Xfinity Series in the No. 19. Truex has won two races for the team but has shown a falloff this season compared to last year.
Sponsorship could also be a problem for Truex. However, it may not be a problem for Brandon Jones and longtime sponsor Menards. Some rumors have shown that Jones could be out at JRM after this season and headed back to JGR.
Another reunion could be with Harrison Burton, who won multiple races for JGR in the Xfinity Series. Burton is out of a ride after this season and will be looking for work. A proven series winner with DEX sponsorship could mean a happy reunion for the two parties.
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