Daniel Hemric Moving Back to Cup With Kaulig in 2024

Daniel Hemric will drive the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024, the team announced Friday (Sept. 15).

Hemric moves up to the Cup Series from the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he drives the No. 10 full time for Kaulig.

“This is a big day, and it means so much to my family and me,” Hemric said in a team release. “It’s truly special to have an opportunity to do something big with a group of people that want it just as bad as you.

“It takes heart, and each and every person at Kaulig Racing has it. I’m looking forward to finishing out this season strong and getting right back to work in the off-season with everyone at Kaulig Racing.”

Hemric is currently running his second full-time Xfinity season for Kaulig and is in the Xfinity playoffs. Hemric grabbed the title in 2021 with Joe Gibbs Racing with his first – and so far only – career victory at Phoenix Raceway and joined Kaulig in 2022. In that time he has accumulated 27 top 10s, eight of which were top fives.

“They say that tough times don’t last, but tough people do,” team president Chris Rice added. “That rings true with Daniel Hemric. Throughout all the ups and downs the past couple of years, Daniel continues to believe in the Kaulig Racing culture. Over the last few months, we have been asking ourselves, ‘What can make us a better race team?’ We truly believe Daniel can and will continue to make Kaulig Racing better as an organization.”

This will be Hemric’s fsecond foray into full-time competition in the Cup Series after he drove Richard Childress Racing’s No. 8 car in 2019. Since then, Hemric has made sporadic Cup starts, including filling in as one of several drivers who stepped behind the wheel of Kaulig’s No. 16 in 2022.

He also piloted 23XI Racing’s No. 23 car in the 2022 finale at Phoenix.

“Daniel’s grit and determination both on and off track are what make him such an integral part of our Kaulig Racing family,” team owner Matt Kaulig said. “Daniel’s competitive edge is what drives him, and his focus on giving back is what grounds him. That’s what has earned him the respect and admiration from his peers at Kaulig Racing, and we will continue to grow with him.”

Sponsorship for the No. 31 will be announced at a later date.

Hemric replaces Justin Haley, who is moving to Rick Ware Racing in the Cup Series in 2024.

The team has not yet announced who will drive its No. 16 in the series in 2023. AJ Allmendinger is its current driver.