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Fire on Fridays: Where Are We At With NASCAR Silly Season?

Pretty soon, all of the puzzle pieces of this year’s NASCAR Cup Series Silly Season will be put together.

With just 11 races left in the 2024 season, if a driver or team doesn’t already have their plans set for next year, I imagine they’re starting to at least look around the room to locate the panic button.

A whole lot has changed since my last Silly Season update back in May, so let’s take a look at what teams are looking to fill a seat and where we could see last-minute shifts. To be clear, I’m just hitting on chartered cars in the NASCAR Cup Series or could-be chartered cars, if there even are charters next year.

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Open Seats

No. 7 – Spire Motorsports

It was announced during the Olympic break that Corey LaJoie will not drive for Spire Motorsports in 2025, opening a seat to a car with an A-level crew chief in Rodney Childers.

The hottest rumor right now is Justin Haley will leave Rick Ware Racing to fill the seat. Both The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi and FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass have linked Haley to the car. Frontstretch has also had a source close to the situation say that’s what will happen.

The only problem is Haley signed a multi-year deal with RWR and this year is the first year of that contract. That means both sides need to negotiate a buyout. But contracts in professional sports are broken more often than pinky promises, so that doesn’t mean he couldn’t go to Spire next year.

Haley has a previous connection to Spire, with 35 of his first 36 Cup starts taking place with the team. One of those was his and the team’s only win, coming at Daytona International Speedway in 2019. Now that both are more Cup ready, a reunion would make sense.

Another person to watch for this ride is Alex Bowman. Yes, that Alex Bowman, still under contract for top-tier Hendrick Motorsports through 2026. For the record, that’s what all sides officially say, from vice chairman Jeff Gordon to Bowman himself.

Yet even after his surprise summer victory at the Chicago street course, clinching a playoff spot, the chatter surrounding Bowman’s future just won’t go away. He’s led only 14 laps all year, by far the least of the HMS quartet, and seen momentum peter out with no top-15 finishes over the past month.

No. 15 – Rick Ware Racing

With LaJoie, Ryan Preece and Harrison Burton both out of jobs, the No. 15 could be an option for one of them if they want to remain in Cup. Burton not only comes with funding, he would also get the team an automatic spot in the All-Star Race. Preece drove some races for the organization a few years ago and left RWR on good terms.

This car had a rotation of drivers in it this year, mostly based on funding, led by rookie Kaz Grala’s 16 starts. That’s probably the most likely scenario to happen again.

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No. 31 – Kaulig Racing

Bianchi mentioned on The Teardown that Kaulig has someone who will be in the No. 31 next year, but they just have to get all the paperwork and whatnot done before the announcement.

If you read between the lines, the way it was all worded tells me it’s not Daniel Hemric in the car. If you were re-signing Hemric, wouldn’t you just say, “We’re working to get Hemric back in the car next year,” instead of being vague about the driver?

So who could take over the ride? Pockrass listed Ty Dillon as a candidate. Burton and LaJoie are out there. Zane Smith is now a free agent as well, but I’m not sure if he has the funding for the ride.

Maybe the team moves up Josh Williams from the NASCAR Xfinity Series. And while Christian Eckes has been rumored to join Kaulig’s Xfinity program, the recent trend has been for drivers to go directly from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to Cup.

There’s a number of drivers who could take over this car. Then again, maybe we’re reading too much into what was said and Hemric is indeed returning. One thing we do know for sure: AJ Allmendinger will move back into a full-time Cup schedule with Kaulig’s other chartered car, the No. 16.

See also
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3rd Front Row Motorsports Car

We don’t know what numbers anyone at FRM will drive next year, but the team still needs a third driver after acquiring an additional charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. It currently has Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson signed for 2025.

Pockrass put it as a two-man choice between Chandler and Zane Smith. If I’m owner Bob Jenkins, I’m not taking Zane back since he bolted for Trackhouse Racing after previously signing a developmental deal with FRM. But Jenkins may be a more forgiving guy. It helps Zane has taken a step forward as his rookie season progressed with Spire.

But the Chandler Smith rumor has more traction so far. It feels like his past few free agency moves have been a consolation prize after getting picked over for a Cup opportunity. For example, Hemric got the Kaulig ride this year over him, forcing Chandler’s move to Joe Gibbs Racing. Then Chase Briscoe got the nod instead of him for the JGR No. 19 once Martin Truex Jr. retired.

After getting picked over again, I feel like Chandler Smith is ready to leave JGR. And if FRM is the best Cup ride available, it makes sense for him to go there.

No. 48 – Hendrick Motorsports

The very likely scenario is Bowman is back in this car next year. But stay tuned.

Third 23XI Racing Car

23XI has not announced plans to start a third team, but there is smoke, along with one SHR charter left available. If the team expands, Corey Heim is who should be the driver, but he won’t be, as he’ll be stuck in Trucks another year.

Instead, it will likely be Riley Herbst, who also seems ready to move up, climbing behind the wheel. There’s a Monster connection between 23XI and Herbst — pun intended — and the funds he brings could help the team purchase that charter needed for full-time expansion.

Looking for clues? 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin tweeted, “Impressive,” after Herbst won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway a few weeks ago. It certainly was an impressive win, but it also felt like Hamlin was tipping his hand.

No. 51 – Rick Ware Racing

Haley is under contract. Should he leave, then this RWR car is where LaJoie, Preece or Burton could go. Maybe Zane Smith?

OK, that’s where we stand; seven teams and even more drivers who still need to nail down their 2025 plans.

Boy, isn’t Silly Season fun?

Follow Michael Massie on X at @m_massie22

Content Director

Michael Massie joined Frontstretch in 2017 and has served as the Content Director since 2020. Massie, a Richmond, Va., native, has covered NASCAR, IndyCar, SRX and the CARS Tour. Outside of motorsports, the Virginia Tech grad and Green Bay Packers minority owner can be seen cheering on his beloved Hokies and Packers.

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2 Comments
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R. Koerner

Well, that’s clear as mud. I guess the only thing to say after reading that article is “Nothing has been determined or announced”.

Echo

Why Dillon, LaJoie, and Burton in any consideration !!! I guess sponsorship money is a huge part of it. But does any owner really want to replace a wrecked car every week with LaJoie, or running in last place with Burton ! And I’m not even going to start on Dillon.