The 2024 NASCAR Season was one that was met with much controversy, but also helped sparked the sport back to relevancy. By the time the checkered flag flew at Phoenix Raceway in November, controversy, ratings, and emotions were all up among the NASCAR fanbase. Though there has not been a lap turned since Phoenix, NASCAR has still stayed in the news during its offseason. Let’s take a look at three things that have happened during the offseason that will take place during the 2025 season: the lawsuit between NASCAR & two organizations, full-time competitors in new rides, and new tracks on the schedule.
THE LAWSUIT: 23XI & FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS VS. NASCAR
Yep, this is the thing that we all were talking about for the last couple weeks of the season & into the offseason. There were many polarizing opinions about this lawsuit but first, let’s review. There was a new charter agreement signed by 13 of the 15 NASCAR Cup Series Organizations the Friday before the Fall Atlanta Race (September 6, 2024). The two organizations that refused to sign were 23XI Racing & Front Row Motorsports. They refused to sign the agreement for many reasons, but the biggest claim was that NASCAR was taking too much money away from the owners & teams who compete every Sunday.
In not signing the charter agreement, this gave 23XI and FRM the right to sue NASCAR. They exercised this right on October 2nd. They filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR & Jim France, the Chairman of the sport. This loomed over the sport for months, as the playoffs continued with 23XI’s Tyler Reddick and Co-Owner, Denny Hamlin, racing for a championship.
Finally, the season ended, but the lawsuit news seemed to persist almost daily. Finally on December 18, 2024, a “preliminary injunction” was ruled in court meaning that the three 23XI teams & the three FRM teams could compete as chartered teams in 2025. For more updates, please follow along with Bob Pockrass’s thread on foxsports.com.
FAMILIAR FACES IN NEW PLACES
Now that we have all of that lawsuit talk out of the way, we can talk about the good stuff. I don’t know about you, but with every new season, the thing I look forward to the most is seeing which drivers are in new places. We have plenty of those guys to look forward to in 2025. Here is a list of driver changes & new teams this season.
#4 Front Row Motorsports Ford –
2024: Josh Berry (Stewart-Haas Racing)
2025: Noah Gragson for Front Row Motorsports
With SHR rebranding to Haas Factory Team, FRM acquires both a 2024 charter and driver from them. Noah Gragson announced his move to FRM in the summer of 2024, but did not officially know his 2025 fate until preliminary injunction on December 18th. Front Row Motorsports has been “tier-one” Ford equipment for multiple seasons, but they now have a tier-one talent in Gragson.
#7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet –
2024: Corey Lajoie (Justin Haley for final seven races in 2024)
2025: Justin Haley
We all saw Justin Haley run well in this car for the final seven races of 2024 after he switched rides with Corey Lajoie at Kansas. Spire is turning into a mini-Hendrick Motorsports, and I fully expect Justin Haley & his teammates to compete for some wins in 2025.
#10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
2024: Noah Gragson (Stewart-Haas Racing)
2025: Ty Dillon for Kaulig Racing
I mean this with no disrespect, but how does Ty Dillon still keep getting cup rides? The grandson of Richard Childress will pilot the second Kaulig car in 2025, as he becomes teammates with AJ Allmendinger who returns to the #16 car for Kaulig. The shops of Richard Childress Racing and Kaulig Racing are located within shouting distance of each other, so draw your own conclusions from there.
NOTE: Daniel Hemric, who ran the #31 full-time in 2024 for Kaulig, has returned to the Craftsman Truck Series this season driving the #19 Chevrolet for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.
#19 Joe Gibbs Toyota
2024: Martin Truex Jr. (RETIRED)
2025: Chase Briscoe
When MTJ announced he was going to retire at the end of 2024, we all wondered who would get this ride. Well, with SHR rebranding, Chase Briscoe was the perfect candidate. He drove subpar equipment for his first four years in the cup series and his results reflected that. However, he still found two wins at Phoenix in 2022 and the Southern 500 last season which clinched him a playoff spot. Briscoe has shown that he is a true wheelman at times. However, he will feel the pressure of showing more consistency in a 5-Star ride at JGR in 2025.
NOTE: While Martin Truex Jr. has retired from full-time racing, he will still attempt to qualify for the 2025 Daytona 500 driving for Tricon Garage in the #56 Bass Pro Shops Toyota.
#21 Wood Brothers Ford
2024: Harrison Burton
2025: Josh Berry
Unfortunately, the three years the Wood Brothers had with Harrison Burton did not work out too well. However, Burton still picked up his first career victory, a playoff spot, and most importantly, win No. 100 for the Wood Brothers at the 2024 summer Daytona race. Berry comes to WBR after losing his ride after the rebranding of Stewart-Haas Racing. Berry goes from the #4 car that Kevin Harvick dominated in for a decade, to now piloting the #21 Wood Brothers Ford, who is celebrating 75 years in 2025. No pressure though, Josh.
NOTE: Harrison Burton will be competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for AM Racing in the #25 Ford.
#34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
2024: Michael McDowell
2025: Todd Gilliland
With Front Row adding a third team (#4 car) & the loss of Michael McDowell, Todd Gilliland moves over to the “main” FRM team in the #34 car. Gilliland enters his fourth year in the cup series, piloting the #38 car for FRM for the majority of his first three years.
#35 23XI Toyota
2024: Did not exist
2025: Riley Herbst
This charter was purchased from Stewart-Haas Racing, and 23XI was able to complete the deal after the preliminary injunction. Riley Herbst will begin his rookie year in the first year that 23XI will run three full-time entries. Herbst had been a part of SHR’s Xfinity program full-time since 2021, winning three races during his four seasons.
#38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
2024: Todd Gilliland
2025: Zane Smith
FRM gets their former Craftsman Truck Series Champion back, but now in a cup car. Smith returns to FRM after spending his rookie season in the Cup Series at Spire Motorsports in the #71 Chevrolet. Smith had also inked a deal with Trackhouse prior to 2024, but that seems to be no more as he returns to Ford and FRM.
#41 Haas Factor Team Ford
2024: Ryan Preece (Stewart-Haas Racing)
2025 Cole Custer
The 2023 Xfinity Series Champion Cole Custer returns to the Cup Series in 2025. The 2021 Kentucky Cup Series winner went back to the Xfinity Series in 2023 and was dominant in his two years in NASCAR’s Triple-A division. Unlike many drivers, Custer gets a second crack at the NASCAR Cup Series. Just like many drivers who are in new rides, Custer faces pressure to perform in his second opportunity at NASCAR’s biggest level.
#51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
2024: Justin Haley & Corey Lajoie
2025: Cody Ware
While many believed that Corey Lajoie would be back in this ride for 2025, it is Cody Ware who returns to the 51 car. The son of Rick Ware has run RWR equipment since 2017 and will return to full-time status in 2025. There were many better candidates for this ride, but Ware’s name is on the building.
NOTE: At the time of this article, Corey Lajoie has NOT announced his plans for 2025.
#60 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford
2024: 3 Starts (David Ragan at Daytona, Cam Waters at Sonoma, & Joey Hand at Chicago) –Rick Ware Charter
2025: Ryan Preece
RFK Racing in 2024, just as 23XI & Trackhouse had done before, decided to add an open entry at three different races last season, labeling it “Stage 60.” The #60 car has a lot of meaning to RFK, but at the Xfinity level more than the Cup Series. Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards, and current RFK Cup Driver, Chris Buescher, all had success in the Xfinity Series piloting the #60 for Jack Roush. Now, the historic 60 car returns to full-time competition in the NASCAR Cup Series with Ryan Preece behind the wheel. Preece, who has had stops at JTG-Daugherty (now Hyak Motorsports) and Stewart-Haas Racing, has never fulfilled his potential. However, unlike his previous rides, he has tier-one equipment at RFK. This may be the last chance for Ryan Preece to prove he is one of the best 40 stock car drivers in the world.
#71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
2024: Zane Smith
2025: Michael McDowell
McDowell’s move to Spire was the first announcement of “silly season” during 2024. This makes all the sense in the world. McDowell is going to a team with Hendrick backing, a multi-year deal, and the ability to mentor two young teammates in Justin Haley & Carson Hocevar.
#88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
2024: Did not exist – Stewart Haas Charter
2025: Shane Van Gisbergen
SVG is finally a full-time cup series driver. I am personally so happy about this. When he burst onto the scene in 2023 at Chicago and won his first career race, we all were blown away. Then, Van Gisbergen signed to a full-time Xfinity deal under the Trackhouse umbrella (Kaulig) in 2024, while running part-time in cup. We all knew after his three wins last year in Xfinity, he would be full-time at the top level in ’25. No matter what he does on ovals this season, you and I both can bank on SVG competing for wins at the six road courses in 2025.
For a full list of both full-time and part-time competitors in 2025, go to jayski.com.
DATES OF NOTE ON THE 2025 SCHEDULE
February 2nd – BOWMAN GRAY STADIUM – (The Clash)
NASCAR shows the fans that they are committed to returning to grassroots racing. It all starts at the first race of 2025 as the Cup Series returns to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC. The high school football stadium and 0.25-mile track will host NASCAR’s unofficial start to the season, The Cook Out Clash.
April 18th – 19th – ROCKINGHAM SPEEDWAY – (Truck & Xfinity Series ONLY)
Even though it is not the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR is still coming back to Rockingham Speedway in 2025. This is a major win for the sport, as Rockingham becomes the second track in North Carolina to be brought back to life in the last three years joining North Wilkesboro Speedway.
June 15th – MEXICO CITY
NASCAR continues to try to grow the sports and now is going to Mexico. Throughout the years, NASCAR has made trips to other countries, but normally either for exhibition races or in the lower two touring series. It is cool to see the Cup Series go run a regular season points race outside of the lower 48.
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