More than halfway through the NASCAR Cup Series season, the 2025 Silly Season picture is already coming together.
The Stewart-Haas Racing Domino
The bulk of the Silly Season changes stem from Stewart-Haas Racing’s decision to shut down at season’s end. Three of the organization’s four charters will be sold, while Gene Haas will retain one to create the Haas Factory Team.
On July 20, Haas announced that Cole Custer will drive the car in 2025, piloting the No. 41 entry. Custer was in the Cup Series with SHR from 2020-22 before dropping back to the Xfinity Series in 2023. He won the series championship last year and leads the points this year.
One of SHR’s charters was sold to Front Row Motorsports, where Noah Gragson will head in 2025. Gragson joined SHR in the offseason after a midseason falling out with LEGACY Motor Club in 2023 related to an insensitive post he liked on social media. He’ll join Todd Gilliland at FRM along with another driver who will be announced later.
That leaves two remaining SHR charters. 23XI Racing, RFK Racing and Trackhouse Racing are all reportedly interested. Rumors have indicated Riley Herbst is a favorite to land at 23XI should it land a charter.
But in terms of SHR’s current drivers, Chase Briscoe and Josh Berry have also found homes. Briscoe will pilot the No. 19 at Joe Gibbs Racing, replacing 2017 series champion Martin Truex Jr. after he retires at season’s end. He’ll have backing from Bass Pro Shops – Truex’s primary sponsor.
Berry will stay in the Ford camp, sliding over to Wood Brothers Racing and its famed No. 21 entry. Harrison Burton spent three seasons with WBR but failed to live up to expectations, recording just five top 10s in 95 starts. Burton doesn’t have a ride lined up in 2025.
Ryan Preece, SHR’s fourth driver, is in a similar position. He doesn’t have anything lined up for next season. In 173 Cup starts, he has 13 top-10 finishes.
A Revamped Spire Lineup
Spire Motorsports is expected to have multiple new drivers in 2025.
The organization announced in May that Michael McDowell will drive the No. 71 entry on a multi-year deal, freeing up a seat at FRM. He won two races with FRM — including the 2021 Daytona 500 — and made two playoff berths.
On Thursday, Spire officials announced Corey LaJoie will not return next season, which came after Spire announced veteran Rodney Childers would crew chief the No. 7 car in 2025. LaJoie has just one top-10 effort this season, while Childers is working with Berry at SHR.
A question mark for the organization is the status of Zane Smith. He’s currently running with Spire on loan from Trackhouse Racing, but if Trackhouse can’t acquire a third charter, could he possibly return to Spire? Or will it be a new driver?
Kaulig Racing
Neither of Kaulig Racing’s seats are filled for 2025.
Right now, Daniel Hemric pilots the No. 31 entry full time, while a variety of drivers have been behind the wheel of the No. 16 car. A.J. Allmendinger is among those drivers, and while he’s running in the Xfinity Series this season, he was full time in Cup last year and won at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL.
On the other hand, Shane van Gisbergen could earn an opportunity. Also a Trackhouse Racing signee, van Gisbergen is racing full-time Xfinity for Kaulig and leads the series with three victories.Â
Could SVG potentially end up in a Kaulig Cup Series car next year? It will all depend on how many charters Trackhouse owns.