NASCAR Silly Season Update

The NASCAR Silly Season, known as free agency in other sports, has been in full swing for months now. But three and a half weeks into the offseason, here is a full list of all of the announced driver changes.

NASCAR Cup Series

  • Following the 2023 season, Kevin Harvick has officially retired and will be replaced by Dale Earnhardt Jr’s protégé, Josh Berry.
  • Aric Almirola has also retired from full-time racing following the 2023 season; it is unknown who will replace Almirola. However, Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass has reported that Noah Gragson could potentially be a favorite for the #10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang in 2024.
  • Justin Haley has left the Kaulig Racing #31 Chevy Camaro to head to Rick Ware Racing. Haley will be replaced by Daniel Hemric.
  • Legacy Motor Club will be switching manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota. Following Noah Gragson’s suspension and subsequent release from the team, LMC has tapped John Hunter Nemechek to drive the #42 Toyota Camry in 2024.
  • After much speculation, Front Row Motorsports driver lineup will be remaining the same with Michael McDowell in the #34 and Todd Gilliland in the #38.
  • Carson Hocevar will be making the jump from the Craftsman Truck Series to Spire Motorsports, replacing Ty Dillon. Zane Smith will also be making the move from the Truck Series to Spire Motorsports alongside Hocevar.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

  • ARCA Menards Series Champion Jesse Love will be replacing Sheldon Creed at Richard Childress Racing in the #2 Chevy Camaro. Creed is thought to be going to Joe Gibbs Racing, although that is unconfirmed.
  • Sammy Smith will replace Josh Berry in the #8 Chevy Camaro for JR Motorsports.
  • Kaulig Racing announced that Josh Williams will replace Daniel Hemric, who has departed for the Cup Series.
  • Hailie Deegan is making the move to the Xfinity Series in a second car for AM Racing, driving the #15 Ford Mustang.
  • Both Jeb Burton and Parker Retzlaff will return to Jordan Anderson Racing after impressive seasons from both drivers.
  • Brennan Poole will be taking over the #44 Chevy Camaro for Alpha Prime Racing.
  • Kyle Weatherman will be driving the #91 Chevy Camaro for DGM Racing full-time in 2024.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

  • The biggest dominoes to fall in the Truck Series were GMS Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports shutting down operations. GMS Racing has shut down entirely while KBM has been absorbed by Spire Motorsports
  • Chase Purdy will be moving from KBM to Spire Motorsports; the number is unknown at the time of writing this.
  • With Hailie Deegan leaving ThorSport Racing to go to the Xfinity Series, the team announced Jake Garcia would replace Deegan in the #13 Ford F-150.
  • Bayley Currey will be piloting the #41 Chevy Silverado for Niece Motorsports full-time in 2024.
  • Matt Mills will be replacing the Cup Series-bound Carson Hocevar in the #42 Chevy Silverado for Niece Motorsports.
  • GMS Racing’s #43 car will be getting absorbed by McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, who will expand to three trucks. This third truck will remain the #43, and Daniel Dye will remain behind the wheel.

Image Credit: FORT WORTH, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 23: John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #20 Romco Equipment Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway on September 23, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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