The NASCAR Silly Season gets crazier as the season goes on.  Earlier this week, it was revealed that Tyler Reddick will be moving to 23XI Racing in the 2024 season; leaving the door open for plenty of speculation as to how he will fit into the current team makeup.

Less than an hour before the Xfinity Series drivers took to the track for practice and qualifying, it was announced that Ty Dillon would be leaving the number 42 car and Petty GMS Motorsports at the end of the 2022 season.  This is Dillon’s first season with Petty GMS.

Convinced that he will win races…and championships…Dillon said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to drive the number 42 for Petty GMS this year.  However, at the conclusion of the 2022 Cup Series season, we have mutually agreed to go our separate ways. I’m looking forward to what is next in the future.”

Petty GMS Motorsports added via a statement saying, “Petty GMS and Ty Dillon have mutually agreed to part ways following the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series.  We are appreciative of what Ty has done this year to help grow Petty GMS. As we continue the season, we remain focused on strong runs and getting the No. 42 Chevy Camaro to Victory Lane. We wish Ty all the best in the future.”

Currently Dillon has one top 10 in the 2022 season and is ranked 27th in the Cup Series points.


Before the 2022 season even began, Aric Almirola announced that this would be his final season as a full time driver in the Stewart-Haas Raicing number 10 car.  However, Almirola admits that he is not sure what the future holds.  “For me, personally, I’ve been business as usual going to the race track and focused on winning races and continuing to do what we need to do to make the playoffs.  But all the stuff behind the scenes, yeah, I’ve been involved in a part of trying to help Smithfield and help Stewart-Haas Racing figure out what their plan is going forward, and I think there’s still just a lot of question marks just in general about what that’s going to look like from Smithfield’s side, from the race team’s side.

He continued, “and so I’ve had some discussions with them. And it’s been a very small part of (me) having an opinion and kind of weighing in. And I appreciate the fact that they’ve valued my opinion enough to be involved in it. I don’t know what will happen going forward, to be honest. I think the race team is still trying to figure out that and the sponsor is still trying to figure that out.”

Almirola concluded, “ultimately, I feel like I’ve made the decision to step away from the sport full-time just because it’s a grind. It really is. There’s no doubt about it. And it’s hard with my kids. They’re starting to gain a lot of momentum and seeking their own personal interests and playing sports and doing a lot of different things. And here, dad is still chasing his childhood dreams.”

Almirola’s retirement from full time driving leaves an empty seat at Stewart-Haas Racing.  Since Almirola’s announcement, SHR has had little to say on who will fill the seat for next season.