There was a time when a NASCAR driver decided to retire, he just drove quietly off into the sunset, but the drivers of today plot and plan their departures with much flair and fanfare.
While it seems the annual NASCAR Silly Season comes earlier each year, Kevin Harvick got the 2023 Silly Season started even before the cars took to the track when he announced his retirement at the end of the season. The announcement came with a great deal of rumour and speculation as to whom would take over the driving duties of the Stewart-Haas Racing number four car.
As the Cup Series enters the playoffs, the rumour mill is in full swing and churning out speculations as fast as a draft of cars on the high banks of Daytona.
And while there have been no new retirements announced, the Silly Season is abound with speculation after the suspension of a driver and some under performing teams.
When Kevin Harvick leaves the number four car, his longtime sponsor Busch Light is also leaving. But adult beverage purveyors are not going very far, they will return next year as the sponsor for the Trackhouse Racing number car driven by The Melon Man Ross Chastain.
Kevin Harvick is trading the fire suit and helmet for a microphone when he joins the FOX Sports broadcast crew.
And taking over the driving duties in the number four car will be current JR Motorspots Xfinity Series driver Josh Berry.
Corey LaJoie is returning to Spire Motorsports next season to drive the number seven car.
Spire Motorsports teammate Ty Dillon has not announced whether or not he will return to Spire or move on for next season.
During the 2022 racing season, Aric Almirola announced that he was going to retire at the end of the season, but before the season was over he had un-retired himself and signed a multi year contract to continue driving the number 10 Stewart-Haas Racing car.
Driver of the number eleven Joe Gibbs Racing car and co-owner of 23XI Racing, Denny Hamlin has finally announced that he has signed a multi year deal to main at JGR in the number eleven car.
Over the past couple of years AJ Allmendinger has spent significant time driving in both the Xfinity and Cup Series for Kaulig Racing. There is still some speculation as to which series he will drive full time next season.
Last year, Joe Gibbs let his top driver Kyle Busch go and replaced Busch with grandson Ty; throughout the season there has been a great deal of speculation as to how the remaining three drivers – Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr would fair in the future. Hamlin has signed for the near future and Martin Truex Jr has announced that he will return at least for one more year to drive the number 19 JGR car.
Reportedly Christopher Bell is in the last year of his contract but no plans have been announced for the 2024 season as of yet.
For the past two seasons, Harrison Burton has been driving the number 21 car for Wood Brothers Racing. Reportedly he is in the final year of a contract and is rumoured to be staying with the Wood Brothers, but there have been no official announcements as of yet.
Currently driving the number 31 car for Kaulig Racing, Justin Haley has announced that he will be moving over the Rick Ware Racing where he will drive for the foreseeable future.
Making the playoffs for the first time this year, Michael McDowell will return to drive the number 34 car for Front Row Motorsports next season.
FRM teammate Todd Gilliland will also be back next season to drive the number 38 car.
This season Ryan Preece replaced Cole Custer in the Stewart-Haas Racing number 41 car. While there has been no official announcement, Preece is expected to return next season in the 41 car. After a horrific crash at Daytona, Preece was back in the car and driving last weekend at Darlington; noting that it is what he does…drive race cars.
After coming over from Australia to drive the number 91 car for Trackhouse Racing at Chicago on the street course…and winning the race; Shane van Gisbergen has expressed interest in racing full time as a NASCAR driver. He is reportedly working toward that goal but no specific plans have been made as of yet.
After being suspended by Legacy Motor Club and NASCAR for liking a derogatory meme on social media; Noah Gragson asked for and received his release from LMC. Gragson must undergo a specific set of rules in order to be reinstated by NASCAR. Gragson’s immediate plans and when he will return to racing are still unclear.
Over the past few weeks, LMC has used substitute drivers for the number 42 car.
This week, LMC has announced that beginning with the 2024 racing season, current Craftsman Truck Series driver John Hunter Nemechek will be driving the 42 car.
Legacy has also announced that they will be changing manufacturers next season from Chevrolet to Toyota.
In the Xfinity Series, JR Motorsports driver Brandon Jones will return to drive the number nine car.
Sam Mayer and Justin Allgaier are expected to remain with JRM but they have yet to announce a replacement for the departing Josh Berry.
Looking to repeat as the Xfinity Series champion, Austin Hill will remain with the Richard Childress Racing number 21 car next season.
Currently a part time Xfinity Series driver, Ryan Ellis is looking to drive full time for Alpha Prime Racing next season.
After trading his microphone for a fire suit, Parker Kligerman will return to the number 48 car and Big Machine Racing next season.
GMS Racing has announced that they will be shutting down their Craftsman Truck Series program at the end of the 2023 season. Currently drivers Grant Enfinger, Daniel Dye, and Rajah Caruth’s plans for the 2024 season are up in the air.
Matt DiBenedetto has spent the 2023 racing season driving full time for the Craftsman Truck Series Rackley W.A.R.; but has announced he will not be returning for the 2024 season. Matty D. has made no further announcements about his future plans as a race car driver.
Reigning Truck Series champion Zane Smith is “exploring” his future with NASCAR but no official plans have been announced for next season.
Finally getting his first race wins this season, 20 year old Craftsman Truck Series driver Carson Hocevar has had his first experience behind the wheel of an Xfinity and Cup Series cars this season. It is still unknown whether Hocevar will remain in the number 42 truck or move up to a new racing series for next season.