Drivers swapping rides or new drivers coming into the various series is just one aspect of a new NASCAR racing season. Each year some teams change car manufacturers and there are always some tweaks and changes to the NASCAR rules.
Here are some of the changes on the horizon when NASCAR kicks off the 2024 season next month…
The Mexican Series will be joining the Busch Light Clash at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on February 4.
The Fords and Toyotas will have a different look this season after getting some new designs with the Ford Mustang Dark Horse and the Toyota Camry XSE.
The 7/8 mile oval of Iowa Speedway makes its debut in the NASCAR Cup Series in June.
The Playoff races have been changed this year – Bristol, the Charlotte Roval, and Martinsville are the only races that will not change. Atlanta Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International join the list of playoff races.
After shocking the NASCAR world with his win at the inaugural street course race in Chicago; New Zealand native and Australian Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen joins NASCAR for a full season of Xfinity Series racing with a few other races scattered in during the season.
RFK Racing adds the Stage 60 operation for a limited series run this season with David Ragan behind the wheel.
For the past 20 years racing fans have seen Kevin Harvick behind the wheel; but this year he joins the broadcast crew at FOX and Josh Berry takes over the driving duties in the number four Stewart-Haas Racing car.
With the departure of Aric Almirola, Noah Gragson will join Stewart-Haas Racing to drive the number 10 car.
Joining Josh Berry in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year competition this season are Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar.
The 2024 season marks 40 year of Hendrick Motorsports. William Byron and Kyle Larson dominated the wins for HMS last season; this year the team is looking for drivers Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott to have banner years.
Last year Petty GMS Racing brought in a new co-owner and rebranded themselves Legacy Motor Club. This year, they change car manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota with Erik Jones driving the number 43 car and John Hunter Nemechek taking over the driving duties of the number 42 car.
Memorial Day weekend brings some of the longest races of the circuit outside of the endurance races. This year Kyle Larson will be attempting to do what has been done by only two other Cup Series drivers – Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart – and race in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600.
Good news for some Cup Series fans…Bristol Motor Speedway is NOT running a dirt race this year with both races running the half mile high banked concrete.
With the Summer Olympic Games this year in Paris, NASCAR is taking a break while the Olympics are on; pushing the season a week longer and no weekends off.
With the departure of Kevin Harvick, Busch will no longer sponsor the number four car but has not left the sport. Busch will now sponsor “Melon Man” Ross Chastain’s car. (Wonder if Busch will created a watermelon flavoured adult beverage?)
Rajah Caruth and Matt DiBenedetto have yet to find a ride for the 2024 season.