The 2024 NASCAR Silly Season” has been a busy one with plenty of drivers moving around, a few moving on, one retiring, and a team closing down and a new one beginning. And yet, with all that activity, there are still a few drivers who do not know what they will be doing come next season.
The latest in Silly Season news, Craftsman Truck Series driver Corey Heim is remaining in the Truck Series and driving for Tricon Garage. Currently a part of the championship four in the Truck Series, the 22 year old Heim has been very successful this season with six wins.
During Media Day, Heim spoke on his future saying, “there’s always options on the table, but I never had a doubt that my development with Toyota Racing has led me to where I am today, and it’ll get me through the future as well. So, it wasn’t a hard decision.”
Heim added, “from an emotional standpoint, I feel like we’re always very consistent,” Heim said. “We keep a level head going into any race weekend, and this one would be the same. Just everyone’s really dialed in, focused. They’ve worked their butts off these last seven to 10 days, getting this Phoenix truck ready and put a lot of work in over the weekend as well. So super thankful for those guys and everything they do, and certainly wouldn’t be here without them.”
Tricon Garage general manager Kevin Ray spoke on Heim saying, “we’re extremely fortunate to get another year with Corey. His dedication to not only the number eleven team but the entire organization has elevated Tricon beyond measure in our team’s short history. While we’re looking forward to 2025, our priority remains on closing out this season with a victory and our program’s first championship.”
It is nothing unusual to see drivers switch teams and racing series at the end of the season or a driver to two retire from full time racing; but this year seems to have been a little busier than usual; especially with the four race team of Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down and the Haas Factory Team beginning operations.
2024 NASCAR Silly Season news so far:
Front Row Motorsports expands from a two to a three car team with Todd Gilliland remaining with the team. Michael McDowell is leaving Front Row Motorsport for Spire Motorsports.
Stewart-Haas Racing closes down it operation in the Xfinity and Cup Series but Gene Haas has decided to create a team on his own that will field one Cup Series car and two Xfinity Series cars. Cole Custer is moving up from the Xfinity Series to drive for the Haas Factory Team in the Cup Series with Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed driving in the Xfinity Series.
Also moving up from the Xfinity Series is AJ Allmendinger who is moving back to the Cup Series to drive the number 16 car with Kaulig Racing.
Martin Truex Jr has announced that he is retiring from full time racing; but does have plans to run the Daytona 500 next season. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe taking over the driving duties in the Joe Gibbs Racing 19 car.
Harrison Burton will not be returning to the Wood Brothers next season; however, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Josh Berry will be taking over the driving duties in the number 21 car.
AM Racing let go driver Haillie Deegan early in the summer and several part-time drivers took over the driving duties of the number 15 Xfinity Series car.
Stewart-Haas Racing crew chief Rodney Childers will be serving as crew chief for the number seven Spire Motorsports car next season. Current crew chief for the number seven car Ryan Sparks is moving up to serve as the Competition Director for Spire Motorsports.
Current Stewart-Haas Racing driver Noah Gragson will be moving on the take over driving the number 34 car for Front Row Motorsports.
Corey LaJoie and Jusin Haley have swapped teams with Haley joining Spire Motorsports in the number seven car and LaJoie is driving the number 51 car for Rick Ware Racing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s JR Motorsports has signed Connor Zilisch to drive the number 88 car in the Xfinity Series.
Craftsman Truck Series driver Daniel Dye is moving up to the Xfinity Series to drive for Kaulig Racing.
New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen has been driving full time in the Xfinity Series and part-time in the Cup Series this season. Next season, van Gisbergen will be driving full time in the Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing in the number 88 car. He will join Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez at Trackhouse.
With AJ Allmendinger moving back to the Cup Series, Kaulig Racing has an opening in the number 16 Xfinity Series car. Craftsman Truck Series driver Christian Eckes is moving up to take the spot.
After a couple of years driving the number nine car for JR Motorsports, Brandon Jones is returning to Joe Gibbs Racing.
Big Machine racing driver Parker Kligerman has announced that he is retiring from full time driving in the number 48 car. Craftsman Truck Series driver Nick Sanchez is moving up to the Xfinity Series to take over the driving duties of the number 48 car.
After losing his Cup Series ride for Wood Brothers in the Cup Series, Harrison Burton is returning to the Xfinity Series to drive for AM Racing.
Ty Dillon will return to the Cup Series next season to drive the number 10 car for Kaulig Racing.
Taylor Gray will be driving the number 54 car for Joe Gibbs Racing next season.
Part-time driver Dawson Sutton will be driving full time next season in the Craftsman Truck Series for Rackley W.A.R. in the number 25 truck.
Ryan Ellis is leaving Alpha Prime Racing at the end of the season but will be joining DGM Racing in the Xfinity Series full time next season.
Now old enough to drive at every track on the NASCAR circuit, William Sawalich will be joining Joe Gibbs Racing next season in the Xfinity Series to drive the number 18 car.
Finally fulfilling a dream, actor Frankie Muniz will be joining Reaume Brothers Racing next season in the Craftsman Truck Series to drive the number 33 truck full time.
Crew chief Matt McCall will not be returning to the RFK Racing number six car next season. McCall has been the crew chief for co-owner Brad Keselowski since Keselowski joined the team in 2022.