NASCAR
Silly Season Driver Signings Across All Three NASCAR National Series
November 20, 2024 was a day filled with NASCAR team news and driver signings ahead of the 2025 racing season.
For starters, 23XI Racing will add a third full-time Cup Series team to their lineup. Riley Herbst will drive the No. 35 Toyota with sponsorship from Monster Energy. The 25-year-old from Las Vegas is fresh off a two-win Xfinity Series campaign, including a dominant season finale at Phoenix. 2025 will be Herbst’s first foray into the full-time Cup grind. It is very interesting to see 23XI Racing expand their operation amidst their ongoing NASCAR lawsuit drama. Crew chief Davin Restivo will follow Herbst up the ladder from Xfinity competition.
Speaking of the Xfinity Series, Kris Wright will take over the Our Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet. Wright spent 2024 between full-time ARCA competition and select Truck starts, with a best result of second at Talladega. 2025 will be Wright’s first complete year in Xfinity. The No. 5 saw seven top-10s across 2024 with Anthony Alfredo.
A Truck Series powerhouse team gains a veteran driver who could be a magic pairing. Daniel Hemric takes over the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing No. 19 Chevrolet vacated by Christian Eckes. This truck went to victory lane four times in 2024, including leading every lap at Nashville. Crew chief Charles Denike has also left this team, so Hemric will have a new shot caller atop his pit box. Hemric last ran Trucks in 2016, coincidentally also driving a No. 19 for Brad Keselowski Racing. Hemric moves back down to Trucks from Kaulig Racing’s No. 31 Cup seat. It will be fun to see how this reorganized team adapts with Hemric’s wealth of racing knowledge.
Lastly in the NASCAR Cup Series, Richard Childress Racing has seen some leadership movement. Former No. 3 team crew chief Keith Rodden is now the Vice President of Competition. Stewart-Haas Racing veterans John Klausmeier and Richard Boswell are the newly named Technical Director and 3 team crew chief, respectively. Boswell was most recently a team leader for Chase Briscoe on the No. 14, earning a Southern 500 win in September. RCR veteran Randall Burnett will remain in his current role as crew chief for Kyle Busch.
Racecars have not been on track for close to two weeks. NASCAR’s news cycle has done anything but be silent, however. Stay tuned for any upcoming silly season updates as all three NASCAR National Series slowly fill out their rosters for 2025.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Richard Childress Racing, 23XI Racing, Kris Wright, and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
