NASCAR
Which Drivers Will Be at a New Team for the Daytona 500?
More than a third of the NASCAR Cup Series grid is calling a new team home in 2025. Several contenders made an offseason switch to a new organization, manufacturer, or series. Before engines roar at the Daytona 500, here’s a quick refresher at new faces in new places for 2025.
4 – Noah Gragson
Marking his third different team in three years, Noah Gragson is part of an expanded third car at Front Row Motorsports. The Las Vegas native was left without a ride after the closing of Stewart-Haas Racing, where he piloted the No. 10 Ford in 2024. Much of that team follows Gragson to a new No. 4 entry at the tier-one Ford supported team. Gragson is one pillar of a very young driver lineup at FRM, with eyes on a potential Playoff berth.
7 – Justin Haley
While Justin Haley did move back to Spire Motorsports late last season, he is remaining in the No. 7 for the foreseeable future. The man behind Spire’s lone Cup Series win to date is reunited with a quickly-growing team. This entire organization looks to have their best season yet, and that may come with a Justin Haley/Rodney Childers pairing. Investment is Spire’s offseason summed up in a single word, with major backing from Gainbridge. It will be fun to see the 25-year-old veteran adapt with one of the best crew chiefs around today.
10 – Ty Dillon
Back racing on Sundays full-time is Richard Childress’ second grandson, Ty Dillon. The North Carolina native is behind the wheel of a newly-branded No. 10 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing. Both of their team cars have new full-time occupants for 2025, so a growing period is to be expected. Dillon is more than capable of a breakout superspeedway run, though, and is known for keeping his nose clean.
16 – AJ Allmendinger
Also returning to a full Cup campaign is NASCAR’s all-time winningest road course racer, AJ Allmendinger. This next chapter in his Cup career comes off of a year back in Xfinity that saw AJ take a Championship 4 berth. With five regular season road courses plus five superspeedways, the 16 does have an above-average shot at another Playoff showing.
19 – Chase Briscoe
Perhaps the highest profile silly season move surrounds Chase Briscoe. The Indiana dirt racer earned a coveted seat at Joe Gibbs Racing, taking over the No. 19 Toyota from retiring Martin Truex Jr. Expectations are certainly high for Briscoe, who comes off a winning last season at Stewart-Haas Racing. The No. 19 team went winless across two of the last three seasons with a much more experienced veteran driver, though. Talent-wise, Briscoe should be a shoe in for victory lane. It may come down to racing luck for the 19 to be out front late again, however.
21 – Josh Berry
Celebrating the 75th anniversary of NASCAR’s oldest team, Josh Berry takes over the Wood Brothers’ iconic no. 21 Ford. This team went to victory lane most recently in August, with Harrison Burton delivering them win number 100 in ultimate upset fashion. Now a Cup sophomore, Berry will try and avoid the dreaded second-year slump that has plagued many drivers previously. Amidst the final days of Stewart-Haas racing, Berry had a forgettable second half of the year in 2024. He will try and turn a new opportunity into a maiden win on racing’s biggest stage.
34 – Todd Gilliland
Entering his fourth year on the Cup tour, Todd Gilliland is poised to take Front Row Motorsports to unseen heights. Moving over to the flagship No. 34 Ford, Gilliland also gains new crew chief Chris Lawson. At the ripe age of 24 years old, Gilliland will be in uncharted waters as the most experienced driver in FRM’s lineup. The third-generation star was a standout performer on superspeedways a season ago. Can Todd Gilliland bring Front Row another drafting track triumph?
35 – Riley Herbst
Representing an expansion effort at 23XI Racing, Riley Herbst is now a Cup Series rookie. The past Xfinity Series competitor won twice in 2024, including a dominant season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Crew chief Davin Restivo also makes the jump up with Herbst, giving him a familiar voice in his ear on Sundays. Any brand new team is bound to run into growing pains. Likewise, Herbst deserves awhile to get his feet wet in Cup. Past limited Cup starts have seen Herbst turn heads on superspeedways, though. Come Daytona in August, the No. 35 may just be another Playoff-upsetting winner.
38 – Zane Smith
Returning to a familiar setting at Front Row Motorsports is the man who won them a Truck Series title–Zane Smith. After spending a rookie season at Trackhouse Racing, Smith makes a homecoming. This reunion is very welcome, with Smith seeing the bulk of his NASCAR success at FRM. Smith will be paired with Todd Gilliland’s former crew chief Ryan Bergenty, who saw a few breakout runs over the past two seasons. A young three-man lineup is definitely future-focused at FRM. Smith hopes to continue his late 2024 success into 2025.
41 – Cole Custer
Speaking of drivers settling back into a familiar home, Cole Custer will once again drive the No. 41 Ford. Now branded as Haas Factory Team, this group is touting themselves as an extended arm from RFK Racing. Custer spent the last two years in Xfinity, where he won the 2023 title and was runner-up in 2024. Now only more experienced and disciplined at 27 years old, Custer eyes another prime shot at becoming a Sunday star.
51 – Cody Ware
Making his first full-time Cup foray since 2022, Cody Ware is back in the Rick Ware Racing No. 51 entry. Only making nine starts across all of 2024, Ware’s average finish did rise to an impressive 21st along with his career-best fourth-place run from Daytona. Should Ware continue to steadily improve on his average running position and stay out of other’s messes, a few more banner days may be ahead for RWR.
60 – Ryan Preece
The last displaced driver from Stewart-Haas’ shuttering, Ryan Preece has found a new home with RFK Racing. Bringing back the No. 60 Ford, Preece potentially faces down what could be a career year. RFK cars are always a threat at every drafting track, and both of Preece’s teammates won a year ago. Do not be surprised to see the Connecticut driver find enough pace to sniff a win or two in 2025.
71 – Michael McDowell
Another underrated addition to Spire Motorsports is the veteran presence of Michael McDowell. The 2021 Daytona 500 champion left his home for the past seven years to join an upward-trending team. Also taking crew chief Travis Peterson with him, this dynamic duo hopes to build off of a quietly great 2024 they had as lame ducks. The leadership offered by McDowell could point this team in the right direction to be weekly contenders.
88 – Shane van Gisbergen
The second and final Rookie of the Year contender for the 2025 Cup season is New Zealand racing sensation Shane van Gisbergen. Following up a three-win Xfinity Series season last year, SVG hopes to continue honing his craft. The No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet will surely be a top-tier threat across road courses aplenty this season. Nowhere will this be more true than Chicago and Mexico City especially. How SVG fares on ovals though is still a moving target, but a top-10 run in The Clash is nothing to overlook. Should he show oval improvement throughout the year, then the daring global move will have paid off.
How all of these drivers fare in their new rides throughout the coming season will be fun to track throughout 2025. A lot of Playoff-caliber drivers and teams alike have new colors at the end of this silly season cycle. Who will have made the most of their new opportunity? Who will struggle out of the gate to achieve peak performance? The first few months will be very telling.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Peter Stratta/TSJSports
