Stewart-Haas Racing has announced that it will shut down operations after the 2024 season. In a joint statement, Tony Stewart and Gene Haas spoke about how it was now time for them to “pass the torch.” Because of this, four charters previously held by the Stewart-Haas team became available for the NASCAR 2025 season. While the newly formed Haas Factory team has retained one, being driven by Cole Custer, the others are up for grabs.

Once the debate and discussions of the charter agreement are concluded, we’ll know who will be buying those. However, two days back, a NASCAR insider discussed potential buyers of the charters, suggesting that Michael Jordan and Justin Marks might be eyeing them.

Who will the remaining three charters go to?

Before the charters have a new owner, the ongoing discussion on the charter agreement needs to be settled. With the NASCAR charter set to expire after the 2024 season, tensions are high over the future of the system. At the heart of the negotiations are the issues of permanent charters and revenue allocation, as teams are seeking a higher cut from NASCAR. However, if we assume that this debate is settled, who will the charters go to?

In an episode of GoPRNlive on August 14, 2024, NASCAR journalist, Dustin Albino named Michael Jordan’s 23XI and Justin Marks’ Trackhouse Racing as frontrunners. He said, “With Daniel Suarez, they’ve got a lot of drivers under contract right now um, and not many seats, so you know they need some cards to fill some of those drivers.” As for Jordan’s team, he said, “With 23XI, they have a prior relationship with Monster obviously with Tyler Reddick. So I would assume that could be a landing spot for someone like a Riley Herbst.”

Monster Energy sponsors Herbst in the Xfinity Series, and they also sponsor 23XI’s Tyler Reddick. Given this connection, it was rumored that Herbst could be the third driver for the team in the Cup Series. This rumor gained traction after Denny Hamlin applauded Herbst’s Indianapolis run.

On the other hand, Trackhouse Racing has no shortage of drivers. Currently under their umbrella are five drivers, including Ross Chastain, Daniel Suárez, Zane Smith, Shane Van Gisbergen, and the young prodigy, Connor Zilisch. Zilisch has already reached the Xfinity Series, where he will be driving for JR Motorsports in 2025. With this pace, he will soon jump up to Cup. The only question is when? Trackhouse could try to get another seat or even two in the Cup to promote their lower-league drivers. A driver switch after the 2025 season for Justin Marks’s team also sounds like a possibility, as Suarez has only signed a year-long contract, which might put him on the hot seat next year. It’s up to Marks if he wants to add a charter or replace an existing driver.

According to Albino, SVG (Shane Van Gisbergen) seems like the most imminent possibility. SVG will be in action in the recent Michigan race, eyeing his fourth win of the season. So far, he’s bagged the most wins in the Xfinity 2024 season. A promotion for him is most likely in 2025.

Putting more meat in this story Albino said, “Look at Shane Van Gisbergen, I mean he told me a month and a half ago or so, like you know he moved to America to go Cup racing next year. They’re hoping for a couple of wins. They’ve gotten more than that, they’ve gotten three, so you would think he’s going to be landing at one of the new Trackhouse Charter.” Speaking on the charter debate, here’s what the debate is about.

What is going on with the charter negotiations?

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Denny Hamlin has been a vocal advocate for teams seeking a larger cut of the profits. Hamlin argued that the high costs of operating a NASCAR team, which he estimated at $18 million per car per year, warrant increased financial support from NASCAR. He pointed to the league’s recent $7.7 billion media deal as evidence of its financial health and suggested that providing teams with a larger budget would intensify competition on the track and secure the teams’ stability for the future. The charter discussions are still underway, as NASCAR has not given an official statement.

However, the more the delay in settling the discussions, the more money NASCAR is losing. Recently, NASCAR and Netflix wanted to make season two of the ‘NASCAR: Full Speed’ documentary series. However, teams have refused to participate in the shooting unless their demands are met. Season 2 has been commissioned based on the success of season 1. The documentary series helped NASCAR see a growth in viewership and has also become an additional source of revenue.

Perhaps the delay in finalizing the deal is due to key managerial changes being made by NASCAR. According to Sports Business Journal, NASCAR is undergoing a leadership reshuffle. President Steve Phelps will assume a broader role, focusing on the sport’s overall strategy and expanding its reach globally. Ben Kennedy, a former driver often seen as a potential successor to NASCAR CEO Jim France, will be transitioning to a new position within the organization.

Once the charter debate is settled and the new deal is signed, there is a chance we will see many new drivers coming into the Cup Series, making the competition even more fierce. Who do you want to see in the Cup? Let us know in the comments below.