Can you believe that the 2024 NASCAR season is already in the rearview mirror? Well, it is, and the ride has been no less than a thunderous, rollercoaster one. Ranging from Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down to Joey Logano beating jaw-dropping odds to clinch the 2024 championship, multiple incidents have rattled us to the core. Now, buckle your seatbelts as more charters in 2025 are already facing your windshield.

Diving into the spiciest topic first—the NASCAR lawsuit—as it is a revolutionary milestone in the history of the sport. With two teams, including Michael Jordan and Co. and FRM, filing a case of “monopolistic” practices against NASCAR in October and currently seeming on the verge of losing their chartered spots in 2025, 23XI Racing has finally unveiled its brand new partnership with Riley Herbst.

Herbst is a former SHR driver and has clinched two Xfinity victories this season, including the penultimate Phoenix race. Three of his Xfinity rivals are also joining the Cup in 2025: AJ Allmendinger, Shane Van Gisbergen, and Cole Custer.

Within the Cup Series, significant shuffles have taken place. All the SHR drivers have found new garages: Chase Briscoe to Joe Gibbs Racing, Noah Gragson to Front Row Motorsports, Josh Berry to Wood Brothers Racing, and recently, Ryan Preece to RFK Racing. Being winless in 187 starts, a cloud of doubt hangs over Preece.

Yet his new team owner, Brad Keselowski, harbors confidence in the 2-time Xfinity race winner. Meanwhile, Todd Gilliland will drive the No. 34 for FRM. There have been downgrades in the series as well. Daniel Hemric is stepping down from Kaulig Racing in the Truck Series for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.

Besides driver swaps, a major team rebrand hit the news less than a day ago.

• JTG Daugherty Racing has been renamed Hyak Racing after the Chinook word ‘Hyak’ which means ‘fast.’
• The team’s leadership structure changed as well, with Gordon Smith assuming the CEO role while Brad Daugherty, Ernie Cope, and Mark Hughes serve as co-owners.

More from the Track revamps and Commentary box

• For instance, Circuit of the Americas will move to a shorter track layout. The 20-turn “National” course layout will feature a track length of 2.3 miles, while the traditional course spanned 3.41 miles.
• Steve Letarte will join Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Adam Alexander to deliver amazing commentaries from Amazon Prime and TNT booths. While Letarte, a fixture of NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage since 2015, will continue his role while taking on new gigs with Amazon and TNT, Alexander, a 19-year FOX Sports veteran who is known for calling NASCAR races and studio hosting, also returns to TNT’s NASCAR lineup, a decade after the network last aired races.

More efforts to brighten NASCAR’s future

In its rich 50-year history, Richard Childress Racing has clinched 117 race victories split among 11 different drivers. Kyle Busch was among them, as he won three races in his first year with the team last season. However, his second season has been one to forget—the 2-time Cup Series champion broke a 19-year streak of winning at least one Cup race.

Riddled with DNFs, speeding penalties, and crew chief shuffles, RCR went through a lot. Busch’s teammate, Austin Dillon, incurred heavy penalties. His playoff eligibility was stripped after he dumped two rivals on his way to a Richmond win. Then his race manipulation tactics in Martinsville landed Dillon a $200,000 fine for his team.

So Richard Childress is seeking to turn over a new leaf in NASCAR. He replaced Justin Alexander with Richard Boswell as the No. 3 crew chief. RCR also added John Klausmeier, a veteran crew chief who helped SHR win three wins, as the organization’s new technical director.

With these new faces in his team, Childress is optimistic about 2025: “John Klausmeier and Richard Boswell have both been great winners in the garage and I know their experience and skills will contribute to RCR’s overall success. I feel confident that all of our crew chiefs will do a great job leading their respective teams and we will give our partners, employees, and fans plenty to be excited about in 2025.”

Evidently, preparations are in full swing for the upcoming NASCAR season. Now we can absorb the updates and ramp up our anticipation for 2025!