Kaulig Racing’s 2024 Cup Series season fell off expectations after a strong 2023. With AJ Allmendinger returning to Xfinity and Justin Haley moving to Rick Ware Racing, the team’s performance has dipped. But they are already on their way to making amends after seeing Daniel Hemric’s underwhelming run with the #31. After announcing Allmendinger’s return to the Cup Series for next season, they followed it up with a move for Ty Dillon, a decision that offers more than it initially appears.

Richard Childress’s youngest grandson had a challenging season in the Truck Series after he returned this year with Rackley W.A.R. He took over from Matt DiBenedetto, despite the latter’s success in leading the team to the playoffs in 2023. However, Dillon had just two top-10 finishes in 18 races. This led to his mid-season replacement by Dawson Sutton, the 18-year-old son of Rackley W.A.R.’s team co-owner, Curtis Sutton.

Dillon also made six starts for three Cup teams this season which included 23XI, Richard Childress Racing apart from Kaulig. His four starts came with Kaulig finishing in the top 20 two times, with a best finish of 16th at Texas Motor Speedway. Yet, for the next season, he will be one of the two drivers for Kaulig.

Matt Kaulig, in his statement about Dillon’s arrival for next season, said, “Ty has done a really great job for us this year in our No. 16 car, competing in a limited schedule. He has been consistent each time he gets in the car and has really helped our program grow this season. We think he will be instrumental in continuing our Cup program in alliance with Richard Childress Racing.”

The move has surprised many since Dillion’s past performance in the Cup hasn’t been great. His best season finish has been 24th (2017, 2019). He has only two top-five finishes and seven top-10s in 244 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series. Moreover, given Dillon’s struggles in the Truck Series and only two Top 20 finishes in six starts this season, why has Kaulig opted for him to replace Hemric? Well, the answer could lie in the money game.

According to NASCAR analyst Eric Estepp, the move has more to do with what Dillon brings to the table than any race numbers. Estepp addressed this on his YouTube channel on September 28  saying, “This is a money decision for Kaulig Racing. Ty Dillon obviously has connections to Richard Childers Racing but he’s been in racing for many years. He’s built up some strong partnerships. He has loyal sponsors behind him. That’s what this is and to Ty Dillon’s credit being sponsor-friendly is half the job. It may even be more than half the job.”

Last year, Ferris Mowers sponsored Dillon in a co-partnership with Spire Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing. This year when Dillon returned to race for Kaulig in the Cup Series at the Texas Motor Speedway, his number Chevrolet Camaro was sponsored by Sea Beast and Beaver Street Fisheries. His association with his grandfather’s team allows him to attract top sponsors, which will only be beneficial to Kaulig.

Speaking after the announcement of the move, the 32-year-old was excited about the new season. “I’m really looking forward to what 2025 brings with this team. We have a bright future ahead of us and we’re going to give it our all each and every race next season,” he said.

While the stats have not been in Dillon’s favor, he believes they aren’t everything. According to him, hard work is what matters the most. Post the announcement, he told FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, “I just believe in never giving up, and every time I feel like maybe my career in some people’s eyes went down; I just worked harder. And I hope that this next chapter is a success chapter as far as results. But results aren’t everything in life. You can barely control your results, you can control your effort and I’ve been really working hard when nobody looks in.”

Additionally, Kaulig released the rights for number 31 and acquired the #10 from Stewart-Haas Racing for Dillon to drive. This brings an end to Hemric’s run with the team but was his release justified? A look at his numbers suggests he may have been hard done by.

Is Daniel Hemric more deserving of the Cup Series ride?

Hemric also hasn’t had the best Cup Series so far. In the 29 races, he has only managed 4 top-10 finishes and is currently in the 29th position in the standings. However, in just four seasons, he has managed to get the same number of top-10s as Dillon. He is also the 2021 Xfinity Champion. In his 186 Xfinity starts, Hemric has managed 1 win, 54 top 5s, and 104 top 10 finishes with an average finish of 12.8.

Despite understanding the reasoning behind Dillon’s move, Estepp picked Hemric as his choice among the two. He said, “If I had to pick between Ty Dillon and Daniel Hemric and all I cared about was ability behind the wheel I would probably take Daniel Hemric. They are similar in age but Hemric at least more recently has the stronger resume.”

Dillon too has shown consistency in the Xfinity Series. In his 165 race starts, he has bagged one win, 34 top-5s, and 92 top-10s finished with an average finish of 11.7. Even in his Truck career, he has won thrice with 20 top-5s in 76 race starts, but a championship win in any series eludes him.

As of now, Daniel Hemric does not have a ride, but based on his resume, he’ll probably get one. “Not sure where Daniel Hemric ends up we’ve seen sponsors Cirkul, Poppy Bank, follow him from place to place. so I’m sure he’ll be able to bring that support somewhere; the guy is an Xfinity Series champion; we can’t discount that,” Estepp added.

With AJ Allmendinger set to return to #16 and Dillon behind the wheel of #10, Kaulig will hope the decision to do away with Hemric doesn’t backfire. While the addition of sponsors and partnerships that Dillon may bring with him would be beneficial to the team, at the end the results will matter for Matt Kaulig.