2025 NASCAR lineup projections | FOX Sports

Bob Pockrass

FOX NASCAR Insider

With silly season in full swing, here is a team-by-team look at how their 2025 lineups could look.

As talks are ongoing, these projections/outlooks will change and we’ll keep you updated.

Here’s my outlook as of Aug. 9 following the announcement that Daniel Suarez has signed a contract extension with Trackhouse Racing.

Joe Gibbs Racing

11: Denny Hamlin is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

19: Chase Briscoe will replace Martin Truex Jr. next year, the team announced Tuesday. Crew chief James Small will remain with the team.

20: Christopher Bell is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected

54: Ty Gibbs is the grandson of the team owner and is expected to have a ride as long as the team has Joe Gibbs in operation. Whether he would ever change to the No. 18 – the signature and original JGR number – probably would be the biggest question. Joe Gibbs indicated there is nothing imminent as far as a number change.

Hendrick Motorsports

5: Kyle Larson is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

9: Chase Elliott is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

24: William Byron is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

48: Alex Bowman is signed through at least next year. His win on July 7 on the Chicago street course did — at least temporarily — quiet much of the speculation that he could be out of this ride. Even with that win, it seems he can’t afford many hiccups.

23XI Racing

23: Bubba Wallace isn’t signed yet for next year but is expected to return.

45: Tyler Reddick is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

67 (or another number for third car with charter likely acquired from SHR): With the team already having a Monster Energy relationship, adding Riley Herbst and his Monster deal would make sense. Corey Heim is the team’s driver of the future, but he might be a year or two away from being fully Cup ready.

Team Penske

2: Austin Cindric isn’t signed yet for next year but the win earlier this year and making the playoffs probably keeps him in this ride, especially considering there aren’t any “must-have” drivers who are available to take this seat.

12: Ryan Blaney is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

22: Joey Logano is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

RFK Racing

6: Brad Keselowski is a co-owner and is expected to be back in this car next year.

17: Chris Buescher is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

Trackhouse Racing

1: Ross Chastain is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

99: Daniel Suarez has signed a contract extension that will keep him in the seat next year, the team announced Aug. 9.

TBA (charter likely acquired from SHR): Trackhouse has two drivers under contract and one car. It still must decide whether it feels Shane van Gisbergen would be better off with another season in Xfinity. That would leave Zane Smith in that car, but the more likely scenario is van Gisbergen in a Cup car and Smith either looking for a ride while under contract or loaned to another team like he is this year with Spire.

Chase Briscoe reacts to Christopher Bell’s JGR spoiler

Richard Childress Racing

3: Austin Dillon is signed through at least next year. While there is chatter that maybe he could step aside (much like his grandfather Richard Childress did for Dale Earnhardt decades ago), it is far more likely he is back in this car next season.

8: Kyle Busch is signed through at least next year and no changes are expected.

33: The team had flirted with adding a third full-time car for next year but that seems much less likely than in early June.

Haas Factory Team

41: Cole Custer was announced on July 20 as the driver for this team next year. The defending Xfinity Series champion and current series points leader who had spent 2020-2022 in the Cup Series at SHR, was the natural choice for this car with his Xfinity performance and the Haas sponsorship he has carried throughout his career. The team will remain Ford and have an RFK alliance.

Front Row Motorsports

34: Noah Gragson is signed with the team for next year. The team has not announced whether he would be the No. 34 or its third car.

36 (charter acquired from SHR): The top candidates for this ride (or a different number as Front Row might change numbers) are Zane Smith and Sam Mayer. Smith won a truck championship for Front Row a couple of years ago and him reuniting with his former team seems more possible now than earlier this year. He currently is under contract with Trackhouse, but with NASCAR likely limiting organizations that don’t currently have four charters to three charters, he could be the odd driver out in that stable. Sam Mayer (who brings some funding) and two Xfinity wins this year is in the mix.

38: Todd Gilliland is signed through at least next season and no changes are expected.

Todd Gilliland discusses unexpected contract extension with Front Row Motorsports

Spire Motorsports

7: Corey LaJoie was signed through next season but found out July 24 that he will not be driving for Spire. Justin Haley, whose performance at Rick Ware Racing has caught the attention of some big teams, is the favorite to land this ride. The team, whose relationships and partnerships include some crossover with both Hendrick and Trackhouse, has announced that current SHR crew chief Rodney Childers will crew chief the car next year with current crew chief Ryan Sparks concentrating on his role as competition director.

71: Michael McDowell (currently driving for Front Row Motorsports) signed with Spire through at least next season and joins the team to replace Zane Smith. McDowell likely will bring crew chief Travis Peterson with him to Spire.

77: Carson Hocevar is signed at least through next season. His performance this year has been strong enough to potentially get a look from other teams, but he is expected to stay at Spire for 2025.

Legacy Motor Club

42: John Hunter Nemechek is signed through at least next season and no changes are expected.

43: Erik Jones appears likely to return to the No. 43 car next season. His contract situation seems a little murky as far as any options and who holds them — he was a candidate for the opening at Joe Gibbs Racing. But the team feels confident he will be back in 2025.

JTG Daugherty Racing

47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is signed at least through next season and no changes are expected.

Rick Ware Racing

15: With multiple drivers (Kaz Grala is the anchor driver), if a driver came with sponsorship, this ride would be a possibility. Ryan Preece does have experience driving for RWR, having run two races with the team in 2022.

51: Justin Haley is signed through at least next year but it appears there are options for him to leave or get out of the contract. He is the favorite to go to the Spire Motorsports No. 7 car. Why make that move? Spire and Hendrick have a close relationship and a strong performance at Spire could put him more in line for a Hendrick (or other Chevrolet) ride.

Kaulig Racing

16: With multiple drivers, this ride would be open to a driver who can bring enough sponsorship to anchor the car. But don’t rule out an AJ Allmendinger return to Cup if Kaulig can find the dollars.

31: Daniel Hemric is not signed for next season. This ride likely will come down to sponsorship.

Wood Brothers Racing

21: Josh Berry has been announced as the driver of this car for 2025 as the SHR driver will replace Harrison Burton. Burton has some sponsorship that he could bring with him but his 2025 landing spot is unclear with a return to trucks or Xfinity possible.

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.