How Silly is Silly Season Getting?

The NASCAR 2023 Season is closing in on the finish line.  The 2023 NASCAR Playoffs are only slightly over a week away.  However, the NASCAR Silly Season for 2023-24 is already well in motion.  For those new to the term, "Silly Season" refers to the moving around of drivers and teams to new teams and new manufacturers.  The rapid changing environment in NASCAR can make it feel "silly".  It's maddening to try and keep up with all of the changes going on.  However, if we look at it one step at a time we can find the key factors in this Silly Season for NASCAR.  In this article, we will look at all the moves that have been made and what pieces are we waiting on to fall into place.

What We Know...

Kevin Harvick Retiring

The Silly Season really got started with this major announcement.  The 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Kevin Harvick, announced on January 11th that he would be retiring from full-time competition following the 2023 season.  In 2024, Harvick will join the FOX commentary booth for the first half of the season.  This announcement opened up the first major ride for the 2024 season in the NASCAR Cup Series.  The #4 Stewart Haas Racing Ford has been piloted by Harvick since his championship season in 2014.

Josh Berry to Take Over #4

The question of the #4 SHR was answered relatively quickly.  It was announced in June that Josh Berry would drive the Ford Mustang for Stewart Haas in 2024.  Josh Berry has spent the last couple of seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driving the #8 for JR Motorsports.  Berry has been able to amass five career wins in the Xfinity series and a final four appearance in the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs.  Berry has also spent some time in the Cup Series in 2023, filling in for Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman at HMS as well as Noah Gragson at LMC.

LMC to Toyota

The changes for Legacy Motor Club have been many over the last few years.  From Bubba leaving at the end of 2020 to bringing in Erik Jones for 2021 to becoming a two car team and merging with GMS racing in 2022 to bringing in Jimmie Johnson as an owner in 2023 and rebranding to LMC, the team has had its fair share of excitement over the last few years.  However, it was announced in May that the team would have at least one more big change by bringing switching to Toyota in 2024 and beyond.  The team will run Toyota Camrys for the first time in the teams history (even dating back to the Petty Motorsport days).  Only time will tell if the move to Toyota will be a good one for LMC.  However, the move to Toyota might prove to be the least surprising thing in this article for the LMC camp.

Justin Haley to RWR

In one of the more shocking moves of the Silly Season thus far, Justin Haley announced in July that he would be leaving Kaulig Racing after the 2023 season and joining Rick Ware Racing in 2024.  Justin Haley has spent the last two seasons with Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series and had spent his previous three seasons with the team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.  Haley quoted the technical alliance between RWR and RFK Racing as a big factor in his move in 2024.  However, his move does open up a seat for the team in 2024.

MTJ Returns in 2024

One of the biggest question marks on the 2023 Silly Season is ultimately one of the biggest question marks of the 2022 Silly Season.  Would Martin Truex Jr. return for another season or would he retire from the NASCAR Cup Series?  The answer to this season's question remains the same as it did in 2022.  Martin Truex Jr. is returning to Joe Gibbs Racing to drive the #19 Toyota Camry in 2024.  The deal is only a one-year deal, so it is unknown whether or not he will be back longer than that.  However, we now know that MTJ will be back in the #19 for 2024.

FRM Cup Lineup Remains the Same

There was some speculation that this might not be the case for Front Row Motorsports in 2024.  Some had considered Michael McDowell to be a name high atop a list for another Ford ride in the Cup Series.  Others believed that Zane Smith might be in line to take over the #38, seeing as how FRM split the time in the car between he and Gilliland in 2023.  Regardless, FRM announced in early August that both McDowell and Gilliland would be returning to the team in 2024.  McDowell has recently picked up his 2nd career win with the team and Gilliland is showing steady improvement with one more Top 10 in 2023 than the year prior and a slightly better points standings position.

LaJoie Inks Multi-Year Extension

Corey LaJoie announced on his "Stacking Pennies" podcast on August 2nd that he has signed a multiyear extension with Spire Motorsports to continue to drive the #7 Chevy Camaro for 2024 and beyond.  While the "official" length of the contract is unknown, LaJoie seemed pretty confident that the team would be able to build on their current run for at least a few years to come.  LaJoie got his career best finish at Atlanta earlier in the year, finishing 4th.

Noah Gragson Requests Release

The Noah Gragson case is a bit more complicated than simply him asking for his release.  Noah Gragson was suspended by LMC on August 5th after responding to a racially inappropriate meme on social media.  Gragson was subsequently suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for violating the Member Conduct section of the NASCAR Rule Book.  On August 10th, Gragson officially requested his release from Legacy Motor Club; a release that was granted by the team.  This will mean Noah Gragson is officially a free agent in 2024 and the #42 Car will be open.

What Pieces are Left?

Denny Hamlin Returning to JGR?

At one point, this seemed to be merely a formality.  Denny Hamlin has been a lead driver for Joe Gibbs Racing since his rookie season back in 2006.  Surely, he would end up back in the #11 Toyota Camry for JGR.  Right?  Well most would still say yes to that question, but it is worth noting that a deal has yet to be made between Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing.  Recently, rumors have come out saying that the deal could be more complicated than just Hamlin and JGR.  Could these complications keep Denny out of the #11 in 2024?

23XI to Ford?

Well I did say there were some other complications in the Hamlin/JGR case.  This could be it.  Rumors have begun to float around that 23XI has had meetings with the Ford camp.  This move would be a massive blow to Toyota as it could essentially lose them three playoff caliber drivers in Hamlin, Reddick, and Wallace.  23XI seemed to be a big part of Toyota's expansion plan in the NASCAR Cup Series.  It could be a major loss for them if they cannot get a deal worked out.

What Happens to Almirola/#10 Car?

Aric Almirola has piloted the #10 Ford for Stewart Haas Racing since 2018.  He has gotten 2 wins with the team and had four playoff appearances during his tenure with the team.  Almirola was originally believed to be retiring after the 2022 season.  However, it was announced that he would stay with the team in 2023, with an option to stay in 2024 if he chose.  Almirola has not yet made that decision on whether or not to return in 2024.  Should he not, Zane Smith is currently being slated as a favorite for the #10 Ford Mustang.  Michael McDowell was a favorite for the ride, but after announcing his return to FRM in 2024, that is no longer an option.  There have even been rumors recently of SHR selling a charter or two.  This could come from the #10 car.

Who Takes the #42?

While we know that Noah Gragson is not returning to the #42 for Legacy Motor Club in 2024, we still do not know who is going to be in that ride.  John Hunter Nemechek is the most touted prospect to take over the #42.  However, the situation with Denny Hamlin could make that more complicated than that.  Nemechek is the hottest Toyota prospect in the Xfinity Series currently.  With that in mind, would Toyota want to put him in the #11 in the case of that ride opening up?  If so, who is next in line to take over the LMC #42 for their transition to Toyota?

Kaulig Racing Up in the Air?

After Justin Haley's announcement, Kaulig Racing is left with the responsibility of finding a replacement for him in the #31 Chevrolet.  Currently, Chandler Smith stands as the favorite to take over that ride in 2024.  Austin Hill was an option before he announced a contract extension with RCR.  However, the #31 car might not be the only seat they have to fill.  AJ Allmendinger has expressed his interest in returning to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time.  Could this open up the #16 Cup Car as well at Kaulig Racing?  If so, who is available to take over that ride?

Ty Dillon Being Replaced?

Ty Dillon currently drives the #77 full-time for Spire Motorsports.  However, rumors have begun to stir about a possible replacement for Dillon in the #77.  Carson Hocevar's name has been thrown around as a potential for that ride, but no deal has been made yet one way or another.

Wood Brothers #21?

This is probably the quietest of the Silly Season questions left to be answered.  Harrison Burton is currently expected to return to WBR to drive the iconic #21 for 2024.  However, there is currently not a deal between Burton and WBR to have him return.  Burton is currently in his second season with the team. He's currently scored two Top-10's in 2023 (equivalent to the amount he scored in 2022).

Silly Season manages to always entertain us throughout the season, but some seem to do so more than others.  There have been some major pieces fall into place thus far, and many more still to lock down.  The one thing we do know is that there will be some new faces in new places in 2024.  The face of the NASCAR Cup Series will look different by the time we get to Daytona in February.