Take 5: Samuel Stubbs' NASCAR storylines to follow this offseason
The 2024 NASCAR season is in the books and the clock already is ticking on one of the shortest offseasons in sports. With less than 12 weeks until Bowman Gray Stadium hosts the Busch Clash on Feb. 2, here are the storylines you need to know going into the 2025 season.
New Faces in New Places
NASCAR free agency arguably has never been more chaotic than it is right now. Whether due to retirements, team closings or expiring contracts, a host of drivers will be with new organizations in 2025.
The most notable individual of the bunch is Chase Briscoe, who will take over the No. 19 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing following the retirement of Martin Truex Jr. and the closure of Stewart-Haas Racing. It's an excellent opportunity in his young career, and 2025 has the potential to be a huge year for a driver still trying to prove that he's a perennial contender.
Two other Stewart-Haas alumni have found Cup Series opportunities for 2025 as well. Josh Berry will run his second Cup Series season with the fabled Wood Brothers following the departure of Harrison Burton, while Noah Gragson will take over the vacant seat at Front Row Motorsports left by 2021 Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell.
Spire Motorsports will be the next team to employ McDowell's services behind the wheel, as he'll join the up-and-coming organization in 2025, driving the No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro. The No. 71 was left vacant after it was announced that Zane Smith would leave Spire at the conclusion of 2024.
There are quite a few seats still open for the 2025 season as of this writing. Rick Ware Racing has yet to confirm a driver for 2025, leaving the future of Corey LaJoie, who finished out the season driving the team's No. 51 Ford in doubt.
Will Kyle Busch bounce back?
Busch's 2024 season made headlines, but for all the wrong reasons. His 20th Cup Series campaign was his first without a win and his worst year statistically since his rookie season in 2005. The two-time champ is capable of winning on any given Sunday, but the No. 8 team and Richard Childress Racing have work to do in order to get back to their winning ways.
Will Penske retain its momentum?
It's safe to say that Roger Penske is at the top of the motorsports mountain for the time being. After winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Indianapolis 500 and his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship with Joey Logano, the 87-year-old racing mogul and his team have shown how to consistently win championships in NASCAR's playoff era. Ryan Blaney, the 2023 champion, has proven himself to be one of the top drivers in the sport, while the indomitable Logano can never be counted out of contention, as his 2024 title run showed.
How will Hendrick, Gibbs respond?
Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing dominated the first half of the 2024 season, but both were shockingly torn down by Penske in the playoffs. Their lack of firepower in the postseason was extremely surprising, as only one car of the eight fielded by the two four-car operations - Hendrick Motorsports' William Byron - made it to the Championship 4. Hendrick and Gibbs each boast four of the top drivers in the sport, and both Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs have to be motivated to reach the top of the mountain again in 2025.
Which young driver will take the biggest step forward?
The Cup Series is littered with young talent going into 2025. Gragson, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Chase Elliott and Blaney make up only part of a young core that makes the NASCAR Cup Series so competitive. However, one young talent is lurking in the shadows: Michigan's Carson Hocevar, who ran away with the Rookie of the Year award in 2024. With a growing Spire Motorsports behind him and a year of Cup Series experience under his belt, don't be surprised if he takes massive strides in 2025 en route to his first career win or a potential playoff berth.
