Some major changes have happened since the end of last season, some drivers and teams gone.
SHR (Stewart-Haas Racing) closed its doors at the end of the 2024 season and will have two teams in the Xfinity series (Haas Factory Team) Driven by Sheldon Creed coming from the Joe Gibbs Racing team and staying in the Xfinity series and Sam Meyer in the #41. Cole Custer will be with HFT full time in the cup series their only charter team left going from 4 to 1.
2024 drivers 2025 driver/teams
#4 Josh Berry-----> #21 woods brothers ford, replacing Harrison Burton demoted to Xfinity series
#10 Noah Gragson------>#4 Front Row Motorsports
#14 Chase Brisco------>#19 Joe Gibbs Racing, replacing Martin Truex Jr
#41 Ryan Preece------->#60 Roush Fenway Keslowski (RFK)
#38 Todd Gilliland ------->#34 Front Row Motorsports, staying with the same team replacing Michael McDowell
#34 Michael McDowell----->#71 Spire Motorsports, replacing Zane Smith
#71 Zane Smith----------->#38 Front Row Motorsports
#7 Corey Lajoie------->#15 Rick Ware Racing; part time
#51 Justin Haley------>#7 Full time with Spire Motorsports
Shane Van Gisbergen will be full time in the cup series this season and will be in the Trackhouse #88 car
Riley Herbst will be full time in a new car this year in the 23XL #35 Toyota, moving from his SHR ride in the Xfinity series last year.
*Last year we saw Larson dominate the 1.5 mile tracks early and mid season but fell off down the stretch and the reverse happened to the Penske teams which got hot in the playoffs, being dominated by Blaney and Logano, ultimately leading to Joey Logano's Championship. This season will be interesting to see how Brisco does in a JGR car and can spread his wings abit after being the best driver SHR had after Kevin Harvick left in 2024. SHR was dead in the water trying to compete with JGR, Penske and Hendrick which have the drivers, money and best research and development programs in the sport. I think Larson is still the man to beat in the 2025 season, i think he learns from the mistakes from the end of last season and gets the Championship in 2025.
*one of the worst moves i have seen a team do is what happened to Michael McDowell. Front Row gave his ride to Zane Smith, who should still be the Truck series not Cup, and still kept Todd Gilliland. Front row will be missing a great super speedway driver and good road racer. Maybe in a couple of years when the sponsorship money runs out Smith will be back where he belongs, like Harrison Burton who's money ran out and should not of been where he was in Cup, as if the Woods Bros Racing could get any worse!
*I don't have a favorite driver but SVG this year might push me to get a sticker or beer koozie. He moves from Kaulig full time in the Xfinity series to Trackhouse full time in Cup. He drove for THR couple of years ago in certain spots in the schedule and did well. He won in the first Chicago road course race with Trackhouse, I'm excited to see what he can do in a better race team this season.
Early Daytona 500 picks
Ryan Preece 35/1
Justin Haley 60/1
Justin Allgaier 40/1
Austin Hill 75/1