NASCAR: 3 teams that still need drivers for 2023
By Asher Fair
Following two confirmations earlier in the offseason, there are still three teams with open seats for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Joe Gibbs Racing made the long-awaited announcement that reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Ty Gibbs is set to be promoted to the organization’s Cup Series team as the replacement for the Richard Childress Racing-bound Kyle Busch, albeit behind a renumbered #54 Toyota instead of Busch’s #18 Toyota.
Stewart-Haas Racing followed that up by confirming a driver change of their own, announcing that reserve driver Ryan Preece is set to replace Cole Custer behind the wheel of the #41 Ford next year, with Custer dropping back down to the Xfinity Series to join Riley Herbst following three seasons at the Cup level.
Both Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing have completely solidified their four-car lineups for the 2023 season, meaning that there are just three teams that need to fill seats for next year.
Interestingly enough, these three teams have not confirmed anybody whatsoever. All of their seats, five in total, remain open. Here are those three teams.
NASCAR teams that still need drivers: No. 1 – Front Row Motorsports
No changes are expected at Front Row Motorsports in 2023, with Michael McDowell likely returning for a sixth season behind the wheel of the #34 Ford and Todd Gilliland likely coming back for a second season behind the wheel of the #38 Ford. Nevertheless, no confirmations have been made, which isn’t unusual for the Bob Jenkins-owned team at this point in the year.
Truck Series driver Zane Smith had been discussed as a possible replacement for either driver, but he is instead set to run select Cup Series races, including the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, in a third entry. He is also set to continue competing full-time in the Truck Series in an attempt to defend his 2022 championship.