NASCAR: Two teams have empty seats for 2023
By Asher Fair
Just two teams still have seats to fill before the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season begins in February at Daytona International Speedway.
The driver lineup for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, at least among the 36 chartered entries, is almost complete following a number of confirmations earlier in the offseason, including Joe Gibbs Racing’s announcement that Ty Gibbs is set to replace Kyle Busch and Stewart-Haas Racing’s announcement that Ryan Preece is set to replace Cole Custer.
In total, full-time drivers have been confirmed for 33 of the 36 chartered entries thus far. The three chartered entries that don’t have confirmed full-time drivers are at two teams: Rick Ware Racing and Live Fast Motorsports.
Rick Ware Racing downsized from four cars to two before the 2022 season, and they are slated to continue to operate as a two-car team in 2023. In 2022, a number of part-time drivers drove the No. 15 Ford, while Cody Ware, the son of team owner Rick Ware, was the full-time driver of the No. 51 Ford.
On the other hand, Live Fast Motorsports have run one entry, the No. 78 Ford, since entering the Cup Series in 2021. Team co-owner B.J. McLeod has been the primary driver of that car, competing in all of the oval races except for the dirt races at Bristol Motor Speedway. Other drivers have driven the car in the two dirt races and in the 13 road course races.
For 2023, the team have made two confirmations. First of all, they are switching manufacturers from Ford to Chevrolet, and secondly, they have confirmed one part-time driver: Josh Bilicki.
Bilicki, who drove part-time for Spire Motorsports in 2022, is set to compete part-time throughout the 2023 season. He is set to make his first start of the year in late March at Circuit of the Americas. He has been confirmed for four races, leaving the No. 78 Chevrolet in need of a driver for the other 32 events.
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Who else will end up piloting the No. 78 Chevrolet at Live Fas Motorsports during the 2023 season, and who will drive the No. 15 Ford and No. 51 Ford at Rick Ware Racing? The season is scheduled to begin with the 65th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 19. Fox is set to broadcast the race live beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.