NASCAR: Joe Gibbs Racing announcing new driver for 2024?

While a timetable hasn’t been confirmed, all signs point toward Sheldon Creed joining Joe Gibbs Racing after two NASCAR Xfinity Series seasons with Richard Childress Racing.

Following yet another run-in with teammate Sheldon Creed at Martinsville Speedway, one which ultimately led to his elimination from NASCAR Xfinity Series championship contention, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill was none too pleased and stated that he was looking forward to Creed leaving the team and joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024.

Creed’s departure from Richard Childress Racing had, in fact, already been confirmed, with Jesse Love having been confirmed as his replacement behind the wheel of the No. 2 Chevrolet. Hill himself had already signed a multi-year deal to stay behind the wheel of the No. 21 Chevrolet as well.

But Creed to Joe Gibbs Racing had not been confirmed, and there still hasn’t been confirmation of the move. However, it likely won’t be too long before that changes.

Joe Gibbs Racing know that they must overhaul their NASCAR Xfinity Series driver lineup for a second consecutive season.

After last season, Ty Gibbs was promoted to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Cup Series team as the replacement for the Richard Childress Racing-bound Kyle Busch, while Brandon Jones left to replace the Legacy Motor Club-bound Noah Gragson at JR Motorsports.

Now John Hunter Nemechek is set to replace Gragson at Legacy Motor Club amid their switch from Chevrolet to Toyota, and Sammy Smith is set to join JR Motorsports as the replacement for the Stewart-Haas Racing-bound Josh Berry.

As a result, Joe Gibbs Racing have not confirmed any drivers for the No. 18 Toyota or the No. 20 Toyota, much less the shared “star car” entry, which was the No. 19 Toyota this year.

Throwing a further twist into the equation is the fact that Jesse Love had been viewed as one of Toyota’s top prospects, and now he has signed with Richard Childress Racing. Corey Heim, Toyota’s top Truck Series driver, has already confirmed that he will be back with TRICON Garage next year.

Creed made it to the playoffs in his second season with Richard Childress Racing after missing out in 2022. Like Hill, he was eliminated in the round of 8. The 2020 Truck Series champion is still seeking his first career Xfinity Series victory.

In addition to Creed, Chandler Smith is rumored to reunite with Toyota and join Joe Gibbs Racing full-time after confirming his departure from Kaulig Racing, even though he had signed a multi-year deal with the latter before the 2023 season began.