NASCAR: Way-too-early look at the 2024 driver lineup

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season came to a close at Phoenix Raceway this past Sunday afternoon. What does the 2024 driver lineup look like?

Sunday afternoon’s Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway brought an end to the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, with Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney winning his first championship over Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron as well as Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell.

With the 2023 season officially in the books, let’s take a “way-too-early” look at what next year’s driver lineup looks like (so far).

But is it really a “way-too-early” look at this point, considering the fact that the next time the cars are scheduled to be on the race track is the preseason Busch Light Clash exhibition race at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum — even if that is in early February, the week before the Super Bowl?

There are still a few puzzle pieces that need to be put into place, with just 33 of 36 chartered entries confirmed thus far.

2024 NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup: Chevrolet

Hendrick Motorsports

• No. 5 – Kyle Larson
• No. 9 – Chase Elliott
• No. 24 – William Byron
• No. 48 – Alex Bowman

JTG Daugherty Racing

• No. 47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Kaulig Racing

• No. 16 – TBD
• No. 31 – Daniel Hemric

Speculation: While many would agree that A.J. Allmendinger gives Kaulig Racing the best chance to win and advance to the playoffs, Ty Dillon has been linked to take over behind the wheel of the No. 16 Chevrolet. Matt Kaulig’s team reportedly believe that Allmendinger’s talents are better utilized in the Xfinity Series, where the team have yet to confirm any drivers for 2024.

Dillon lost his ride with Spire Motorsports to Carson Hocevar, so his 2024 team is set to be his fifth in the last five years.

Richard Childress Racing

• No. 3 – Austin Dillon
• No. 8 – Kyle Busch

Spire Motorsports

• No. 7 – Corey LaJoie
• No. 77 – Carson Hocevar (R)
• No. TBD – Zane Smith (R)
  • competing on loan from Trackhouse Racing Team

Trackhouse Racing Team

• No. 1 – Ross Chastain
• No. 99 – Daniel Suarez

2024 NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup: Ford

Front Row Motorsports

• No. 34 – Michael McDowell
• No. 38 – Todd Gilliland

Rick Ware Racing

• No. 15/51 – Justin Haley
• No. 51/15 – TBD

Speculation: As usual, the second car will likely be driven by multiple drivers, meaning that just 35, not 36, chartered entries are slated to be run by full-time drivers.

RFK Racing

• No. 6 – Brad Keselowski
• No. 17 – Chris Buescher

Stewart-Haas Racing

• No. 4 – Josh Berry
• No. 10 – TBD
• No. 14 – Chase Briscoe
• No. 41 – Ryan Preece

Speculation: After losing his ride with Legacy Motor Club, Noah Gragson has been linked to Stewart-Haas Racing as Aric Almirola’s replacement behind the wheel of the No. 10 Ford, joining Kevin Harvick replacement Josh Berry as newcomers to the team in 2024.

Team Penske

• No. 2 – Austin Cindric
• No. 12 – Ryan Blaney
• No. 22 – Joey Logano

Wood Brothers Racing

• No. 21 – Harrison Burton

2024 NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup: Toyota

Legacy Motor Club

• No. 42 – John Hunter Nemechek
• No. 43 – Erik Jones

Joe Gibbs Racing

• No. 11 – Denny Hamlin
• No. 19 – Martin Truex Jr.
• No. 20 – Christopher Bell
• No. 54 – Ty Gibbs

23XI Racing

• No. 23 – Bubba Wallace
• No. 45 – Tyler Reddick

The official start of the 2024 season is scheduled for Sunday, February 18, with the 66th annual Daytona 500 in its traditional season-opening slot, so we still have about a three-and-a-half-month wait until race number one on the full 36-race schedule.