NASCAR Cup Series: 5 drivers who won’t return to their teams
By Asher Fair
Several full-time drivers from the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season will not be back with their Cup teams full-time in 2024.
Every NASCAR Cup Series offseason brings with it a dose of change, and this year’s is no different, with quite a few drivers no longer set to compete for the teams with which they competed full-time throughout the 2023 season.
In total, there are five full-time drivers from 2023 who have confirmed that they will not have the same role in 2024, but only one of those five drivers has confirmed that he will not be driving in 2024.
Let’s take a look at these five drivers.
No. 1 – Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick announced that the 2023 season would be his last, ending a 23-year career and 10-year run at Stewart-Haas Racing. Josh Berry is set to replace him behind the wheel of the No. 4 Ford as he moves to the Fox broadcast booth to join Mike Joy and former teammate Clint Bowyer.
No. 2 – Aric Almirola
Aric Almirola hasn’t officially retired, but he too will not be back with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2024. After spending six years with the team, he remains open to running a part-time schedule elsewhere, with Noah Gragson likely to replace him behind the wheel of the No. 10 Ford.
No. 3 – Justin Haley
Justin Haley announced over the summer that he is set to compete full-time for Rick Ware Racing in 2024. Daniel Hemric is set to be promoted from Kaulig Racing’s Xfinity Series team to replace him behind the wheel of the No. 31 Chevrolet.
No. 4 – Noah Gragson
Before “liking” an inappropriate meme on social media, Noah Gragson had been competing full-time for Legacy Motor Club as a rookie. But even before his suspension — and ultimately his release — he was rumored to be on his way out amid the team’s switch from Chevrolet to Toyota, with Toyota preferring John Hunter Nemechek. Nemechek is indeed set to drive the No. 42 Toyota next year.
No. 5 – Ty Dillon
For the fourth time in the last four seasons, Ty Dillon is set to leave a team after just one year. He is set to be replaced behind the wheel of the No. 77 Chevrolet at Spire Motorsports by rookie Carson Hocevar, with Zane Smith also set to join the team on loan from Trackhouse Racing Team.
There is also one other change that hasn’t been confirmed, but is believed to be nearing confirmation…
Possible No. 6 – A.J. Allmendinger
A.J. Allmendinger’s departure from Kaulig Racing’s Cup Series team hasn’t been confirmed, but it has long been rumored that he will be replaced by Ty Dillon after just one year behind the wheel of the No. 16 Chevrolet. While not many see this as a productive move, given the fact that Allmendinger won a race in 2023, he can arguably be an even bigger asset for Matt Kaulig’s team in the Xfinity Series.
Next. All-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list. dark
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, February 18 with the 66th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, with Fox set to provide live coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ET. Sign up for a free trial of FuboTV and don’t miss any of next year’s action!