NASCAR: 3 possible replacements for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025

As a long-time NASCAR enthusiast with over two decades of watching races under my belt, I must say I’m thrilled about Sheldon Creed’s move to Haas Factory Team for the Xfinity Series in 2025. The kid’s got talent, and I can’t wait to see him behind the wheel of the No. 00 Ford.

Next year, Sheldon Creed’s NASCAR journey is poised to change gear once more. The 2020 Truck Series winner has been unveiled as one of the drivers for Haas Factory Team’s Xfinity Series lineup in 2025.

The Haas Factory Team will see a change in drivers for their No. 00 and No. 41 Fords. Cole Custer, currently driving the No. 00, is expected to move from this position, with Tyler Reddick stepping in instead. Meanwhile, Sam Mayer, who is leaving JR Motorsports, will join Reddick at Haas for the No. 41 seat.

Creed’s move to Haas Factory Team leaves a vacancy at Joe Gibbs Racing behind the wheel of the No. 18 Toyota. Here are three possible replacements for him in 2025.

No. 1 – Taylor Gray

19-year-old Taylor Gray might be a surprise factor, given that he’s relatively new. However, Joe Gibbs Racing has had the opportunity to assess him thoroughly. This season, Gray has competed in nine races for the team in the Xfinity Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota. In his partial schedule, he has managed to secure two top five finishes.

In the Truck Series, he dedicates all his time to racing, driving the No. 17 Toyota for Tricon Garage. So far, he’s achieved six top-five finishes, but hasn’t managed to win a race yet. This suggests that he might benefit from additional time to hone his skills further.

It’s probable that Gray continues in the Truck Series for an additional year, potentially getting the opportunity to race in some Xfinity Series events with Joe Gibbs Racing again. However, it’s not wise to rule out Gray as a potential permanent replacement for Creed.

No. 2 – Corey Heim

An alternative contender for Sheldon Creed’s position might be Corey Heim, who races alongside Taylor Gray in the Truck Series. Heim boasts an impressive record of 10 victories, with five wins alone this season, and has reached the Championship 4 in the series.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Heim has competed in three races within the Cup Series this season. Two of these were with Legacy Motor Club, while one was with 23XI Racing. His most successful outing was a 22nd position finish at Kansas Speedway, which he achieved driving for Legacy Motor Club.

These performances have made the 22-year-old a strong contender for discussion as a potential substitute for Erik Jones, and also as a candidate for the third driver position at 23XI Racing.

Although Jones is no longer associated with 23XI Racing, and Heim is not favored for the Cup Series role, the fact that his name was brought up in relation to a Cup Series position makes it difficult to imagine he wouldn’t still be under consideration for an Xfinity Series slot.

This season, Heim has been racing with Sam Hunt Racing in the Xfinity Series. However, it seems unlikely that Sam Hunt Racing will have a full-time car for him in 2025. Consequently, Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 18 Toyota are the teams most likely to welcome him next year.

For the 2025 Xfinity Series season, it might be beneficial for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota to bring in a fresh ambassador to represent both brands. John Hunter Nemechek and Ty Gibbs have previously filled these roles but are now committed to the Cup Series full-time. With Creed shifting to another team, Heim could potentially step into this position.

He might employ this opportunity to ascend the NASCAR ranks, aiming for a chance at a Cup Series promotion by the year 2026.

No. 3 – Brandon Jones

From 2018 through 2022, Brandon Jones raced for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series team, and it seems he might return to Toyota’s group, which is where he secured all five of his victories in the Xfinity Series.

2023 saw a change for Jones as he moved over to Team Chevrolet and became part of JR Motorsports. His role was to drive the No. 9 vehicle, taking over from Noah Gragson. However, while Gragson clinched eight race victories during his final season with the team, Jones hasn’t secured a win yet.

This year, the 27-year-old has achieved two starting positions at the front of the pack, finished fifth overall, and earned four other top 10 finishes. Currently, he’s in 14th position in the points table, without any top 10 finishes in the last ten races, which puts him at risk of not qualifying for the playoffs for the second year in a row.

The poor chemistry between Jones and JR Motorsports has led to a decline for team No. 9. In fact, since joining the team in 2014, Jones is the only driver of the No. 9 who hasn’t made it to the playoffs with JR Motorsports, and this could happen twice within two years. This lack of advancement might be a sign of things to come.

Given a vacancy at his previous team, he has the opportunity to seize it. Even though he might have envisioned better opportunities upon leaving, it seems his decision hasn’t proven beneficial so far.

Originating from Atlanta, Georgia, this individual also secures backing from Menards. It’s undecided whether the current main sponsor of the No. 18 Toyota, the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, will accompany Creed or remain with Joe Gibbs Racing. The potential financial security that Jones could provide might be sufficient reason for them to take him back.

2024-08-27 15:02

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