NASCAR Cup Series: 3 possible Kaulig Racing drivers for 2025

As a seasoned NASCAR enthusiast with years of virtual and real-life racing experiences under my belt, I must say I’m intrigued by the potential driver lineup changes for Kaulig Racing in 2025.

Kaulig Racing has made another adjustment to its driver roster, with A.J. Allmendinger being confirmed as the full-time driver for the No. 16 Chevrolet in 2025

It’s possible that more adjustments lie ahead, since Daniel Hemric hasn’t secured a deal to pilot the No. 31 Chevrolet beyond the year 2024. There are whispers hinting at a potential change in drivers for this car in the upcoming season as well

Here are three drivers who could drive the No. 31 car for Kaulig Racing in 2025.

No. 1 – Daniel Hemric

Even though Hemric hasn’t yet signed a contract for next season, there’s a strong possibility he will remain with Kaulig Racing. This year, Hemric has notched four top 10 finishes, just one behind Justin Haley’s count from last season. If Haley hadn’t switched to Rick Ware Racing and their No. 31 Chevrolet, it’s thought that Matt Kaulig’s team would have wanted him back

Currently, Hemric is ranked 30th in the points standings, which is five positions lower than where Haley ended up last season. However, considering that Hemric is currently just one spot above Haley, it suggests that their overall performance this year hasn’t shown much of a difference compared to last year

For the upcoming season, similar to many open races, sponsorship is expected to influence the choice of driver for the No. 31 Chevrolet at Kaulig Racing. Hemric’s previous associations with Cirkul and Poppy Bank could undoubtedly be advantageous in this regard

No. 2 – Ty Dillon

Ty Dillon’s NASCAR journey has had its share of highs and lows. Despite not securing a full-time Cup Series position this season, he’s been active across all three series. At age 32, Dillon is a regular driver for Rackley WAR in the Truck Series and currently ranks 18th in the points table. Occasionally, he also steps into the Xfinity Series for JD Motorsports

Additionally, in the Cup Series, Dillon has also had a number of appearances. His racing endeavors have included stints with Richard Childress Racing, Team AmeriVet, and even Kaulig Racing

On select occasions, he may have been racing in the Cup Series with the aspiration of securing a permanent position in the future. This dream might become a reality as early as 2025

It’s been mentioned that Dillon could potentially race full-time for Kaulig Racing this season, but it was also a possibility last year. However, so far he has shared the No. 16 Chevrolet with four other drivers

Last year, Dillon ended up in 32nd position in the points standings with Spire Motorsports. This suggests that he might not necessarily be an improvement over Daniel Hemric. However, given his familiarity with the team’s operations, a switch could potentially be warranted

Kaulig Racing might choose to advance Dillon and relegate Hemric to the Xfinity Series position previously held by A.J. Allmendinger, as he returns to compete full-time in the Cup Series

No. 3 – Harrison Burton

Discussions about Harrison Burton potentially racing in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series had been relatively quiet, until he clinched victory in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway recently. He outperformed Kyle Busch to mark Wood Brothers Racing’s centennial win

Next season, Josh Berry will be driving the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing instead of Burton, as previously announced. However, even before Berry started his tenure, Burton managed to secure the team’s 100th win for himself

Burton has been adamant that he will race next season. But where and with what team?

Those are the questions that need to be answered, and some answers may have unveiled themselves, with Kaulig Racing and team president Chris Rice having reportedly shown interest in the 23-year-old.

The amount of interest (for Burton) remains undetermined, suggesting he could potentially join either the Xfinity Series squad or the Cup Series team

With Burton’s victory at Daytona, his replacement of Daniel Hemric appears much more reasonable, as it was made possible by his impressive performance at the race

Compared to Hemric, Burton has only managed one top-10 finish this season, whereas Hemric boasts four. However, it’s worth noting that in less than two years with Wood Brothers Racing, Burton has already secured a victory. In the Cup Series, Hemric has been behind the wheel for Richard Childress Racing, Kaulig Racing, and 23XI Racing, but he is yet to claim his inaugural win

In the Xfinity Series, Hemric boasts a single victory after competing in 186 races, whereas Burton has achieved four victories in only 75 races. Moreover, Burton is accompanied by sponsorship from DEX Imaging

2024-09-05 16:02

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