The End of the 2024 Cup Series Season marks the End of…
As the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season comes to a close with the final race at Phoenix, it’s time to bid farewell to some of the sport’s most iconic elements and personalities. This season has been a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with thrilling races and photo finishes, unexpected turns, and now bittersweet goodbyes to some of NASCAR’s most beloved figures.
Stewart-Haas Racing has been a dominant force in NASCAR for years, known for its competitive spirit and innovative approach to racing. SHR has left an indelible mark on the sport, with a roster of top-tier drivers and a total of 105 victories under their belts—70 in the Cup Series and 28 in the Xfinity Series. As they say goodbye, fans will remember the incredible performances and the legacy of excellence they built. Gene Haas will retain the charter for the #41 Ford and will regroup as Haas Factory Team, with current Xfinity driver Cole Custer once again joining the Cup Series to drive the team’s one and only Cup car.
Martin Truex Jr., the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion, has announced his retirement from full-time racing. As he steps out of the JGR #19 Toyota, he carries with him a remarkable career that has included 24 victories and a championship title that solidified his place in NASCAR history. Truex has expressed interest in running the Daytona 500 next year along with a few other races but has not yet announced anything definitively.
Harrison Burton, who won Daytona this past summer and gave the Wood Brothers their 100th win, will be returning to the Xfinity Series in 2025. His new home with AM Racing will be an exciting development for fans who have followed his career.
Other drivers exiting the Cup series but have not yet announced a landing spot include Ryan Preece, who is left without a ride after Stewart Haas closes its doors; Daniel Hemric from Kaulig Racing, who is being replaced by Ty Dillon; and Corey LaJoie from Spire Motorsports, who swapped seats with Justin Hayley a few weeks ago. Zane Smith will part ways with Trackhouse Racing just as Shane Van Gisbergen moves from Xfinity to Cup full time with Trackhouse.
We also say goodbye to The Clash at the LA Coliseum. After 3 years of making the trek to Los Angeles for the first exhibition race of the season, the NASCAR Cup Series will instead head to Bowman Gray Stadium for The Clash in 2025. Known as a classic short track, the “Madhouse” has a legendary reputation for intense racing. This historic venue, known for its intimate atmosphere and passionate fans, will create a new experience for drivers and fans.
Richmond Raceway will lose its spring race for 2025. The race was usually held in April but was removed from the schedule to accommodate a new road course race in Mexico City. This fresh addition will bring NASCAR to an international audience, showcasing the sport’s global appeal.
Scheduling changes also include an entirely different look for the 10-race, four-round playoffs. Homestead-Miami Speedway will now host a March 23 race, while Atlanta Motor Speedway’s second race moves to June 28 and Watkins Glen goes back to Aug. 10.
The Cup Series will bid farewell to its current 36 charter line-up and will proceed as 32 charters for the 2025 season due to the anti-trust litigation currently in place with 23X1 and Front Row Motorsports.
The usual broadcast deal of FOX for the first half of the season and NBC for the second half will be a thing of the past under NASCAR’s new TV deal that will take place starting in 2025 and run until 2031. FOX will broadcast 12 races, NBC will broadcast 14, and Amazon and TNT will broadcast five races each. The new setup will also see a shift in commentators. So expect to see a change in faces in the broadcast booths. Additionally, the season will mark yet another new gimmick with the debut of NASCAR’s in-season tournament.
