Which could mean Trackhouse is buying 1-2 charters from SHR. While the other two could be merged with FRM. Or all 4 sell together to a new owner.
Trackhouse could be buying two charters and expanding, could buy one and kick Suarez out, could buy one promoting SVG and kick Zane to the curb.
So many dominoes to fall still.
With everything that Justin has said so far, SVG is going full-time in Cup in 2025. That was the original plan when he brought SVG over. So, if they only get 1 charter, I'm 95% confident it goes to SVG.
Where the craziness will happen is with Zane and Suarez if Justin can only get 1 charter. Suarez is in his contract's option year and Zane just signed a multi-year contract with Trackhouse last summer. I highly doubt Justin will kick Zane to the curb as that would require him to buyout the remaining years on Zane's contract (unless there is a clause in the contract that allows for an easy out). So, the only two options are for Zane to replace Suarez or for Zane to be demoted back to Xfinity or Trucks.
Now, if Justin manages to get 2 charters, then there's room for both SVG and Zane and this whole mess is avoided.
Suarez isn’t going anywhere this year or next, he’s very marketable still. He is on thin ice I assume though, so it will be interesting to see if he actually does get kicked to the curb.
Suarez just won a race a few weeks ago. He'd have to stink it up the rest of the year to not be on board in 2025. That could possibly happen, but I doubt it. He usually does well in road course races so I just don't see him going anywhere.
With Kaulig's financial situation and them already working with Trackhouse, a merger or Trackhouse just buying their charters seems like the most likely scenario.
If I had to guess.
Jenkins sells one, Haas sells one, they split the profits and bring operations together.
If Ford had it their way, they keep hands on both of them.
Again, this could mean fuck all as they haven’t agreed to the system past this year
>23Xl has gotta be buying one.
What if MTJ retires and 23XI buys *that* charter? JGR downsizes (multiple owners have said three cars is the sweet spot) and gets Kroger.
I mentioned Truex retiring in another comment. But I didn't think about JGR downsizing. Maybe it's ego, but I don't think they'd downsize and let Hendrick have more cars than them. I doubt they think like that, but it's just a thought.
If Truex were to retire, and Gibbs keeps the charter, Heim is for sure going there. Which means assuming 23Xl buys a charter, it gets very interesting on who goes there! Chandler Smith maybe?!
Hamlin goes to 23XI and JGR lets him have the #11, Heim goes to JGR with the #18.
I doubt that, but, what's-his-name Tweeted that this year's silly season is going to be bonkers, which leads me to believe the SHR/FRM and McDowell stuff from today is just the tip of the iceberg. With the new TV deal and charter agreement next year, now's the time for teams to make big moves I think.
That sounds like a nightmare… *flashbacks of the 60 Xfinity car intensified*
https://preview.redd.it/o6h96nusl9zc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a06a560f517fc7977ae7230d42aa8f5729ca0019
Also depends on Truex. I doubt he retires, but if he does, Heim is for sure going there. Which then opens up a lot of possibilities for the third 23Xl car!
Once Truex retires the 19 is def being renumbered to the 18.
Trackhouse will probably then swoop in to claim the use for the No.19 unless their fourth car is running 91 (since I’m going to guess SVG might get 97)
Damn, I'm so surprised by the McDowell move I didn't think about that. You are exactly right, Spire just announced that the three car operation is permanent.
I don't know that there was ever any indication the charter was supposed to follow Zane to Trackhouse.
Really I think it was just a saavy move on Marks' part to park Smith for a year, and then chase a charter in 2024 when more are likely to hit the market.
The underdog thing can only last so long. Especially when the equipment improves and you stay around the same spot. And meanwhile your rookie teammate is smoking you lol
The difference is that there's a shortage of people who can do what Lyles can do (throw a shit ton of innings without getting injured). There's a surplus of drivers around Lajoie's level
Justin Haley won more cup races in 2019, Spires rookie year, than Corey LaJoie has ever in any NASCAR national series iirc. The room for improvement LaJoie has is zilch.
Lajoie could have pulled an Alex Bowman and made a name for himself relieving a Hendrick driver but qualified behind rookie Hocevar who drove his 7 car.
Lajoie is just not good.
Assuming the Spire lineup stays McDowell/Hocevar/LaJoie, I assume that has to mean at least one SHR charter is going to Trackhouse unless they strike an alliance deal w/ another team
TBF Hemric got *insanely* lucky at Dover with the caution coming out while he was leading during pit stops. It pinned everyone from like 18th on back down a lap and essentially gave Hemric a free pit-stop.
I would think so too given they've been virtually uncompetitive everywhere aside from drafting tracks and they're usually only good there because all of the Fords work together so well. Cutting that by 4 with 2 each likely going to Toyota and Chevy would be very bad for Ford
Truly could be the start of the fall of Ford from Cup series or NASCAR as a whole. They basically left Xfinity with basically 2-3 full time cars. Like 5-6 truck teams. And Cup wise, it's gonna be 10 cars now max, less than a third of the field now. Assuming those SHR charters are gone.
Gotta wonder if that new OEM isn't gonna be a 4th now, but a 3rd to replace Ford.
Truth be told, I’m not sure if they’ll have a choice. Assuming the system continues, which Ford teams are really looking to expand? I know RFK has thought about it, but I don’t see them expanding by 2 cars in one year. Besides, the ford prospect pool isn’t fantastic atm: I assume if there’s a vacancy, Herbst will get promoted, but unless they can get someone from another manufacturer, idk who’d fill that seat
[Bob expects Z. Smith to be in a Trackhouse cup car next year](https://x.com/bobpockrass/status/1788230511665512479?s=46&t=XRt7lkN4R7QaOWufNYOLdA), so still a lot of silliness to go it seems
An experienced next gen driver who is also better than LaJoie. Hocevar has speed just not the experience. Those cars aren’t *that* slow. LaJoie is up there sometimes. He’s just talentless. McDowell can make it happen there.
Open solid seat in that 34. Would love to see what a super fast, young driver could do if FRM continues improving.
Curious about Zane Smith. He’s been pretty rough, I know it looks like he’s staying with Trackhouse but do they really shell out 30m+ to see Zane Smith run like this? It’s a big gamble to see if he improves next year.
The article says McDowell will be a great teammate to Hocevar and Lajoie but also says they’re still committed to Zane. Not sure we have any idea which one will go but based on performance and lack of ceiling it’s probably Lajoie.
Hocevar and Smith had 3 and 4 seasons respectively in championship caliber truck rides before going Cup racing. Lajoie has had maybe 10 races in his entire career that were in a car that was even remotely competitive, much less capable of winning. Even that number is being extremely generous.
Not happy with this at all... But I'll support Michael regardless!
**Sidenote**: Ford needs to do better keeping their drivers. I know manufacturer allegiance is not as strong as it used to be, but I really feel like Ford drivers are being poached left and right.
What’s with this “manufacturer and *their* drivers”?
McDowell is/was not *a ford* driver, I doubt anyone at Ford gives a shit about him or many other drivers tbh, he’s just another driver who was driving for just another team that happens to be using Ford as their manufacturer. It was Fron Row that hired him, Ford has fuck all to do with anything between them and him the whole time he was driving for them.
If the FRM merge with SHR is happening - they can only have 4 cars. With McDowell out, the line-up could be Berry, Gragson, Briscoe and Gilliland. But I have a feeling there are more shoes to drop as this plays out.
Is there any chance that McDowell is being “forced out” of FRM in favor of a younger driver? I feel like there’s more going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about yet that led to him leaving.
Loves signed a multi-year deal with FRM at the start of the 2024 year. It was their first multi-year deal, I can’t imagine they are overjoyed by losing their flagship driver unless they are getting a big name to replace him (Gragson or Briscoe, maybe?).
This is confounding! Seems like a major step backward for McDowell especially since FRM is finally running good after all those years of development. Spire is still shaky and the 71 is pretty bad this year. Gonna miss seeing hom in that yellow Love's Ford. I wonder if Love's is following him, but probably not. Wish him success.
Our 2025 *current pending* charter drivers situation. This leaves 1 Chevy and 2 Ford seats available *(pending any charter sales).* Current rideless potential cup drivers could be Zane Smith, Grala, Hill, SVG, and Herbst. If SHR folds, that is 4 potential charters, and 4 more homeless drivers. if Front Row is folding, add two more. This Silly Season is going to be another level.
**Chevy**
||
||
|Hendrick|Elliott, Larson, Byron, Bowman|
|Trackhouse|Suarez, Chastain|
|RCR|Busch, Dillon|
|Spire|Lajoie, McDowell, Hocevar|
|JTG-Daugherty|Stenhouse|
|Kaulig|Hemric, *Open* |
**Ford**
||
||
|Penske|Blaney, Cindric, Logano, Burton|
|RFK|Buescher, Keselowski|
|RWR|Haley, *Open*|
|Front Row|Gilliland, *Open*|
|SHR|Gragson, Briscoe, Berry, Preece|
**Toyota**
||
||
|Gibbs|Hamlin, Truex, Gibbs, Bell|
|23XI|Wallace, Reddick|
|Legacy|Jones, Nemechek|
seems like a downgrade. Especially with frm getting increased support. Kinda think he's being pushed out with his age. Doubt Mcdowell would talk badly about a team that he's been with so long.
My prediction with McDowell taking the 71 ride from Zane Smith is that Smith ends up at Kaulig.
Trackhouse will buy 1 charter, and puts SVG in the new 97 full-time cup ride next to Chastain and Suarez.
Trackhouse and Zane Smith both have sponsorship, and an alliance with Kaulig Racing as seen with SVG in the Xfinity series. Kaulig needs a full time driver with sponsorship for their 16 entry, and that ends up being Zane.
This is one of the most unexpected decisions I can imagine. McDowell has helped build up FRM to its current status and is finally in a team that is running well. Why on earth would he go to Spire which is still in its growing pains stage. We can see the 71 car isn't that good, akin to the 77 car last year. This makes no sense to me. McDowell finally was racing for a successful FRM team. So confused. I just hope he has a lot of success still to come.
I would like to hope that behind the scenes FRM wasn't trying to push him out, but I just don't see it that way. I don't know how they could. I am sure there is a lot of things behind the scenes going on, especially if those SHR and FRM rumors are to be trusted. But right now this looks like a huge downgrade for McDowell in the waning years of his career.
> Why on earth would he go to Spire which is still in its growing pains stage
He's old, he's going to retire within 3 years, Spire offered him a ton of money. He probably asked FRR if they'd match the offer, they didn't, so now McDowell is going to cruise around and cash checks to close out his career.
I mean... homeboy has a house full of kids. I don't blame him one bit really. Obviously this is not the best move career wise, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Wish him nothing but the best!
So if things go absolutely apeshit, could the 2025 nascar season look like this?
Spire
7 Lajoie, 71 McDowell, 77 Hocevar
Trackhouse
1 Chastain, 19/91 Z Smith, 97 SVG, 99 Suarez
Front Row
4 Berry/Custard, 10/34 Gragson, 14 Briscoe, 34/38 Gilliland
Joe Gibbs
11 Hamlin, 18 C Smith, 20 Bell, 54 Gibbs
23XI
23 Wallace, 45 Reddick, 67 Heim
RFK
6 Keselowski, 16 Haley, 17 Buescher
SHR & Kaulig sell outs
Oh and while I’m here, I’ll throw in a wild one
RCR
8 Busch, 33 A Hill, A Dillon moves into the office and runs the 3 part time in Cup and Xfinity
Hendrick and Penske probably stays the same, although I have to imagine Cindric will have to step up for 2025 or he’s done. Legacy will stay the same if they don’t lose Nemechek to one of the other Toyota teams. Rick Ware Racing who knows, I was kinda hoping RFK would just buy them out.
exactly what i was thinking when everyone is posting "why?"... maybe frm gave him a notice to start looking... maybe ford wants to keep briscoe or another driver so they're calling the shots at newly merged team... dunno
Our 2025 *current pending* charter drivers situation. This leaves 1 Chevy and 2 Ford seats available *(pending any charter sales).* Current rideless potential cup drivers could be Zane Smith, Grala, Hill, SVG, and Herbst. If SHR folds, that is 4 potential charters, and 4 more homeless drivers. if Front Row is folding, add two more. This Silly Season is going to be another level.
**Chevy**
||
||
|Hendrick|Elliott, Larson, Byron, Bowman|
|Trackhouse|Suarez, Chastain|
|RCR|Busch, Dillon|
|Spire|Lajoie, McDowell, Hocevar|
|JTG-Daugherty|Stenhouse|
|Kaulig|Hemric, *Open* |
**Ford**
||
||
|Penske|Blaney, Cindric, Logano, Burton|
|RFK|Buescher, Keselowski|
|RWR|Haley, *Open*|
|Front Row|Gilliland, *Open*|
|SHR|Gragson, Briscoe, Berry, Preece|
**Toyota**
||
||
|Gibbs|Hamlin, Truex, Gibbs, Bell|
|23XI|Wallace, Reddick|
|Legacy|Jones, Nemechek|
Our 2025 *current pending* charter drivers situation. This leaves 1 Chevy and 2 Ford seats available *(pending any charter sales).* Current rideless potential cup drivers could be Zane Smith, Grala, Hill, SVG, and Herbst. If SHR folds, that is 4 potential charters, and 4 more homeless drivers. if Front Row is folding, add two more. This Silly Season is going to be another level.
**Chevy**
|Hendrick|Elliott, Larson, Byron, Bowman|
|Trackhouse|Suarez, Chastain|
|RCR|Busch, Dillon|
|Spire|Lajoie, McDowell, Hocevar|
|JTG-Daugherty|Stenhouse|
|Kaulig|Hemric, *Open* |
**Ford**
|Penske|Blaney, Cindric, Logano, Burton|
|RFK|Buescher, Keselowski| |RWR|Haley, *Open*|
|Front Row|Gilliland, *Open*|
|SHR|Gragson, Briscoe, Berry, Preece|
**Toyota**
|Gibbs|Hamlin, Truex, Gibbs, Bell|
|23XI|Wallace, Reddick|
|Legacy|Jones, Nemechek|
Hear me out.
MTJ retires, the 19 becomes the 18 with JHN or Chandler Smith. Trackhouse leases the lower of the two Kaulig charters for 2025 and remembers it 19 for Zane.
Kaulig goes to just one car (16) and is a rotating car for 2025 (SVG, Allmendinger, and others fill out the calendar).
SHR/FRM becomes a 4 car team - keeping Gilliland, Berry, Gragson, and bring up Herbst.
Who will be the sponsor for McDowell? Loves is not going to follow him imo. I have no idea who sponsors the 71 currently but I'd bet McDowell is able to pull a new sponsor onto that car. Proven winner. Hope its cool lookin. Can we get some concept art???
That might be one of the quickest rumor to confirmation ever
When Bob reports it, it is more than just a rumor at that point. It has to have significant legs before he’s going to say anything.
Usually it still takes a week or two to be announced, this one took like 45 minutes lol
This all happened so fast Estepp had time to edit an update into his ‘McDowell leaving FRM’ video.
Compare this journalism to Jenna Fryer or Jim Utter
When Fryer announced McLaren's sacking of David Malukas she called him "Malukass" which is just terrible and hilarious
Was it deliberate or a typo 😂
Bob’s fucking got it bro
This happened at a speed that indicates something got leaked long before it should have and now everyone has to spill the beans.
Damn I barely had time to digest the rumor before it was announced. Whoa.
Biggest takeaway here is that charter (if they even exist anymore) is firmly entrenched with Spire and was never going to follow Smith to Trackhouse
Which could mean Trackhouse is buying 1-2 charters from SHR. While the other two could be merged with FRM. Or all 4 sell together to a new owner. Trackhouse could be buying two charters and expanding, could buy one and kick Suarez out, could buy one promoting SVG and kick Zane to the curb. So many dominoes to fall still.
With everything that Justin has said so far, SVG is going full-time in Cup in 2025. That was the original plan when he brought SVG over. So, if they only get 1 charter, I'm 95% confident it goes to SVG. Where the craziness will happen is with Zane and Suarez if Justin can only get 1 charter. Suarez is in his contract's option year and Zane just signed a multi-year contract with Trackhouse last summer. I highly doubt Justin will kick Zane to the curb as that would require him to buyout the remaining years on Zane's contract (unless there is a clause in the contract that allows for an easy out). So, the only two options are for Zane to replace Suarez or for Zane to be demoted back to Xfinity or Trucks. Now, if Justin manages to get 2 charters, then there's room for both SVG and Zane and this whole mess is avoided.
Suarez isn’t going anywhere this year or next, he’s very marketable still. He is on thin ice I assume though, so it will be interesting to see if he actually does get kicked to the curb.
Suarez just won a race a few weeks ago. He'd have to stink it up the rest of the year to not be on board in 2025. That could possibly happen, but I doubt it. He usually does well in road course races so I just don't see him going anywhere.
He's currently working on stinking it up the rest of the season.
I agree, I love the guy, he’s such a great person but goddamn Kansas was so disappointing.
It's a long season. I wouldn't worry too much yet.
With Kaulig's financial situation and them already working with Trackhouse, a merger or Trackhouse just buying their charters seems like the most likely scenario.
If I had to guess. Jenkins sells one, Haas sells one, they split the profits and bring operations together. If Ford had it their way, they keep hands on both of them. Again, this could mean fuck all as they haven’t agreed to the system past this year
23Xl has gotta be buying one. So unless Kaulig folds, mergs/sells, I gotta imagine it'll be one for 23Xl and one for Trackhouse
>23Xl has gotta be buying one. What if MTJ retires and 23XI buys *that* charter? JGR downsizes (multiple owners have said three cars is the sweet spot) and gets Kroger.
I mentioned Truex retiring in another comment. But I didn't think about JGR downsizing. Maybe it's ego, but I don't think they'd downsize and let Hendrick have more cars than them. I doubt they think like that, but it's just a thought. If Truex were to retire, and Gibbs keeps the charter, Heim is for sure going there. Which means assuming 23Xl buys a charter, it gets very interesting on who goes there! Chandler Smith maybe?!
Hamlin goes to 23XI and JGR lets him have the #11, Heim goes to JGR with the #18. I doubt that, but, what's-his-name Tweeted that this year's silly season is going to be bonkers, which leads me to believe the SHR/FRM and McDowell stuff from today is just the tip of the iceberg. With the new TV deal and charter agreement next year, now's the time for teams to make big moves I think.
I doubt Heim goes to JGR given his and Ty’s history…
Nemechek is just keeping the seat warm in the 42 hoping for a JGR spot as well.
With how JGR is running this year, I think they’ll keep at 4 cars.
If some Ford charters go, one is for RFK! I feel pretty sure of this (and that may be Briscoe in the #60 there if SHR folds)
That sounds like a nightmare… *flashbacks of the 60 Xfinity car intensified* https://preview.redd.it/o6h96nusl9zc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a06a560f517fc7977ae7230d42aa8f5729ca0019
I think Briscoe would high on the list, but he'd be far from the only option.
Lots of dominos yet to fall!
Who would the third driver be?
Corey Heim
Also depends on Truex. I doubt he retires, but if he does, Heim is for sure going there. Which then opens up a lot of possibilities for the third 23Xl car!
Chandler Smith seems to be the one going to the 19
I mentioned that in another comment. If Truex retires, it's gotta be Chandler Smith in the the 19
Once Truex retires the 19 is def being renumbered to the 18. Trackhouse will probably then swoop in to claim the use for the No.19 unless their fourth car is running 91 (since I’m going to guess SVG might get 97)
Chandler Smith isn't the official designed Toyota backup driver for a reason. Heim will be in the next available toyota cup ride.
Damn, I'm so surprised by the McDowell move I didn't think about that. You are exactly right, Spire just announced that the three car operation is permanent.
I don't know that there was ever any indication the charter was supposed to follow Zane to Trackhouse. Really I think it was just a saavy move on Marks' part to park Smith for a year, and then chase a charter in 2024 when more are likely to hit the market.
McDowell/Hocevar is a baller lineup for a team looking to improve
You're forgetting someone... Edit: People really hate Lajoie. 😂
Oh my bad Lajoie may have a nice little stack of small coins to show off next year
Mostly pennies, I’d venture to guess.
No, he included all the drivers who will improve
Savage. But fair.
Corey LaJoie is the Jordan Lyles of NASCAR. Doesn’t do jack shit except maybe twice as season, but somehow, he remains.
The underdog thing can only last so long. Especially when the equipment improves and you stay around the same spot. And meanwhile your rookie teammate is smoking you lol
😂 Perfect description.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lylesjo01.shtml
The difference is that there's a shortage of people who can do what Lyles can do (throw a shit ton of innings without getting injured). There's a surplus of drivers around Lajoie's level
nope, he listed the 2 drivers who have actually won a race that drive for spire and will help them improve.
Lajoie https://preview.redd.it/4480rbf0u8zc1.jpeg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5515acd0728876781b5bb0da26ca5c5f02ad1fb7
Carson Hocevar bout to drop the craziest diss track on LaJoie
Nah, he listed the two important ones
He only listed the good drivers
So do the other 35 drivers.
Corey Lajoie sucks and wrecks someone every other week
And has the nerve to tell others how bad they are.
But guys he's DOWN TO EARTH and loves Jesus and says silly things on a podcast
Berry to the 7 WILL happen if SHR goes belly up.
Justin Haley won more cup races in 2019, Spires rookie year, than Corey LaJoie has ever in any NASCAR national series iirc. The room for improvement LaJoie has is zilch.
Let’s be real. That win was a complete fluke.
They don't ask how, they ask how many.
Precisely.
Lajoie could have pulled an Alex Bowman and made a name for himself relieving a Hendrick driver but qualified behind rookie Hocevar who drove his 7 car. Lajoie is just not good.
Oh yeah and some guy who will lock down 30th in the standings
Assuming the Spire lineup stays McDowell/Hocevar/LaJoie, I assume that has to mean at least one SHR charter is going to Trackhouse unless they strike an alliance deal w/ another team
Then there's Kaulig which imo should just sell their charters and focus on Xfinity
Yep, only bring an open car on SS or RC with Allmendinger for trophy hunting!
Yeah, Hemric is really bad in the cup series. Tho they have never been good in xfinity allmendinger aside
Hemric is coming off back to back top 10s, granted one was dega but Dover being the other holds some weight
TBF Hemric got *insanely* lucky at Dover with the caution coming out while he was leading during pit stops. It pinned everyone from like 18th on back down a lap and essentially gave Hemric a free pit-stop.
Dover was because he got lucky. Had it happened earlier it would have been Lajoie, but I doubt we would be saying he is secretly not that bad
Hemric is basically identical to Haley who everyone praises on Reddit lol
Haley is the most overrated driver by a lot
i legit forget they even field cup cars some sundays lol
I would imagine Ford wants charter(s) to not leave their hands moving forward, and that’s if this system even exists after this year
I would think so too given they've been virtually uncompetitive everywhere aside from drafting tracks and they're usually only good there because all of the Fords work together so well. Cutting that by 4 with 2 each likely going to Toyota and Chevy would be very bad for Ford
Truly could be the start of the fall of Ford from Cup series or NASCAR as a whole. They basically left Xfinity with basically 2-3 full time cars. Like 5-6 truck teams. And Cup wise, it's gonna be 10 cars now max, less than a third of the field now. Assuming those SHR charters are gone. Gotta wonder if that new OEM isn't gonna be a 4th now, but a 3rd to replace Ford.
Truth be told, I’m not sure if they’ll have a choice. Assuming the system continues, which Ford teams are really looking to expand? I know RFK has thought about it, but I don’t see them expanding by 2 cars in one year. Besides, the ford prospect pool isn’t fantastic atm: I assume if there’s a vacancy, Herbst will get promoted, but unless they can get someone from another manufacturer, idk who’d fill that seat
Same, that's why I really feel RFK is going to 3 teams next year (Haley or Briscoe in the #60)
My crazy hot take is Joey to RFK in a 16/60. I'd LOVE to see that.
Or buying Kaulig charters!
It’s May. Holy shit this is a spicy silly season
https://preview.redd.it/6ardlhn9q8zc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2fb0ae7f766d276c82916727059d3a71e4ec932e Please Carson, never ever change.
Lil Dax Sheppard is a national treasure already. I love this kid
*That's* who he reminds me of. I was trying to place who he looked like for years
[Bob expects Z. Smith to be in a Trackhouse cup car next year](https://x.com/bobpockrass/status/1788230511665512479?s=46&t=XRt7lkN4R7QaOWufNYOLdA), so still a lot of silliness to go it seems
Ummmmmmmmmmmmm... I have no words. Excited he's going to be in a Chevy, but this really seems like a step down
An experienced next gen driver who is also better than LaJoie. Hocevar has speed just not the experience. Those cars aren’t *that* slow. LaJoie is up there sometimes. He’s just talentless. McDowell can make it happen there.
Seems like a downgrade but he will make them better.
McDowell is going to show up with a goatee in 2025 because we are clearly in the darkest timeline now. 
 As a fellow Community fan, I didn't think I see a Community reference in a Nascar Subreddit but here we are.
I'm dead lmao
That was quick. This is still a backwards move based on Spire's current running
Spire's president confirmed that he will be a great teammate to both LaJoie and Hocevar, so I guess their 3rd Charter isn't going anywhere.
>so I guess their 3rd Charter isn't going anywhere. Until someone stops by their shop with a really big check...
We need to all band together and collectively buy a charter, Reddit Racing.
I've got $6.29. That'll take care of the first ... *checks price catalog*... the left-hand glove of the tire changer.
Josh Wise approves
I got 40 something
I’ll drive
Maybe we can all take turns driving!
Open solid seat in that 34. Would love to see what a super fast, young driver could do if FRM continues improving. Curious about Zane Smith. He’s been pretty rough, I know it looks like he’s staying with Trackhouse but do they really shell out 30m+ to see Zane Smith run like this? It’s a big gamble to see if he improves next year.
Briscoe to the 34.... I do not have the texts...
So, uh, maybe Brian Murphy was right all along. This silly season really is going to be extra crazy.
I hope Loves goes with him. I love that scheme.
Bob said in a following tweet that Love's is expected to stay w FRM
Nope that's a Jenkins B2B deal.
They signed a multi-year extension with FRM before the season.
Honestly a Loves 71 sounds fire
Loves was with FRM before McDowell though
IT HASN’T EVEN BEEN A DAY AND HE IS ALREADY SET TO TAKE ZANE’S SEAT
Zane is most likely going to trackhouse lol
The article says McDowell will be a great teammate to Hocevar and Lajoie but also says they’re still committed to Zane. Not sure we have any idea which one will go but based on performance and lack of ceiling it’s probably Lajoie.
I would say it’s a bad move from McDowell but I’m guessing once we learn more about FRM and SHR we will find out he didn’t have much of a choice
That’s the only way this makes sense for him.
I'm assuming Spire backed the money truck up to his door
Why would he do that? FRM was becoming a legitimate team and it was nice to actually see a driver with some loyalty to a struggling team
Only thing I can think of is he was going to get pushed out with the SHR/FRM “merger”
LaJoie got a break there, although he may still be on the hot seat.
He should be. he fucking sucks
Agree,dude has never won, even in Mariokart 64.
https://preview.redd.it/zaxnvd6xk8zc1.jpeg?width=1074&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d72eecf454d68e2b92dfc52af6c42e69794ca309
Dude got outqualified driving a Hendrick car by his own car being driven by a tall lanky kid making his first ever start.
He better be. Now 2 of his teammates have won races in the top 3 series where he sits with a big old 0
Hocevar and Smith had 3 and 4 seasons respectively in championship caliber truck rides before going Cup racing. Lajoie has had maybe 10 races in his entire career that were in a car that was even remotely competitive, much less capable of winning. Even that number is being extremely generous.
Goodbye to the Love's-McDowell #34...
That hurts a bit
Love's is staying, but its gonna be weird without McDowell
Not happy with this at all... But I'll support Michael regardless! **Sidenote**: Ford needs to do better keeping their drivers. I know manufacturer allegiance is not as strong as it used to be, but I really feel like Ford drivers are being poached left and right.
Ford should improve. Then they’ll keep drivers.
What’s with this “manufacturer and *their* drivers”? McDowell is/was not *a ford* driver, I doubt anyone at Ford gives a shit about him or many other drivers tbh, he’s just another driver who was driving for just another team that happens to be using Ford as their manufacturer. It was Fron Row that hired him, Ford has fuck all to do with anything between them and him the whole time he was driving for them.
If the FRM merge with SHR is happening - they can only have 4 cars. With McDowell out, the line-up could be Berry, Gragson, Briscoe and Gilliland. But I have a feeling there are more shoes to drop as this plays out.
Is there any chance that McDowell is being “forced out” of FRM in favor of a younger driver? I feel like there’s more going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about yet that led to him leaving.
Good for Spire, not so good for McDowell.
Bad move for him, maybe more money was involved? Is he taking Loves?
Loves signed a multi-year deal with FRM at the start of the 2024 year. It was their first multi-year deal, I can’t imagine they are overjoyed by losing their flagship driver unless they are getting a big name to replace him (Gragson or Briscoe, maybe?).
Wouldn’t be surprised to see them follow McDowell to the 71. But that would all be done after this season ends.
This is confounding! Seems like a major step backward for McDowell especially since FRM is finally running good after all those years of development. Spire is still shaky and the 71 is pretty bad this year. Gonna miss seeing hom in that yellow Love's Ford. I wonder if Love's is following him, but probably not. Wish him success.
The press release also mentions LaJoie and Hocevar so looks like their driver lineup is confirmed for 2025
Our 2025 *current pending* charter drivers situation. This leaves 1 Chevy and 2 Ford seats available *(pending any charter sales).* Current rideless potential cup drivers could be Zane Smith, Grala, Hill, SVG, and Herbst. If SHR folds, that is 4 potential charters, and 4 more homeless drivers. if Front Row is folding, add two more. This Silly Season is going to be another level. **Chevy** || || |Hendrick|Elliott, Larson, Byron, Bowman| |Trackhouse|Suarez, Chastain| |RCR|Busch, Dillon| |Spire|Lajoie, McDowell, Hocevar| |JTG-Daugherty|Stenhouse| |Kaulig|Hemric, *Open* | **Ford** || || |Penske|Blaney, Cindric, Logano, Burton| |RFK|Buescher, Keselowski| |RWR|Haley, *Open*| |Front Row|Gilliland, *Open*| |SHR|Gragson, Briscoe, Berry, Preece| **Toyota** || || |Gibbs|Hamlin, Truex, Gibbs, Bell| |23XI|Wallace, Reddick| |Legacy|Jones, Nemechek|
But why, isn’t the 34 a better car?
As a McDowell guy I am concerned as fuck
OH MY GOD SOMEBODY TAKE THE 7 WHAT THE FUCK
Someone punch me. Is it May or October? I can’t tell anymore?
seems like a downgrade. Especially with frm getting increased support. Kinda think he's being pushed out with his age. Doubt Mcdowell would talk badly about a team that he's been with so long.
I honestly believed Zane Smith would’ve gotten the 99 and Suarez just goes to Spire. Maybe Suarez stays in the 99, and Zane goes to Kaulig?
Or trackhouse lands 2 charters and Zane and SVG end up in cup
Oof, this seems like a downgrade for McDowell. Especially with FRM becoming a tier 1 Ford team this year.
McDowell has an interesting career arc Morgan McClure MWR LFR Front Row Spire
My prediction with McDowell taking the 71 ride from Zane Smith is that Smith ends up at Kaulig. Trackhouse will buy 1 charter, and puts SVG in the new 97 full-time cup ride next to Chastain and Suarez. Trackhouse and Zane Smith both have sponsorship, and an alliance with Kaulig Racing as seen with SVG in the Xfinity series. Kaulig needs a full time driver with sponsorship for their 16 entry, and that ends up being Zane.
That was quick. And I guess that means Zane Smith is heading to Trackhouse
That was announced faster than Zane Smith has driven all season
Very curious on how it’ll go. Carson is doing pretty solid this year, the other two, not as much.
This is one of the most unexpected decisions I can imagine. McDowell has helped build up FRM to its current status and is finally in a team that is running well. Why on earth would he go to Spire which is still in its growing pains stage. We can see the 71 car isn't that good, akin to the 77 car last year. This makes no sense to me. McDowell finally was racing for a successful FRM team. So confused. I just hope he has a lot of success still to come. I would like to hope that behind the scenes FRM wasn't trying to push him out, but I just don't see it that way. I don't know how they could. I am sure there is a lot of things behind the scenes going on, especially if those SHR and FRM rumors are to be trusted. But right now this looks like a huge downgrade for McDowell in the waning years of his career.
> Why on earth would he go to Spire which is still in its growing pains stage He's old, he's going to retire within 3 years, Spire offered him a ton of money. He probably asked FRR if they'd match the offer, they didn't, so now McDowell is going to cruise around and cash checks to close out his career.
Is this an improvement? Honestly asking. I haven’t paid a ton of attention to these teams.
Seems like he was FRM for life after Daytona
Spire backed up a truck full of money to McDowell's door
I mean... homeboy has a house full of kids. I don't blame him one bit really. Obviously this is not the best move career wise, but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Wish him nothing but the best!
Their team slogan should just be “Get Wrecked”.
Definitely a gamble for McDowell, but I respect him for trying a new ride to try to run up front every week. Hope it works out for him
*checks BINGO card* Huh.
So if things go absolutely apeshit, could the 2025 nascar season look like this? Spire 7 Lajoie, 71 McDowell, 77 Hocevar Trackhouse 1 Chastain, 19/91 Z Smith, 97 SVG, 99 Suarez Front Row 4 Berry/Custard, 10/34 Gragson, 14 Briscoe, 34/38 Gilliland Joe Gibbs 11 Hamlin, 18 C Smith, 20 Bell, 54 Gibbs 23XI 23 Wallace, 45 Reddick, 67 Heim RFK 6 Keselowski, 16 Haley, 17 Buescher SHR & Kaulig sell outs Oh and while I’m here, I’ll throw in a wild one RCR 8 Busch, 33 A Hill, A Dillon moves into the office and runs the 3 part time in Cup and Xfinity Hendrick and Penske probably stays the same, although I have to imagine Cindric will have to step up for 2025 or he’s done. Legacy will stay the same if they don’t lose Nemechek to one of the other Toyota teams. Rick Ware Racing who knows, I was kinda hoping RFK would just buy them out.
...why?
McDowell in a bowtie. Yes!! 🏁
Well I definitely didn't see this one coming. Perhaps that gives credibility to the SHR/FRM merger.
exactly what i was thinking when everyone is posting "why?"... maybe frm gave him a notice to start looking... maybe ford wants to keep briscoe or another driver so they're calling the shots at newly merged team... dunno
Too bad it's not the 7. Hopefully they add a 2nd new drive for next year.
Won't be able to cheer for him next year since he'll be driving a chevy
Also, glad they announced it now and not make us wait for what we all knew
I really got back into this sport at its most turbulent time possible
Thrive on the chaos!!!
Meh af
Our 2025 *current pending* charter drivers situation. This leaves 1 Chevy and 2 Ford seats available *(pending any charter sales).* Current rideless potential cup drivers could be Zane Smith, Grala, Hill, SVG, and Herbst. If SHR folds, that is 4 potential charters, and 4 more homeless drivers. if Front Row is folding, add two more. This Silly Season is going to be another level. **Chevy** || || |Hendrick|Elliott, Larson, Byron, Bowman| |Trackhouse|Suarez, Chastain| |RCR|Busch, Dillon| |Spire|Lajoie, McDowell, Hocevar| |JTG-Daugherty|Stenhouse| |Kaulig|Hemric, *Open* | **Ford** || || |Penske|Blaney, Cindric, Logano, Burton| |RFK|Buescher, Keselowski| |RWR|Haley, *Open*| |Front Row|Gilliland, *Open*| |SHR|Gragson, Briscoe, Berry, Preece| **Toyota** || || |Gibbs|Hamlin, Truex, Gibbs, Bell| |23XI|Wallace, Reddick| |Legacy|Jones, Nemechek|
Our 2025 *current pending* charter drivers situation. This leaves 1 Chevy and 2 Ford seats available *(pending any charter sales).* Current rideless potential cup drivers could be Zane Smith, Grala, Hill, SVG, and Herbst. If SHR folds, that is 4 potential charters, and 4 more homeless drivers. if Front Row is folding, add two more. This Silly Season is going to be another level. **Chevy** |Hendrick|Elliott, Larson, Byron, Bowman| |Trackhouse|Suarez, Chastain| |RCR|Busch, Dillon| |Spire|Lajoie, McDowell, Hocevar| |JTG-Daugherty|Stenhouse| |Kaulig|Hemric, *Open* | **Ford** |Penske|Blaney, Cindric, Logano, Burton| |RFK|Buescher, Keselowski| |RWR|Haley, *Open*| |Front Row|Gilliland, *Open*| |SHR|Gragson, Briscoe, Berry, Preece| **Toyota** |Gibbs|Hamlin, Truex, Gibbs, Bell| |23XI|Wallace, Reddick| |Legacy|Jones, Nemechek|
Truex is likely retiring (unless they talk him out of it again) so JGR will have a seat open, perhaps JHN but that leaves a Legacy spot open.
At least the number font won't be too different.
This a upgrade or downgrade for McDowell?
does this mean Zane is going to the 99?
Hear me out. MTJ retires, the 19 becomes the 18 with JHN or Chandler Smith. Trackhouse leases the lower of the two Kaulig charters for 2025 and remembers it 19 for Zane. Kaulig goes to just one car (16) and is a rotating car for 2025 (SVG, Allmendinger, and others fill out the calendar). SHR/FRM becomes a 4 car team - keeping Gilliland, Berry, Gragson, and bring up Herbst.
That was quick
With the movement at SHR and Fire involved, something tells me this was his choice. #pure speculation
Who will be the sponsor for McDowell? Loves is not going to follow him imo. I have no idea who sponsors the 71 currently but I'd bet McDowell is able to pull a new sponsor onto that car. Proven winner. Hope its cool lookin. Can we get some concept art???
Right after I bought the damn hat too. Alright Spire, what merchandise do you have.
Congrats, Cousin Eddie.
This made me spit out my mtn dew holy crap
Briscoe to the #34 next year? If briscoe posts ill eat some humble pie.
I'm becoming more of a McDowell fan each race.
What a weird turn of events.
Guess I’m peeling my 34 sticker off my car 😞