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The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series witnessed several big announcements inside the community, and the upcoming season's roster is in full swing as we get into the offseason. While many drivers have found new homes, some have landed rides for the first time in NASCAR's premier division.
Starting from Stewart-Haas Racing's announcement to shut down their operations to prolific drivers failing to make a mark in the 2024 season, let's take a look at the list of drivers who have to prove the most in the upcoming season in NASCAR:
#5 Cole Custer
Cole Custer is set to return to the Cup Series after two impressive seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing in the Xfinity Series. The 26-year-old won the 2023 Xfinity Series championship and finished runner-up this season.
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After SHR announced their departure, co-owner Gene Haas retained one Cup charter and rebranded the name to Haas Factory Team. Custer is set to reprise his role in the Cup and will likely pilot the #41 Ford. With some seasoning in the second division, Custer will look to make his mark in the 2025 season.
#4 Shane van Gisbergen
Shane van Gisbergen surprised the NASCAR community after securing his first Cup race on debut in 2023. With a storied career in the Supercars touring series, the New Zealander bagged a full-time ride in Cup Seris after winning three races in his rookie Xfinity season.
Gisbergen will drive the #88 Chevy for Trackhouse Racing after the team added a third car charter for the 2025 season. Although all his wins in both the NASCAR series are on the road course races, the 35-year-old will look to capitalize on a win on the traditional oval track.
#3 Chase Briscoe
Chase Briscoe bagged a ride with Joe Gibbs Racing after the now-defunct SHR announced their departure earlier this season. He will fill up the shoes of former Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., behind the #19 Toyota.
In his four full-time seasons with SHR, Briscoe secured two wins. His most recent win was the final 2024 regular-season race at Darlington Raceway, which snapped his 73-race winless streak and booked his berth in the playoff rounds. With teammates like Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell in the Toyota shed., the 29-year-old will be in good company.
#2 Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin won three of the first 11 races of the 2024 Cup Series season but still makes the list. The 44-year-old failed to lift his maiden championship title after starting strong.
In his nearly two-decade NASCAR Cup career, Hamlin secured 54 wins and has finished nine times in the top-five final driver standings. The #11 Toyota driver had a rollercoaster performance in the second half of the season until his exit from the Round of 8 playoffs. Next season will be a treat to watch how the veteran driver tackles it.
#1 Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch had the toughest 2024 season in his NASCAR Cup Series career. The winningest active driver in the Cup Series, Busch ended the season without a win and finished P20 in the final standings.
The two-time Cup Series champion joined the Chevy roster in 2023 and secured three wins in the first 15 races of the season. The 39-year-old came close to winning in the final two races of the 2024 regular season, where he finished runner-up two times and ended his chance to secure a playoff spot.
As the offseason is in progress, Busch would look to recoup his momentum and come back stronger the 2025 season, which might be his make-or-break one with RCR.
