4 NASCAR Cup Series drivers in contract limbo amid Daniel Suarez extension

NASCAR silly season continues as Daniel Suarez renews his contract with Trackhouse Racing for a fifth year. The Mexican is currently 17th in the Cup Series standings with 460 points to his name. He won the Ambetter Health 400 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

While Suarez is set, other drivers are still unsure about their future. Here are four NASCAR Cup Series drivers whose contracts are not yet complete for the 2025 season.

Austin Cindric (Team Penske)

Austin Cindric, the son of Team Penske president, Tim Cindric, drives the No. 2 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Cup Series. He raced before NASCAR too, including sports cars and the Global RallyCross Championship.

He is also the grandson of former IndyCar team owner, Jim Trueman. Cindric began his NASCAR career in 2015 with Team Penske in the Truck Series.

Cindric’s future with Team Penske is still up in the air. Even though he’s performed well with one win and made the playoffs, his contract for next year isn’t set in stone.

Daniel Hemric (Kaulig Racing)

Daniel Hemric is currently ranked 30th (IMAGE: Imagn)

Daniel Hemric currently drives the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Kaulig Racing. Hemric started his career in short-track racing and moved up to the Truck Series with Brad Keselowski Racing in 2015.

He previously drove for Richard Childress Racing and JR Motorsports but joined Kaulig Racing in a part-time position for the Cup Series in 2022. However, his future on the team for the 2025 season is uncertain.

Hemric's contract for next season depends on him finding sponsorship. The team hasn't given any update yet.

Bubba Wallace (23XI Racing)

Bubba Wallace is a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver who drives the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE for the Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin team, 23XI Racing. He started his career with Toyota, racing part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing and full-time for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Later, he raced for Roush Fenway Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports.

Wallace started strong this season but then faced a fine for an on-track incident with Alex Bowman. His deal with 23XI Racing for next season hasn’t been confirmed yet. Contract discussions are still ongoing. He is expected to stay with the team.

Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)

Erik Jones joined Legacy Motor Club in 2023 and currently drives the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE. He began his Cup Series career in 2015 and raced for Furniture Row Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports before joining Legacy Motor Club.

He currently stands at number 27 in the Cup Series with 329 points and one top-10 finish. While Jones is expected to drive the No. 43 car again next season, his contract details are unclear. He was also considered for a spot at Joe Gibbs Racing.