By: Ashley McCubbin

The theme of each NASCAR Silly Season is figuring out what the changes will be, so that way you can find the ride that your favourite driver(s) is(are) behind the wheel of. It’s why News From The Pits is here to help you sort through it all.

Read the full first part of the series by clicking here. /// Read the second part of the series by clicking here.

#77: Landon Cassill, Spire Motorsports, Zeigler Auto/LoJack Chevrolet Camaro

With just five top-five’s and 12 top-10’s while his teammate fought for a championship, Landon Cassill will not return to Kaulig Racing in 2023. There hasn’t been any plans announced yet for the Iowa native but just 26 top-10’s in 209 starts makes you wonder what doors are open for the future. For now, as discussed in part two, it has been confirmed the No. 10 entry will be on the grid for multiple races, with one of their NASCAR Cup Series regulars Justin Haley behind the wheel. The Indiana native is no stranger to success for Matt Kaulig, having won four races in the past two years, placing third in the 2020 standings.

Sam Hunt Racing has continued to confirm their plans, following the initial announcement with Connor Mosack. 23XL Racing’s Cup Series regular Tyler Reddick will run select events, hopeful of repeating the same success he was able to deliver Big Machine Racing with their first career series victory. Parker Chase will also get some events, including the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, after placing 19th and 27th in his first two series appearances last season. Finding his way to the top-15 should be the goal as the team knows how to perform, as evident by John Hunter Nemechek’s success.

RSS Racing will continue to field the No. 39 entry for Ryan Sieg, though will also have Joe Graf Jr. behind the wheel of the No. 38. The New Jersey native ran 28 of the 33 events in 2022 for SS Green Light Racing, picking up four top-20’s including an eighth at Talladega Superspeedway – exactly what you want to see for a smaller organization in the series. The expectations should increase slightly, given Sieg made the playoffs last season.

MBM Motorsports hasn’t solidified all of their plans for 2023, after watching Alex Labbe score the team a triple set of top-10’s in 2022. Fellow NASCAR Pinty’s Series competitor Dexter Stacey is getting a chance, scheduled to run the season opener at Daytona. The Quebec native has not always been a front runner in the series, but proved to have speed with Ed Hakonson Racing with six top-10 finishes, including a podium at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. He will be joined by Josh Bilicki, who is running select events including the very same event. The Wisconsin native ran seven Xfinity events last year, including a ninth at Daytona.

#15: Garrett Smithley, Rick Ware Racing, Jacob Companies Ford Mustang

For the first time in three years, Garrett Smithley will get to run the full series schedule, partnering with B.J. McLeod Motorsports. His last tour in the series came in 2019 with 11 top-20 finishes for Johnny Davis – exactly what should be strived for this time around, again.

The Breakdown So Far:

• Anthony Alfredo – from OUR Motorsports to BJ McLeod Motorsports
• Blaine Perkins – from ARCA Menards to Series to SS Green Light Racing
• Brandon Jones – from Joe Gibbs Racing to JR Motorsports
• Brett Moffitt – from Our Motorsports to AM Racing
• Chandler Smith – from Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series to Kaulig Racing
• Cole Custer – from Stewart-Haas Racing in the Cup Series to SHR
• Connor Mosack – from Late Model standout to Sam Hunt Racing
• Dexter Stacey – from NASCAR Pinty’s Series to Daytona with MBM Motorsports
• Garrett Smithley – from a couple races to full-time with B.J. McLeod Motorsports
• Jeb Burton – from Our Motorsports to Jordan Anderson Racing
• Jeffrey Earnhardt – from partial schedule with three teams to full-time with Alpha Prime Racing
• Joe Graf Jr. – from SS Green Light Racing to RSS Racing
• John Hunter Nemechek – from KBM in the Truck Series to JGR
• Justin Haley – partial schedule with Kaulig alongside Cup commitments
• Landon Cassill – full-time with Kaulig to no plans announced
• Parker Kligerman – partial schedule with Henderson to full-time with Big Machine Racing
• Parker Retzlaff – partial schedule with RSS Racing to Jordan Anderson Racing
• Ryan Truex – from part-time with JGR to full-time JGR
• Ryan Vargas – from JD Motorsports with Gary Kellar to CHK Racing
• Tyler Reddick – part-time with Big Machine Racing to part-time with Sam Hunt Racing (alongside Cup commitments)