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.

Click here to read part one

After spending the past two full seasons in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Anthony Alfredo will return to the series in 2024 – but alongside a NASCAR Cup Series opportunity. He will be running the No. 62 Chevrolet for BEARD Motorsports at the Daytona 500, Talladega in April, Daytona in August, and Talladega in October. The Connecticut native ran the full Cup schedule in 2021 with Front Row Motorsports, highlighted by a 10th at Talladega.

Austin Hill, who returns to Richard Childress Racing in Xfinity full-time, competed in five races last season with BEARD to a best finish of 14th at Daytona in July. It makes sense to see him not return to the team, as he is supposed to be getting a Cup opportunity with RCR.

After running the full Xfinity schedule in 2023 with Sam Hunt Racing picking up a pair of top-five’s and nine top-10 finishes, Kaz Grala will make the jump to the NASCAR Cup Series for 25 races with Rick Ware Racing. The move puzzles a lot of people, as Grala has showed talent, but how do you give up a chance at possibly scoring a win each week to join a team known for running mid-pack? Perhaps he is falling for the reasons as Justin Haley, which we will see if they plan out to be true.

Justin Haley joined the organization, leaving a full-time slot at Kaulig Racing to do so. However, there is something else important that has happened with Rick Ware Racing entering into a technical relationship with Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. Haley also spoke a lot about Brad Keselowski during his announcement. Is this the start of something that could turn successful?

Speaking of technical alliances, Front Row Motorsports is no longer aligned with Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, instead partnering with Team Penske. It makes sense if you think about in regards to resources and success last season as Roger Penske won the championship with Ryan Blaney, and RFK may have their hands full already with RWR.

Outside of the driver changes that are happening, a third of the field will undergo a change on the spotter stand this season.

• Josh Berry will be working with Eddie D’Hondt as he moves up to the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • D’Hondt worked with Chase Elliott in 2023. Elliott will work with Trey Poole in 2024.
    • Poole was the secondary spotter for Elliott in 2023.
• Zane Smith will be working with Josh Williams as he moves up to the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Williams worked with Ryan Blaney in 2023. Blaney will work with Tim Fedewa in 2024.
    • Fedewa spotted for Kevin Harvick in 2023.
• Carson Hocevar will be working with Tyler Green as he moves up to the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Green worked with Harrison Burton in 2023.
• Noah Gragson will be working with Andy Houston as he moves over to Stewart-Haas Racing.
  • Houston worked with Ryan Preece in 2023. Preece will work with Tony Raines in 2024.
    • Raines spotted for Brett Moffitt in the Xfinity Series in 2023.
• Daniel Hemric will be working with Frank Deiny Jr.