By ZECH YODER
This weekend at Daytona International Speedway is the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. That means that Speedweeks and the Daytona 500 is less than a month away. This week we look at the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series and try to make some predictions for the 2024 season.
As is usually the case, the 2024 Xfinity field looks much different than last year with new faces, new rides, and some moving up to the NASCAR Cup Series.
Biggest moves
The biggest move of the off-season was Sheldon Creed, moving from the Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet #2 to the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota #18. The former driver of the Gibbs #18, Sammy Smith, moves over to the #8 Chevrolet of JR Motorsports.
Chandler Smith returns to Joe Gibbs Racing after a one-year hiatus driving the #16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet and will pilot the #81 Toyota.
Finally, owner/driver, Josh Williams got a huge break when he signed to drive the Kaulig Racing #11, replacing Daniel Hemric.
Newcomers
There are several new faces in the Xfinity garage that could challenge for wins and even a championship.
Jesse Love, the 2023 ARCA Menards Series Champion, leaves Joe Gibbs Racing and will drive for Richard Childress in the #2 Chevrolet. Although not necessarily a new face, A.J. Allmendinger is leaving full-time Cup racing and returns to the Kaulig Racing, driving the #16 Chevrolet. Moving up from the Craftsman Truck Series, Hallie Deegan will drive the #15 AM Racing Ford.
Most interesting, 2023 Cup Series Chicago Street Course winner, Shane van Gisbergen, will drive for Kaulig Racing in the #97 Chevrolet.
Leaving for Cup
Two notable drives leave the Xfinity Series for the Cup Series.
John Hunter Nemechek remains with the Toyota racing family and will join Legacy Motor Club in the #42 Toyota. However, he is scheduled to split driving responsibilities with Aric Almirola in the Joe Gibbs Racing #20 Toyota.
Josh Berry, who made a dozen Cup Series starts in 2023, filling in for various drivers, moves from Chevrolet to Ford and will replace future hall of famer, Kevin Harvick in the #4 Stewart Haas Racing machine.
Championship expectations
Predicting the 2024 Xfinity Championship 4 is especially tough this year. I expect the full-time drivers for JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Stewart Haas Racing to be in the mix.
Driving the #21 Chevrolet, Austin Hill will be on a mission after a controversial move from his teammate in Martinsville Speedway kept him out of the Championship 4. I expect Hill to continue his Superspeedway domination and make the championship round.
JR Motorsports driver, Sam Mayer, had a breakout 2023 season, making the final round. His talent and new-found maturity will pay great dividends. I think he makes it to Phoenix again with a chance to win.
After years of frustration, Riley Herbst won his first Xfinity Series race at in the Fall Las Vegas race. Despite not making the playoffs, he had a tremendous ten-race run at the end of 2023. I believe he will win multiple races in 2024 and make the Championship 4.
Finally, the 2023 Xfinity Champion, Cole Custer, will make the final round. He did not have a spectacular 2023 season but hung around until the end and was able to edge out John Hunter Nemechek and Justin Allgaier to steal the Xfinity Championship.
Ultimately, I think Sam Mayer gets it done this year. His experience and maturity finally caught up to his talent. He made smart moves on the racetrack and was able to experience the hype and pressure of running for a championship.
Sam Mayer is my 2024 Xfinity Champion pick. Who is yours?
Zech Yoder is a local resident, an attorney at Adler Attorneys in Noblesville, and a lifelong race fan.