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(Photo Courtesy NASCAR) The new Charter agreement limits teams to three Charters moving forward, but teams like Hendrick and Gibbs, which currently operate with four Charters, are grandfathered in and can continue without issue. Teams with three Charters can still enter a fourth car, but it must compete as an open team without a Charter. This rule change has sparked some debate, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on whether it’s fair or if teams should be allowed to run as many Charters as they want. It’s a notable shift in how NASCAR teams can structure their entries, and we’re eager to see how it impacts competition. Let us know what you think in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe for more motorsports news and updates!

By Adam Carabine Rackley W.A.R. One full-time entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series   Truck No. 26 Dawson Sutton Dawson Sutton (in the 25) with Connor Mosack during qualifying at Homestead-Miami - Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images 2024 Stats Originally Ty Dillon was tapped to drive for Rackley W.A.R. full-time in 2024, but with five races left, they swapped him for Dawson Sutton.  The ride was branded as the No. 25 last season Final Standings Position – 22nd Best 2024 Finish – P5 at Kansas (Dawson Sutton) Points – 436 Average Finish – 18.87   Career Truck Series Stats Dawson Sutton Starts – 7 Wins – 0 Best Career Season Finish Position – N/A   2025 Hopes and Expectations Dawson Sutton will be driving the No. 26 truck full-time in 2025 after a collection of races for Rackley W.A.R. last season.  The 18-year-old doesn’t have a ton of experience in NASCAR, having run full-time in late models in 2023.  The following year he drove in the ASA STARS Super Late Model Series.  A competitive season for the 26 would probably be competing for Top-20s week in and week out.

Press Release | FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS Having secured Noah Gragson on a multi-year agreement in July to drive in the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2025, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is excited to announce Gragson will drive the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, entering the team into a new era. The Las Vegas, Nevada native rose to fame in NASCAR after winning twice in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and thirteen times in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He finished second in the Xfinity Series championship in 2022. Gragson, 26, recently completed his second season in the NASCAR Cup Series and has 59 starts in the premier division. He has seven top-10 and two top-5 finishes, most coming this past season with Stewart-Haas Racing. Drew Blickensderfer will make his return to the organization to serve as the crew chief for Gragson and the No. 4 team. A 16-year Cup Series crew chief veteran, Blickensderfer most recently called the shots for Gragson at Stewart-Haas Racing and will join Gragson at FRM for the 2025 season. In 2024, the duo earned sixteen top-15’s, seven top-10’s and one top-5 and look to build on their success in 2025. In his previous stint with FRM in 2021, Blickensderfer sat on top of the pit box for Michael McDowell and the No. 34 Ford Mustang team, having played a critical role in McDowell’s Daytona 500 win. “I’m excited to be back with Front Row Motorsports,” said Blickensderfer. “I had a great experience working for Bob (Jenkins) and Jerry (Freeze) before, and now returning alongside Noah makes this opportunity even more special.” Along with Blickensderfer, several key members from the former Stewart-Haas No. 10 team will join Blickensderfer and Gragson at FRM, including, Interior Specialist Chris Trickett, Engine Tuner Matt Moeller, Engineer Dillon Silverman, and Transport Driver Matt Murphy. “I’m grateful to have my crew chief, Drew, along with four members from last year’s team join Front Row Motorsports,” said Gragson. “This gives us a strong foundation to hit the ground running in the 2025 season.” Announcements regarding the No. 4 partner lineup will come at a later date. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

(Photo Courtesy NASCAR) Cody Ware will likely return to the No. 51 car in 2025, leaving Corey LaJoie without a Cup ride—though this isn’t officially confirmed yet. With no current Cup opportunities, we’re wondering if LaJoie might consider moving to the Xfinity or Truck Series to rebuild and wait for a Cup spot in 2026. This silly season is shaping up to be eventful, and we’d love to hear where you think LaJoie should land or if Cody Ware’s return is the right move. Don’t forget to subscribe and share your thoughts—stay tuned to Racing Refresh for all the latest motorsports updates!

(Photo Courtesy NASCAR) Caesar Bacarella, co-owner of Alpha Prime Racing, will return to the driver’s seat for the 2025 Xfinity Series opener at Daytona. Known for his strength on superspeedway tracks, he achieved two top-10 finishes in three starts last season but finished 29th after a late wreck at Daytona. Bacarella is eager to rebound after failing to qualify for the 2024 season opener and will aim to secure a spot in the big race this time. With Daytona quickly approaching, it’s great to see him back on track, though we’ve got the Clash at Bowman Gray to look forward to first. Don’t forget to subscribe and share your thoughts in the comments—stay tuned to Racing Refresh for all the latest motorsports news!

Press Release | NASCAR Zane Smith is coming back to the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. The 25-year-old Huntington Beach, Calif. native will again race for Front Row Motorsports (FRM) in the NASCAR Cup Series beginning in 2025 under a multi-year agreement. Smith joins former teammate Todd Gilliland and the newest FRM driver Noah Gragson to complete a young and dynamic driver roster. “I’ve always felt at home with Front Row Motorsports,” said Smith. “They believed in me when I signed with them to race in the Truck Series initially in 2022 and we shared so much success together, winning six races and a championship in two seasons. Unfortunately, everyone had to make tough decisions because there were only two Cup cars available at Front Row Motorsports going into last season when I was ready to move up full-time. “Now, going into next year, Front Row has really taken their Cup program to another level and I cannot think of a better line up of teammates. Todd and Noah are great friends of mine and we all have a lot to prove as young drivers in the Cup Series. It is a great time to come back and continue to build my career with an organization where I know I can win. Smith won the 2022 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship with FRM in one of the most dominant seasons in the series. Smith won four times, including Daytona, collected 14 top-five finishes, led 492 laps, won the regular season championship, and capped the season off by winning at the Phoenix Raceway season finale to capture the series championship in dramatic fashion. In 2023, Smith defended his wins at Daytona and the Circuit of the Americas in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with FRM, but barely missed out on qualifying for the Championship 4 for the fourth consecutive season. The same year, Smith made his second start in the NASCAR Cup Series, and his first Cup race with FRM in the Daytona 500. He qualified in an open entry and impressed with a 13th-place finish. Later that year, Smith earned his first top-10 in the premier series with FRM after finishing tenth at the 600-miler at Charlotte Motor Speedway – a crown jewel NASCAR event. The 2024 season officially marked Smith’s rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series as the full-time driver of the No. 71 car, which was highlighted by his runner-up finish at the Nashville Superspeedway in June and fifth-place finish at Watkins Glen International in September. Since his initial Cup Series debut in 2022, Smith has recorded five top-10 and 17 top-20 finishes. In fact, Smith has finished in the top-20 in over a third of his 45 Cup career races, including the last two Daytona 500 races. He will return to the Ford Performance stable next season more experienced and is looking forward to his return to FRM. “I want to thank Bob (owner, Bob Jenkins), Jerry (general manager, Jerry Freeze) and Mark Rushbrook at Ford for making this happen. I know that we can win together in the Cup Series like we did in the Truck Series. It’s a great time to come back as we continue to make FRM even better.” Going into his third year with the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team, Ryan Bergenty will serve as the crew chief for Smith in the 2025 season. Bergenty called the shots for Smith in a limited schedule in 2023, running six races throughout the season and earning a 10th place finish in the Coca-Cola 600. “Our team is excited to be working with Zane” said Bergenty “He is an outstanding talent and brings a strong competitive spirit to the group.” FRM will continue to build its organization for 2025 as it grows to a three-car NASCAR Cup Series organization next season. “We want to welcome Zane back to Front Row Motorsports,” said Bob Jenkins, owner, Front Row Motorsports. “He brought us our first championship and we believe that he can win in the NASCAR Cup Series, too. We have always believed in his talents, and we will work hard to give him what he needs to be successful. We have confidence in Zane. “This finalizes our drivers for 2025 in the Cup Series and we can now make all our teams as strong as possible. We have come a long way, but there is a lot more ground to make up, too. We now have the drivers who can build on where we are today and take us to the next level.” FRM will now turn its attention to finalizing its partners, crew chiefs, and driver and car number pairings for the 2025 season. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | COPE FAMILY RACING Cope Family Racing (CFR) makes its debut in the 2025 season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Daytona International Speedway, a track near and dear to the family since Derrike Cope took the Daytona 500 win in 1990. The team is family owned and run; Derrike Cope will act as the team’s General Manager. Driving duties will be split between two up-and-coming talented drivers, Leland Honeyman Jr. and Thomas Annunziata. Honeyman will take the wheel first at Daytona followed by the road course ace Annunziata at COTA in the CFR #70 car. “I’m excited to join Cope Family Racing as they launch their NASCAR Xfinity Series program,” said Honeyman. “It’s an honor to be part of a team with such a racing legacy, and I can’t wait to contribute to this new chapter in their history book. I’m ready to take on 2025 and continue chasing success on the track.” “I’m super excited to be racing part-time with CFR in 2025,” said Annunziata. “Derrike Cope and the Cope Family are rich in NASCAR experience from his driving days and running the team for StarCom Racing in the Cup Series. Although it’s a new team, CFR has assembled an experienced group to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. I’m ready and more motivated than ever to be a part of this exciting project. Time to go to work.” “After some time away from the sport, the creation of Cope Family Racing begins another chapter for us in NASCAR,” said Cope. “To have the opportunity for such a high caliber effort to present in 2025 feels amazing! Elyshia and I are excited to be working alongside Nick and Johanna and look forward to having two young talented drivers, Leland Honeyman Jr. and Thomas Annunziata, showcase their potential in the highly competitive Xfinity Series. We are reunited with Bob Fisher at ECR for our engine program and will utilize RCR race cars for our return to the Xfinity Series.” (Photo Credit: x.com/CopeFamilyRacin )

Press Release | MBM MOTORSPORTS Motorsports Business Management (MBM Motorsports) will enter the No. 66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the 67th annual Daytona 500 with veteran NASCAR racer Mike Wallace behind the wheel. The 65-year-old Missouri native has more than 800 starts in the top three divisions of NASCAR, including eleven starts in the Great American Race. Wallace has earned nine NASCAR national series race wins, and he has driven to Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway in multiple championships, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. He is also a winner in both NASCAR and ARCA at Talladega Superspeedway, the other traditional drafting-style superspeedway. “I am very excited to be teamed up with Carl Long and the complete MBM Motorsports team, along with Doug Yates’ support, for a return trip to the Daytona 500 after being away for a few years,” said Wallace. “I just can’t wait to work with Carl again in the first laps of practice at the World Center of Speed, Daytona International Speedway. I say it that way out of the enormous honor and respect I have for Daytona, along with all the pride and prestige it brings to myself and my team as a winner here. Fortunately, I did win the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Daytona, so my name is etched in the history books, along with my Xfinity Series and ARCA wins at the Speedway. “2024 was a devastating year for me with the loss of Carla, my wife of 44 years, who passed away in January from a battle with cancer. 2025 brings fresh excitement, starting with this Daytona 500 announcement. They say you have to be in it to win it, and we are rolling into Daytona with the chance to both be a part of and then race to win the Daytona 500!” Carl Long, who operates MBM Motorsports with co-owners Rocky and Tom Smith as well as John Jackson, shared some background on how this deal developed. “When we completed Martinsville at the end of 2024, we started the process of tearing the car down and rebuilding it back as our superspeedway car. We made the jump in November to sign the Yates engine contract for the (Daytona) 500 without knowing with any certainty exactly how it would all come together.” In a team Facebook post before Christmas, Long explained the status of his organization and speculated on the possible Open entries for Daytona. Wallace gave the MBM team owner a call and within a few minutes, Carl knew he had the man he needed to pilot the No. 66 in Daytona. “I watched Mike have a lot of success at superspeedways. I brought him into the JGL Racing Xfinity Series team I helped to build, where we worked together as teammates. As a driver, I know Daytona requires a great amount of mental skill to succeed. Mike has always been one of the best plate racers, and the skill set he brings makes him the best choice among drivers to be able to race our way into the Daytona 500,” said Long. The NASCAR Cup Series action at Daytona commences on Wednesday, February 12 with practice and single-car qualifying, leading into the Daytona 500 Duels on Thursday, February 13 that will determine the starting lineup for the Great American Race. The 67th Daytona 500 is scheduled for 2:30 pm ET on Sunday, February 16. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

(Photo Credit: x.com/MasonMaggio1 ) Mason Maggio will make multiple Xfinity Series starts in 2025 for Joey Gase Motorsports. Maggio, a young driver with eight career starts, earned his best finish last fall at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the No. 35 car. Greg Van Alst will primarily drive the No. 35 car for most of the 2025 season for the team. This is a great opportunity for Maggio to gain more seat time with an organization that’s working to become a contender. Make sure to subscribe and let us know your thoughts on this exciting news!

Press Release | NASCAR Bowman Gray Stadium’s long-anticipated return of NASCAR Cup Series Racing will have some added sizzle. NASCAR announced today that Cook Out, one of the fastest growing family-owned restaurant chains in the nation, will be the entitlement partner for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 2. In addition, Cook Out will also shake up the weekend with the Cook Out Madhouse Classic on Saturday, Feb. 1, an invitation-only event that features the stars of Bowman Gray Stadium’s Modified Division. That race will include NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte, driving the No. 18 Cook Out Modified. “It is incredible to have Cook Out as part of this historic weekend at Bowman Gray Stadium,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Executive Vice President, Chief Venue and Racing Innovation Officer. “Their support takes it to the next level, and we look forward to working with them to make it a weekend that fans will never forget.” Based in the Winston-Salem area since 1989, Cook Out has been known for its Cook Out burgers as part of the “best combos in town.” The restaurant chain has since grown to 340 locations across 10 states. Cook Out’s NASCAR presence continues to grow, too. It is the entitlement partner for the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway and Richmond Raceway, and the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway where it also serves as the Official Quick Service Restaurant. It is a proud sponsor of the NASCAR Youth Series and is an active sponsor at the grassroots level. In addition, Max Reaves, son of Cook Out Co-Owner Jeremy Reaves, will drive the No. 18 Cook Out Toyota in ARCA Menards Series East events this year. “Cook Out loves Winston-Salem and loves racing,” Jeremy Reaves said. “We’re looking forward to bringing together our racing family and the Winston-Salem Community this year with the Cook Out Clash and the Cook Out Madhouse Classic.” The Cook Out Clash on Feb. 2 will be the first NASCAR Cup Series Race at the iconic venue since 1971 and will be shown live on FOX. The event sold out in November, and only a limited number of seats remain for the Cook Out Madhouse Classic on Saturday, Feb. 1. A ticket to Saturday’s race will also include NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying as the 2025 season revs its engines in historic fashion. Fans are encouraged to visit NASCARClash.com to secure remaining experiences and parking while supplies last. On-site parking at Bowman Gray Stadium is extremely limited, so it’s essential to have a parking plan prior to arriving at the event. NASCAR has created off-site parking options at Innovation Quarter and Allegacy Stadium that include climate-controlled transportation to and from the event. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

By Adam Carabine Sam Hunt Racing One full-time entry in the NASCAR Xfinity Series   Car No. 26 Rotating drivers throughout the season Jeffrey Earnhardt, one of ten different drivers to compete with Sam Hunt Racing in 2024, at Phoenix - Photo by www.x.com/Team_SHR26 2024 Stats The 26 car was shared among 10 different drivers in 2024 Final Standings Position – 19th Best 2024 Finish – P3, Corey Heim at Iowa Speedway Points – 537 Average Finish – 22.30   2025 Hopes and Expectations Sam Hunt Racing serves as somewhat of a testing ground for many different drivers.  They tend to pull up some Craftsman Truck Series regulars, and occasionally offer the seat to some Cup Series regulars too.  They tried having a single driver in 2023, when Kaz Grala held the seat for the entire season, but they returned to their potpourri approach in ’24.  Hopes and expectations will largely depend on who they can get into the seat on a week-to-week basis.  With some bigger talents, they could challenge for a win at certain tracks, though more realistically they should aim for a solid Top-20 car each week.

By Adam Carabine Hyak Motorsports (formerly known as JTG-Daugherty) One full-time entry in the NASCAR Cup Series   Car No. 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with his trophy after winning the YellaWood 500 at Talladega last season - Photo by Chris Graythen 2024 Stats Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drove the 47 last year as well. Final Standings Position – 25th  Best 2024 Finish – One win at the Fall Talladega race Points – 590 Average Finish – 22.06   Career Cup Series Stats Starts – 436 Wins – 4 Best Career Season Finish Position – 2017 in the No. 17 Car for Roush Fenway Racing, 13th overall   2025 Hopes and Expectations Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is always a threat on SuperSpeedway tracks, and so he’ll be looking to nab a win at one of those early on and secure himself a spot in the playoffs in 2025.  Hyak Motorsports lost their major sponsor from the last few years, Kroger, so it remains to be seen whether that will have an impact on overall speed on the track.  Stenhouse has been criticized for being too aggressive at times, and had seven DNFs last year.  If he can clean those up in 2025, Hyak will be pleased.

Photo by Collin Best By Collin Best The Road to the 58th Annual Snowball Derby has been set. On Tuesday, Five Flags Speedway announced its 2025 schedule, which features the return of the ARCA Menards Series East and a season-long journey that ends in December with the "biggest event in short-track racing" from Dec. 4-7. The on-track season begins the weekend of March 21, as outlaws, pro trucks and street stocks take the stage. The following day, the ARCA Menards Series East returns for the Pensacola 150 alongside the Vores Compact Touring Series. The weekend concludes with the first Blizzard Super Late Model (SLM) Series race of the year, coinciding with the second race of the ASA STARS National Tour season. Blizzard races will occur on April 11, June 27 and Sept. 27. The Road to the Allen Turner Snowflake 100 begins on April 25 with the first of four pro-late model races of the season. Other dates are June 13, Aug. 29, and Sept. 27. Local champions will be crowned on the first Night of Champions on Sept. 20, and Blizzard Series and Allen Turner Pro Late Model champions will be crowned on the second Night of Champions on Sept. 27. Open practice for the 58th Snowball Derby will be held on Nov. 22. The day will conclude with the Crown Stock Derby 40. On-track action leading up to the 58th Snowball Derby will begin on Dec. 4, with the crowning event taking place on Dec. 7. For the full schedule of events at Five Flags Speedway, visit 5flagsspeedway.com .

By Adam Carabine Jeremy Clements Racing One full-time entry in the NASCAR Xfinity Series   Car No. 51 Jeremy Clements   Jeremy Clements at Michigan Speedway - Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images 2024 Stats Jeremy Clements was in this ride last year Final Standings Position – 20th   Best 2024 Finish – P6 at Atlanta Points – 477 Average Finish – 23.15   Career Xfinity Series Stats Starts – 497 Wins – 2 Best Career Season Finish Position – 12th, three times – 2017, 2021 and 2022, all with Jeremy Clements Racing   2025 Hopes and Expectations Jeremy Clements has been around the Xfinity Series for a long time, but his last two seasons have been underwhelming.  With zero Top 5s, and a single Top 10 in the last two years, they’re likely hoping they can turn things around in 2025.  Jeremy Clements has shown that he can be competitive at road courses, and has a win at Daytona where anything can happen.  If he can string together a few good finishes, maybe some increased earnings will help this team find more speed.

By Adam Carabine Rick Ware Racing One full-time entry in the NASCAR Cup Series (Rick Ware Racing had two entries in 2024, but has leased a charter to RFK Racing for 2025)   Possibly Car No. 51? – Unknown Both Cody Ware and Corey LaJoie have been mentioned, but an official driver announcement hasn’t happened at the time of publishing.   2024 Stats Justin Haley drove the 51 car for 29 races, when he was essentially traded to Spire Motorsports to drive the No. 7 Car in exchange for Corey LaJoie.  Here are the stats for the 51 car in 2024: Final Standings Position – 31st  Best 2024 Finish – P9, twice.  Justin Haley at Darlington and Gateway Points – 491 Average Finish – 23.75   2025 Hopes and Expectations It’s hard to know exactly what expectations to have for the Rick Ware Cup Series entry until we know who the driver will be.  As a smaller team with less funding, it will heavily rely on sponsorship money to determine who gets the seat week in and week out.  It felt like Rick Ware was taking a step forward with their investment in Justin Haley, but he was scooped up by Spire, seemingly leaving RWR back at square one.