Another round of Silly Season rumors has emerged, puzzling NASCAR fans once again. This time, veteran Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin finds himself at the center of speculation. The buzz began when Riley Herbst from Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) made a dramatic last-lap pass on Aric Almirola to win at Indianapolis. Hamlin’s cheeky one-word tweet in response led many to speculate that 23XI Racing might be interested in Herbst. However, a NASCAR insider believes this isn’t the case.
The uncertainty around SHR’s future intensified after the team decided to sell its charters. This move spurred debates about the destinies of its drivers. While Cup Series drivers Chase Briscoe and Noah Gragson secured their positions with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and Front Row Motorsports, respectively, Cole Custer has transitioned to the Haas Factory Team, which is a scaled-down continuation of SHR under Gene Haas. Currently, attention is focused on Riley Herbst’s next move. As Herbst is expected to join another team, former AM Racing driver Hailie Deegan might take his vacant seat, according to a well-known NASCAR insider.
The SHR team has faced significant challenges ever since Tony Stewart and Gene Haas announced in May that they would shut down operations by the end of 2024. The 16-year-old NASCAR team, once a powerhouse, is set to disband. Most of SHR’s Cup Series drivers have secured their futures, except for Ryan Preece. Meanwhile, Riley Herbst has yet to finalize a deal but appears to be getting closer to one. As the team navigates this tumultuous period, the NASCAR community eagerly watches to see where its remaining drivers will land and how the landscape of the sport will shift as a result.
