QuizGuy66
Footballguy
It feels like SHR news was coming - both principals getting more disengaged/distracted. Sad to see a successful team end but probably better in the long run vs a long lingering road to irrelevance.
3 of the 4 charters are apparently spoken for: Trackhouse, 23XI and Front Row.
The 4th charter is where the intrigue lies. Supposedly (outside of grandfathered in Gibbs and Hendrick) teams will be limited to 3 charters once they get the next agreement on those worked out. If that is case there are 8 options for selling that 4th charter (option 8 being someone not yet in Cup - and JrM has not been involved in charter talk reportedly)
Can't conceive Wood Brothers would do it. Unless it is a workaround for a defacto 4th team for Penske and is Wood Brother in name only.
Rick Ware Racing just got rid of two charters and finally seem to be operating like a team trying to win versus building up it's monetary resources so cannot see it being them.
JTG seemed to be a question mark but they resigned Stenhouse long term. Still couldn't see them buying another charter unless they are bringing on a new partner with the resources to do that.
Kaulig has been discussed as a team that might be merged/acquired so I don't see them being the team to get that charter unless it was part of something like that.
Random aside - Cole Custer's dad is one of the principals at SHR so maybe there is some involvement with him involving that with one of these teams.
RFK looks unlikely - Brad has publicly said he's $30m short on Twitter.
So it comes down to probably the two most likely candidates. Legacy might be inclined to get that 3rd charter when you figure with Jimmie Johnson's involvement it is probably more of a building team.
RCR is running a 3rd car in some races this year so like Legacy maybe if the price is right they add the move.
I wonder if that final charter gets packaged with the Stewart Haas shop - maybe to obscure a lower price than the other 3 charters.
Guessing that the money generated from the 3 charters is enough to make it worth it to announce - at least it gives everyone who works there a maximum amount of time to get situated for 2025.
All the other teams will be at the limit assuming the first 3 sale destinations are accurate.
Driverwise:
Briscoe seems like a safe bet to land somewhere (scuttlebutt is maybe Wood Bros)
Gragson is probably in great shape as well. As Truex's career is winding down it looks like Bass Pro has arrived at Gragson as a driver they will sport over the long term. Their sponsorships have generally been of the type to follow their drivers from team to team. Thinking that Charlotte may have been the first time a primary sponsor ever appeared on 3 different makes of car in the same race. But bringing that kind of support will put Gragson in a seat.
Berry doesn't have that kind of support though he clearly has a lot of talent and a prominent champion in Dale Jr. More likely than not he lands somewhere though maybe not the most appealing ride.
Preece is probably screwed. With young drivers always ready to move up his status was probably tenuous to begin with. With 2 less XFinity teams he might even have problems there unless other teams step in to bridge the gap at that level.
-QG
3 of the 4 charters are apparently spoken for: Trackhouse, 23XI and Front Row.
The 4th charter is where the intrigue lies. Supposedly (outside of grandfathered in Gibbs and Hendrick) teams will be limited to 3 charters once they get the next agreement on those worked out. If that is case there are 8 options for selling that 4th charter (option 8 being someone not yet in Cup - and JrM has not been involved in charter talk reportedly)
Can't conceive Wood Brothers would do it. Unless it is a workaround for a defacto 4th team for Penske and is Wood Brother in name only.
Rick Ware Racing just got rid of two charters and finally seem to be operating like a team trying to win versus building up it's monetary resources so cannot see it being them.
JTG seemed to be a question mark but they resigned Stenhouse long term. Still couldn't see them buying another charter unless they are bringing on a new partner with the resources to do that.
Kaulig has been discussed as a team that might be merged/acquired so I don't see them being the team to get that charter unless it was part of something like that.
Random aside - Cole Custer's dad is one of the principals at SHR so maybe there is some involvement with him involving that with one of these teams.
RFK looks unlikely - Brad has publicly said he's $30m short on Twitter.
So it comes down to probably the two most likely candidates. Legacy might be inclined to get that 3rd charter when you figure with Jimmie Johnson's involvement it is probably more of a building team.
RCR is running a 3rd car in some races this year so like Legacy maybe if the price is right they add the move.
I wonder if that final charter gets packaged with the Stewart Haas shop - maybe to obscure a lower price than the other 3 charters.
Guessing that the money generated from the 3 charters is enough to make it worth it to announce - at least it gives everyone who works there a maximum amount of time to get situated for 2025.
All the other teams will be at the limit assuming the first 3 sale destinations are accurate.
Driverwise:
Briscoe seems like a safe bet to land somewhere (scuttlebutt is maybe Wood Bros)
Gragson is probably in great shape as well. As Truex's career is winding down it looks like Bass Pro has arrived at Gragson as a driver they will sport over the long term. Their sponsorships have generally been of the type to follow their drivers from team to team. Thinking that Charlotte may have been the first time a primary sponsor ever appeared on 3 different makes of car in the same race. But bringing that kind of support will put Gragson in a seat.
Berry doesn't have that kind of support though he clearly has a lot of talent and a prominent champion in Dale Jr. More likely than not he lands somewhere though maybe not the most appealing ride.
Preece is probably screwed. With young drivers always ready to move up his status was probably tenuous to begin with. With 2 less XFinity teams he might even have problems there unless other teams step in to bridge the gap at that level.
-QG
