The 2025 NASCAR Cup season might present a revealing research in three groups with completely different backgrounds however related performances within the Subsequent Gen automobile period.
RFK Racing, Trackhouse Racing and 23XI Racing all have completely different origins however their efficiency since 2022 supplies a very good measuring stick for every. All three groups additionally plan to broaden to 3 full-time Cup groups in 2025.
Whereas RFK Racing can hint its beginnings to 1988 and Trackhouse and 23XI Racing made their Cup debuts in 2021, they’ve all been on an identical path since 2022. That’s the 12 months Brad Keselowski grew to become co-owner of RFK Racing — main a resurgence at that group — and when each Trackhouse and 23XI Racing expanded to 2 Cup groups.
Since 2022, Trackhouse has eight Cup wins, 23XI Racing has seven and RFK Racing has six.
Since 2022, Trackhouse has 45 top-five finishes, 23XI Racing has 43 and RFK Racing has 36.
Since 2022, Trackhouse has 83 top-10 finishes, 23XI Racing has 80 and RFK has 79.
The NASCAR president additionally mentioned the price and worth of the Chicago Avenue Race and upgrades to NASCAR-owned tracks for followers.
“I’m not, a minimum of, trying to keep away from comparisons towards Trackhouse or 23XI,” Keselowski stated in response to a query from NBC Sports activities. “In reality, I believe they’re a fantastic measuring stick for us.
“If I take a look at 23XI, Trackhouse and RFK, every one in every of us (in 2024) was two automobiles. Every one in every of us, at instances, ran a 3rd automobile half time. The three of us are going to 3 automobiles in ’25. We’re each sort of second within the pecking order of producers. I believe they’re a very reasonable barometer for us.
“I don’t wish to get caught up and ‘hey, we’re solely racing 23XI and Trackhouse.’ That’s not proper, however I might say it’s pure and wholesome to check ourselves to one another.”
A key distinction between these groups over the previous three seasons is that RFK Racing is the one group to not have a driver attain the Championship 4. Ross Chastain completed second in 2022. Tyler Reddick positioned fourth this 12 months.
23XI Racing’s development has come forward of schedule for co-owner Denny Hamlin. He talked a few five-year plan for the group he co-owns with Michael Jordan to be title contenders. This 12 months, the main target is on sustaining that stage of success with Reddick and having Bubba Wallace — who had profession highs in prime fives and prime 10s — proceed that progress.
A problem for 23XI Racing can be what occurs within the lawsuit it filed with Entrance Row Motorsports towards NASCAR. Relying on what occurs might have an effect on 23XI Racing.
Shane van Gisbergen, who received the 2023 Chicago Avenue Race in a Mission 91 automobile, will run full-time in Cup with Trackhouse in 2025.
Trackhouse Racing noticed a decline in prime fives and prime 10s this previous season. The group had 10 prime fives (down from 14 and 21 the earlier two years) and 23 prime 10s (down from 26 and 34 the earlier two years).
Automobile proprietor Justin Marks is aware of that should change.
“There’s good moments (in 2024) and issues we have to enhance on,” Marks stated this week in the course of the Fifth Annual Race Trade Week sponsored by Racer.com, epartrade.com and Pace Sport.
“We’re at an fascinating factors proper now within the NASCAR Cup Sequence. We’re towards the tip of the early stage of the event cycle of the Subsequent Gen automobile. What I imply by that’s that the automobile is just not new anymore. A number of these groups, particularly the legacy groups which have very, very deep workforces and tooling and applied sciences (and) have actually discovered a technique to make the automobiles go quick, to actually exploit all the pace out of the automobiles.
Joey Logano received the championship, however a case might be made for Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell.
“Once you look again at 2022, every part was new, it was a little bit of a special aggressive set that made the automobile go quick than it does now. We had a fantastic 12 months in ’22. We had a fantastic 12 months in ’23.
“In ’24, clearly excessive factors, we acquired a automobile within the playoffs … each automobiles acquired to victory lane. That’s extremely necessary for our enterprise is to be in victory lane. Greater than something, we wish to be winners.
“Actually, it was disappointing that the 1 (automobile of Ross Chastain) didn’t make the playoffs. I believe there was some unhealthy luck and a few efficiency stuff. The win got here too late to give you the option that occur (and make the playoffs).
“It was from a aggressive standpoint, a 12 months that leaves some to be desired. Actually, actually, it stoked the fireplace a bit bit inside the corporate of doing a reasonably deep inside audit and saying we received’t wish to slide into mediocrity.”
Trackhouse Racing provides a 3rd automobile with Shane van Gisbergen, who joins Chastain and Daniel Suarez. 23XI Racing is scheduled so as to add a 3rd automobile with Riley Herbst, teaming with Reddick and Wallace. RFK Racing will add a 3rd automobile with Ryan Preece, who can be teammates to Keselowski and Chris Buescher.
“This 12 months arising for us, 12 months 4 (of changing into co-owner of RFK Racing), it’s a giant transition, going to a 3rd group and including some extra expertise and gamers,” stated Keselowski, who can be reunited with crew chief Jeremy Bullins. “I’m actually curious how we’re going to carry out.”
The identical might be stated at Trackhouse Racing and 23XI Racing for the 2025 season.
