23XI Racing has the personnel for a third team in case Kurt Busch returns to action during the 2023 NASCAR season. This was on display when Travis Pastrana drove the No. 67 car for the organization during the Daytona 500.
However, 23XI Racing should turn the program into a third full-time car and pursue this rising NASCAR talent for 2024.
23XI Racing should pursue this Xfinity talent for a third car in 2024
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the future of 23XI Racing. Bubba Wallace has slowly risen to a driver that can win at least one race per year while Tyler Reddick has proven to be a championship contender with Toyota Racing.
The organization is slowly but surely rising to the top while Trackhouse Racing, the team which debuted in the same season as them, already has seen major success with Ross Chastain making the Championship 4 last season.
Owned by NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan, the sky is the limit and the team will likely grow even more in the future. This could come as early as the 2024 NASCAR season.
23XI Racing crew chief Eric Phillips believes having more cars is beneficial and hopes the organization can continue working toward running a third car. If the team were to open a third full-time entry, who should it pursue? It is an easy answer.
John Hunter Nemechek drives the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and is considered to be the championship favorite. Nemechek already has two victories and leads the point standings by 21 points.
The Xfinity Series driver is only 25 years old and is primed for a major season in the racing division. In fact, the addition of Nemechek would not be one that is out of the blue since he has previous experience with the team.
Nemechek replaced Wallace after the current driver of the No. 23 car was suspended for hooking Kyle Larson across a hot straightaway at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Nemechek qualified in fourth place at Homsestead-Miami Speedway after showing tremendous speed but finished in 27th place.
The 25-year-old driver moved down to the NASCAR Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports and is following the Toyota Racing pipeline back to the Cup Series. Nemechek should be making the jump for the 2024 season so this could be the organization’s only opportunity.
Toyota Racing wants to expand its Cup Series program starting in 2024 and a third full-time car for 23XI Racing could be the easiest pathway. If the team wants to make that commitment, Nemechek is the perfect driver for the job.
He continues to impress in the lower levels and who knows how many races the No. 20 car will win this year. Nemechek would be a good fit for many teams so 23XI Racing should pull off the move and keep him within the Toyota camp.
If 23XI Racing misses out on Nemechek or decides to go in a different direction for a third car, which names would make sense for the team? Continue reading to find out three ideal candidates!
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3 ideal candidates for 23XI Racing if a third charter is acquired
23XI Racing would represent a great landing spot for several drivers looking to compete at a high level in the NASCAR Cup Series. Nemechek would be the perfect fit but a few other drivers would make sense as well.
Daniel Hemric currently drives the No. 11 car for Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and could be a good option for the organization. Hemric, 32, won the 2021 Xfinity Series championship and has previous experience with the team.
The 32-year-old driver piloted the No. 23 car to an impressive 17th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway last season after Ty Gibbs did not race in the event. Hemric did well in his Cup Series starts during the 2022 season and could make his return to the top level.
Michael McDowell is another option that would make lots of sense for 23XI Racing. McDowell, 38, has run incredibly well with Front Row Motorsports since the debut of the NextGen car and could be an intriguing option for a top team looking for a veteran.
The 38-year-old was rumored to be on the short-list for the No. 45 car before Reddick was bought out for the 2023 season so it would not be completely unexpected. McDowell deserves a shot in good equipment and 23XI Racing could be that team to give him a chance.
Josh Berry was impressive in his starts for Hendrick Motorsports during Chase Elliott’s recovery and it could land him a good ride in the Cup Series. Berry, 32, finished his substitution duties with one top-5 finish, two top-10 finishes, and a 17.2 average finishing position in five races.
The 32-year-old driver drives for Chevrolet but if 23XI Racing comes knocking, it could be hard to pass them down for another team. Just like McDowell, Berry deserves a shot in good equipment within the Cup Series and it would be a good partnership overall.
23XI Racing will have plenty of options available to them if a third full-time car is opened for the 2024 season. There might not be an A-level driver but there are several drivers that would be able to win races with the equipment.