Rumors from the Silly Season are swirling around Ty Dillon, suggesting that he is on track to make a full-time return to the NASCAR Cup Series. Reports indicate that Dillon is likely to replace Daniel Hemric as the driver of the #31 Chevy for Kaulig Racing. The team, owned by Matt Kaulig, has already confirmed that AJ Allmendinger will be returning to the Cup Series for the 2024 season, but the identity of the driver who will be behind the wheel of the #31 car remains unannounced.
Kaulig Racing has been actively shuffling its driver lineup in preparation for the 2024 season. The #16 Chevy has been piloted by several drivers this year, including Allmendinger, Shane van Gisbergen, Ty Dillon, and others. Meanwhile, Hemric has held a full-time position driving the #31 Chevy, but his future with the team appears uncertain as his contract is not yet extended beyond 2024. According to a report from The Athletic, Ty Dillon is emerging as the frontrunner to take over the #31 Chevy in 2025, with Hemric potentially being phased out of Kaulig’s Cup Series lineup.
Currently, Dillon is racing full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series while also making select appearances in the Cup Series with Kaulig Racing. He’s already made four starts in the Cup Series this season, earning two top-20 finishes along the way. Dillon’s return to the Cup Series would mark a significant move after his departure from Spire Motorsports at the end of the previous season, where he struggled to make an impact in the #77 Chevy, finishing 32nd in the overall standings.
Dillon had been in talks with Kaulig Racing about a full-time ride for the 2023 season, but negotiations fell through, leading him to take a step back from Cup Series competition and instead compete in the Truck Series. Dillon joined Rackley WAR in the Trucks and has been racing part-time in both the Cup and Xfinity Series as well. His potential full-time return to Kaulig Racing for the 2025 season is believed to be partly facilitated by the strong relationship between Kaulig Racing and Richard Childress Racing, a team owned by Dillon’s grandfather. The two teams have a close working partnership, with Kaulig enjoying a technical alliance with RCR and operating from the same campus.
On the other hand, Daniel Hemric’s future within Kaulig Racing is less clear. While he has been driving the #31 Chevy full-time this season, his performance has been relatively modest, with Hemric currently sitting in 30th place in the driver standings. The 33-year-old has managed to secure four top-10 finishes this year, finishing ninth in all four instances, but it may not be enough to secure his position in Kaulig Racing’s Cup Series lineup for 2025. The team has already announced its Xfinity Series roster for next season, but there has been no confirmation yet about Hemric’s role within the organization moving forward.
Reflecting on Ty Dillon’s decision to step down to the Truck Series, his departure from Spire Motorsports after a challenging season in the #77 Chevy was pivotal. Dillon, who had finished the 2022 Cup season 32nd in the standings, had initially been in negotiations with Kaulig Racing for a full-time Cup Series ride, but the deal ultimately fell apart. As a result, Dillon shifted his focus to the Truck Series, joining Rackley WAR and continuing to make part-time appearances in both the Cup and Xfinity Series.
Dillon explained that his move to the Truck Series was driven by a desire to reignite his career and focus on winning races and championships. In an interview ahead of the 2024 season, Dillon stated, “It’s been a while since I’ve competed in the Truck Series, but I was very successful there. At this stage of my career, I want to get back to winning races, battling for championships, and getting that confidence back.”
Dillon had previously found success in the Truck Series, finishing second in the overall standings in 2013 while driving the #3 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing. Now, a decade later, Dillon’s return to the Truck Series has been a challenging one. He has been unable to qualify for the playoffs and currently sits in 18th place in the standings, leaving him eager for a fresh start and potentially a return to the Cup Series as a full-time driver.
As Ty Dillon’s future in NASCAR continues to unfold, fans and insiders alike are keeping a close watch on whether he will make his anticipated full-time return to the Cup Series in 2025, replacing Hemric in the #31 Chevy for Kaulig Racing.
