Kaulig Racing is gearing up for major transformations as the team prepares for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Under the leadership of owner Matt Kaulig, the team is making strategic hires, both on and off the track, to bolster its chances for success. While optimism surrounds these moves, only time will reveal their effectiveness.
The latest changes include promotions within the team and the return of a seasoned crew chief to partner with Kaulig’s No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro driver. NASCAR teams and drivers are known for their relentless pursuit of victory, and Kaulig Racing appears to be assembling top-tier talent to compete at the highest level.
In September, the team announced Ty Dillon as the new driver for the No. 10 Chevrolet, replacing David Hemric, who transitioned to the Truck Series. Dillon’s promotion was unexpected given his underwhelming 2024 season, where he failed to break into the Top-20 while sharing the No. 16 car with Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) and AJ Allmendinger.
To support Dillon, Kaulig Racing has brought in Andrew Dickeson from Richard Childress Racing (RCR) as his crew chief. Dickeson, with extensive engineering expertise from Australia’s V8 Supercars Super2 Series and U.S. competitions, previously worked with RCR, a team led by Dillon’s grandfather. Additionally, Mike Cook, a former lead engineer for Tony Stewart’s Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), has joined Kaulig as Technical Director. Cook, a Daytona 500-winning engineer, expressed excitement about contributing to Kaulig’s growth, highlighting Ty Dillon’s potential under Dickeson’s guidance.
In another key move, crew chief Trent Owens is reuniting with AJ Allmendinger, who is returning to the full-time Cup Series after a stint in Xfinity. The duo previously secured a win in the October NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race in Las Vegas, propelling Allmendinger into the championship race for the second time. Owens, a veteran with wins across NASCAR’s top series, is poised to strengthen Kaulig’s lineup.
Kaulig has also signed 24-year-old Christian Eckes from McAnally Hilgemann Racing to drive the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro. Eckes, the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular-season champion with three wins, brings fresh talent to the team.
Meanwhile, Kaulig bids farewell to Shane van Gisbergen, who joins Trackhouse Racing for a full-time Cup Series role in 2025, and Daniel Hemric, who moves to McAnally Hilgemann Racing to drive the No. 19 Chevrolet in the Truck Series. Hemric’s transition could offer him better chances for success, even if it means stepping down from the Cup Series.
What’s your take on Kaulig Racing’s bold moves?
