NASCAR insider makes bold prediction about Daniel Ricciardo for 2025

Since the introduction of the Next Gen car, the NASCAR Cup Series appears to be the hot new thing to try. Will it entice Daniel Ricciardo? The recently laid-off F1 driver has a deep passion for stock car racing. Does that mean he will end up in the NASCAR circuit?

In recent years, former F1 drivers such as Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen have given the Cup Series a go. Famously Shane van Gisbergen has turned a one-off at Chicago into a full-time career in the sport.

Drivers from F1, Supercars, WEC, IMSA, IndyCar, and more have given NASCAR a chance in the last few years. Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports believes that Daniel Ricciardo may be next, and it might not be a one-off or part-time schedule.

As part of FOX Sports’ bold predictions for 2025, Pockrass said this:

“Daniel [Ricciardo] comes to NASCAR in more than just a one-off move,” Pockrass wrote. “[Ricciardo] currently is unemployed and his fandom of NASCAR is well-documented. Yeah, for the most part he has poured cold water on any significant NASCAR chatter. But to see his smile driving a Dale Earnhardt Sr. vintage car a few years ago showed just how much he loves the sport. Plus there would be teams and sponsors that want him racing stock cars. And that’s not to mention the fans, who would eat it up. If NASCAR can find a way to get this done, it should do it.”

Now that is a bold prediction. As he noted, Ricciardo has dismissed rumors of a NASCAR start. However, there are so many teams and options to pick from, he wouldn’t have a hard time finding a ride.

Daniel Ricciardo could have his choice of teams in NASCAR

When it comes to a potential future in NASCAR there are multiple avenues for Daniel Ricciardo to take. The most likely would be a few starts here and there in the Cup Series. The Next Gen car has also encouraged organizations to invest in open cars and one-off drivers more often.

If Ricciardo wants to race in the Cup Series, sponsors will line up for it. We have seen Trackhouse, Richard Childress, and 23XI Racing make serious attempts with open cars in the last few years. Rick Ware has also fielded drivers like Jenson Button in their car.

There is a lot of potential for Ricciardo in NASCAR. He is only 35 years old, the same age as SVG. While his F1 career looks to be over for now, there is a whole world of stock car racing to get into. If he wants a more robust schedule, I could see Ricciardo doing very well in the Xfinity Series in a full-time ride.

Daniel Ricciardo is still young for a race car driver, especially by NASCAR standards. As an F1 driver, he’s in great shape. If and when he wants to hop into a Cup car, one will be patiently waiting for him in a shop somewhere.