NASCAR insiders predict how drivers with new teams will perform in 2025

This year’s Silly Season was among the silliest in recent memory and guaranteed that multiple drivers will be in different places for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Among those with new rides next season: Shane van Gisbergen in the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, Chase Briscoe in the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, Ryan Preece in the No. 60 Ford for RFK Racing and Josh Berry in the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing.

Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck of The Athletic went through the field of new signings on the latest edition of “The Teardown” podcast, picking which driver they believe will have the most success with their new ride. Bianchi started by mentioning van Gisbergen, whom he believes will make the playoffs next season.

“I think he’s gonna win multiple races next year,” Bianchi said. “… He’s ran at COTA before on this new configuration. If he doesn’t make the playoffs, I’m gonna be shocked. If he doesn’t win multiple races, I’m gonna be shocked.”

The New Zealand native is a road course specialist, winning in his Cup Series debut in the 2023 Chicago Street Race. van Gisbergen took three checkered flags — all on road courses — this past season in his first full-time campaign in the Xfinity Series. While Gluck can see van Gisbergen winning a road course race next season, the possibility that he fails to do so could make him the biggest disappointment, he explained.

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“Interestingly enough, I might go with SVG for biggest disappointment,” Gluck said. “I don’t think he’s gonna run well on the ovals… am I gonna pick him to make the playoffs? I am. So, I’m talking a little bit out of both sides of my mouth. I think he’s gonna win a road course race and make the playoffs, but we’ve also seen it’s a lot harder to actually put that into practice. He ran what, four or so road courses this year in Cup and didn’t win.

“Yeah, he came close at Watkins Glen, but the point is it’s a lot harder to say yeah, he may go to every road course and be the fastest guy there but actually winning NASCAR road course races with late cautions or circumstances or whatever, parts breaking, pit stops — it’s just not always going to come together. And so, he could easily end up as the biggest disappointment if he doesn’t win one of the road courses in the regular season. I’m having a struggle picking who else would be the biggest disappointment because other people have mild expectations or expectations in line with what they’ll do.”

Bianchi is also high on Briscoe, who is replacing the now retired Martin Truex Jr. at JGR. Briscoe has two wins under his belt, including this past season’s Southern 500 at Darlington to clinch his spot in the postseason.

“I think Chase Briscoe is gonna be in a really good spot,” Bianchi said. “JGR’s gonna be better. We’ve seen his talent at times, obviously at Darlington winning the Southern 500. And so, I think he’s gonna be in a situation and he is so hungry and so driven. I’ll say this: James Small is hungry and determined. And that 19 team wants to prove like, ‘Hey, we weren’t just Martin’s team. We can do this too.’ I think they’re gonna make some noise potentially.”

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Bianchi’s sleeper? That would be Preece who like Briscoe, is making the transition from Stewart-Haas Racing. Preece has struggled in five Cup Series seasons but now finds himself in a quality ride at an emerging organization in RFK.

“Ryan Preece is someone to watch,” Bianchi said. “I had some conversations with people who know Ryan and like he is another guy too who is stepping into a situation where he is going to be given every opportunity, and I think RFK is on the upswing.”

The NASCAR insider’s curiosity resides with Berry, another former SHR driver. Wood Brothers notched its landmark 100th victory with Harrison Burton’s upset win in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona but is looking for more consistency. Enter Berry, entering his second full-time season in the Cup Series.

“I am curious to see how Josh Berry adapts to the Wood Brothers,” Bianchi said. “I think Josh has got talent. That team is just fits and starts. There was a time when Paul Menard made the playoffs for them. Matt Dibenedetto made the playoffs for them. That team should be better than it is, but that was a while ago.

“I want to see what they can do now in this era. And I think there’s some pressure there for everyone involved because you just don’t know. If you go there and you’re Josh and you don’t perform, then what? I think the opportunity is there for them, but the expectations are low because it’s a rebuilding program.”