Ty Dillon is set to replace Daniel Hemric at Kaulig Racing for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, marking a surprising shift in the team’s lineup.
Dillon, who currently competes in the Truck Series, will be stepping up to the Cup Series, taking over the No. 10 car. This decision leaves Hemric’s future uncertain, despite his tenure with Kaulig Racing and his recent return to the top level of the sport.
Daniel Hemric, who joined Kaulig Racing this year, has had a season filled with ups and downs. While he made strides with the team, his performance has not been enough to secure his spot for the 2025 season. In response to his departure, Hemric took to social media to share his thoughts and gratitude:
“Cup racing, the pinnacle of our sport. I will forever love and appreciate the process of what it takes to prepare, both physically and mentally, to compete on Sundays. However, I will not return to Kaulig Racing in 2025 to continue that process.
“My family and I are sincerely grateful to Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice, and everyone at Kaulig Racing and Kaulig Companies for welcoming me into their organization a few years ago, and giving me the rare opportunity to get back to the top level of the sport.
“The desire to win on Sundays will always burn inside of me. I’m focused and full of intention to finish the last seven races of this season as strong as we can, while continuing to build on whatever the next chapter of this journey holds for me. Matthew 17:20.”
Despite Hemric’s commitment to finishing the current season strong, the news of his departure has sparked conversations about what led to this change. His inconsistent performance, while not without its highlights, could have factored into the decision. Additionally, the ever-present factors of sponsorship and funding may have played a significant role in Kaulig Racing’s move to bring Ty Dillon on board.
Ty Dillon, meanwhile, is preparing to transition back into the Cup Series after a less-than-ideal year in the Truck Series. This season, Dillon managed only two top-10 finishes, which has raised some eyebrows about Kaulig Racing’s decision to offer him the No. 10 car. However, Dillon’s experience and industry connections may have helped solidify the deal, particularly given the importance of sponsorship relationships in NASCAR.
In a further twist to the team’s plans, Kaulig Racing also announced the retirement of the No. 31 car, a number long associated with Kaulig Racing and Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Dillon will instead drive the No. 10 car, creating another layer of intrigue as the team shifts its focus toward a new chapter.
Kaulig Racing’s leadership addressed the move in a statement to Motorsport.com, which revealed a broader strategy behind the changes. The team has hired NASCAR veteran Ty Norris as their new Chief Business Officer. Norris, who has a wealth of experience in the sport, will work closely with team owner Matt Kaulig and President Chris Rice to secure long-term partnerships and solidify Kaulig Racing’s future in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Kaulig Racing announces the addition of NASCAR industry veteran Ty Norris to the team. Norris will serve as the team’s Chief Business Officer, focusing on partnerships and long-term strategy alongside owner Matt Kaulig and team President Chris Rice. Bringing Norris and his wealth of knowledge to the executive team is one of several major moves Kaulig and Rice are making to solidify the trajectory of its NASCAR Cup Series program well into the future.”
As Ty Dillon prepares to join Kaulig Racing, and Hemric looks ahead to his next opportunity, this move has raised questions about what’s in store for the team. Dillon’s return to the Cup Series, combined with Norris’s strategic influence, signals that Kaulig Racing is preparing for a transformative future.
