The list of NASCAR drivers who left 2025 features a blend of veterans and notable names, highlighted by the absence of Dale Earnhardt Jr., a mainstay in the racing community for decades. This significant shift in the sport underscores both the passage of time and the ongoing evolution within NASCAR’s national series.
Major Departures Mark a Changing Era in NASCAR
This year’s list of NASCAR drivers who left 2025 is not extensive in numbers, but rich in significance. It marks the end of notable streaks and traditions, particularly with the absence of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in any national series event for the first time since 1974. The list also includes the retirement of Marco Andretti from racing, further solidifying 2025 as a year of departures and transformations within the sport.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s exit is particularly remarkable. Although known for running just one or two Xfinity Series races each season in recent years, he opted out completely in 2025. This marks the first year since the mid-1970s that no member of the Earnhardt family participated in a national series race. Despite stepping off the track as a driver, Earnhardt Jr. stayed heavily involved as the owner of JR Motorsports and continued his broadcasting work with Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports.
Veterans and Fan Favorites Step Away
Clint Bowyer, a ten-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, did not return in 2025 after a 2024 one-off Truck Series appearance with Spire Motorsports. Bowyer instead focused on his position as an analyst with FOX Sports, maintaining his ties to racing while stepping away from active competition.
Jennifer Jo Cobb, who had competed in the Truck and Xfinity series every year since 2004 with an extensive record of starts, was absent from the national series this season. She remained visible at select events, sharing updates from tracks like the Chicago street course race weekend and Kansas Speedway, but she did not compete.
Stanton Barrett, better known in recent years for his work as a stuntman in film and television, also stepped away from NASCAR’s national series in 2025. Barrett’s sporadic participation had already become less frequent, but his absence this year is still felt by long-time followers of the sport.
Open-Wheel Crossovers and International Stars Withdraw
Marco Andretti, having intermittently participated in the Xfinity and Truck series since 2022, made his return to the NTT IndyCar Series limited to the Indianapolis 500 in 2025. However, he announced his retirement from all forms of racing, ending another chapter in his motorsport career.
In the international circuit, Kamui Kobayashi, who once made a mark as an international Cup Series driver, did not return to 23XI Racing for a scheduled one-off start. Kobayashi remained highly active outside NASCAR, racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Super Formula, and major endurance events like Le Mans and Daytona.
Conor Daly, who split his time between IndyCar and NASCAR appearances for several years, committed solely to IndyCar in 2025 with Juncos Hollinger Racing, leading to the end of his part-time stock-car endeavors.
Consistency Breaks: Drivers End Notable Streaks
Dexter Bean, who had steadily appeared mostly in Xfinity events each year since 2015, did not return to NASCAR in 2025, snapping a ten-year run. His longstanding association with DGM Racing and owner Mario Gosselin as a family member adds extra resonance to his absence.
Jade Buford, previously a full-time Xfinity driver for Big Machine Racing, concluded his five-year stretch of national series participation. Though still active in motorsports, Buford’s competitive focus shifted to other venues, with documented activity at Flatrock Motorclub.
Colby Howard’s consistent national series streak from 2019 ended as he shifted to late model competitions, capturing wins for Anthony Campi Racing in the ASA Southern Super Series and racing across the country.
Jennifer Jo Cobb’s era-defining streak of 234 Truck Series starts and 34 Xfinity races since 2004 grounded to a halt, even as she remained visible and engaged at select events and tracks outside the national series.
Recent Entrants and Racing Rookies Exit
Hailie Deegan, after parting ways with AM Racing midway through the 2024 Xfinity Series, did not return to NASCAR in 2025. Instead, she competed in Indy NXT, achieving a 14th-place finish in the points and an 11th-place race finish.
Joe Graf Jr., who had appeared in at least three Xfinity Series races annually since 2019, was not seen on the track as a driver in 2025, signaling a pause or possible end to his national series career for now.
Connor Hall shifted from national NASCAR events to a strong showing in the CARS Tour’s late model stock car division. Hall finished as runner-up, earning two wins with JR Motorsports, and competed in ARCA Menards Series West late in the season for Sigma Performance Services.
Journeymen and Specialty Racers Adjust Paths
Brett Moffitt, the 2018 Truck Series champion, did not compete in any national series races this year, ending a 13-year run. Instead, Moffitt moved into sprint car racing for the season. Thad Moffitt, despite being originally slated for a full-time ARCA run with Nitro Motorsports, competed only part-time due to funding, aiming to improve on his past success in the series.
Dylan Lupton, who made at least one Cup, Xfinity, or Truck Series start annually since 2015, did not race in NASCAR or other major circuits in 2025, suggesting either a hiatus or a shift in his racing focus.
Ryan Vargas’s absence from the national series also broke his streak since debuting in 2019. Though missing from Xfinity and Trucks, he engaged in NASCAR-owned or -sanctioned competitions, including ARCA, NASCAR Euro Series, and the NASCAR Canada Series, and even participated in Monster Jam events.
Industry Figures Shift to Non-Driving Roles
Clint Bowyer’s 2025 focus remained as a FOX Sports analyst. Tommy Joe Martins also left the track as a driver, dedicating himself full time to co-owning Xfinity’s Alpha Prime Racing after his 2024 Talladega return.
Kyle Weatherman, a frequent fixture with over 23 Xfinity Series races annually since 2020 and a national series regular since 2017, made no starts in 2025. Instead, he managed his business, SCG Glass, based in Charlotte, marking a dramatic professional shift after years as a reliable competitor.
Boris Said, who found success last for Hendrick Motorsports at Watkins Glen in 2024, left national series racing to focus on Trans Am competition alongside his son, Boris Said Jr., for Nitro Motorsports.
RC Enerson maintained his automotive passion but stayed off the NASCAR grid, focusing on his role as chief instructor at the Lucas Oil School of Racing, while others like Patrick Gallagher and Jack Hawksworth turned attention to the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in the GTD class, earning several notable finishes.
International and Regional Racers Transition
Kamui Kobayashi and Daniil Kvyat, both with international racing backgrounds, did not return for part-time NASCAR appearances. Kobayashi’s racing calendar was instead dominated by endurance racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and historic races like Le Mans. Kvyat contested select events in the WeatherTech GTP class for Automobili Lamborghini Squadra Corse, finishing fourth in the season finale at Road Atlanta.
Kenko Miura, indicated early in the year as a possible driver for Akinori Ogata’s Truck Series team, didn’t make a U.S. national series start but kept racing competitively in the NASCAR Euro Series. Ed Jones, a versatile competitor across major series, did not participate in professional racing in 2025, a change from his regular appearances on NASCAR, IMSA, IndyCar, and European racing circuits.
Other Notable Shifts and Semi-Retirements
Chase Purdy left Spire’s Truck team after the 2024 season and stepped away from professional racing, affirming the change with a status update in his social media bio. David Ragan, once again, saw a break in his racing tenure, returning for a Daytona 500 appearance in 2024 with RFK Racing but not competing in 2025. However, he did engage with Ford, testing an electric street vehicle ahead of the Chicago race.
Ryan Reed missed the competition in 2025 but made a guest appearance at Darlington Raceway for NASCAR’s throwback weekend, supporting Joey Gase Motorsports and Greg Van Alst, who produced a paint scheme honoring Reed’s legacy.
Codie Rohrbaugh’s CR7 Motorsports achieved on-track success with Grant Enfinger driving, including seven top-five and 14 top-ten finishes, but Rohrbaugh did not race himself. Cory Roper and his family-owned entry missed the Truck Series entirely, ending a six-year run and despite his virtual presence in the NASCAR 25 video game.
Spotlight on Regional, Local, and Developing Talent
Several drivers redirected their ambitions to local and regional circuits. Jerry Bohlman, after consecutive years part-time in the Truck Series, continued to race locally in Florida. Trey Hutchens, previously entered in the Truck Series with his family’s No. 14, competed on local circuits in 2025, including at Bowman Gray.
Memphis Villarreal, a driver and mechanic with Young’s Motorsports in 2024, devoted his 2025 season to sporadic racing across Southern local tracks. Justin Mondeik also forwent national appearances but maintained activity in various racing series, piloting his No. 44 late model.
Bubba Pollard, who had a presence in the national picture in prior years, returned his focus to late model divisions across the country. Similarly, Landen Lewis is preparing for a comeback, signing with Niece Motorsports for the 2026 Truck Series following a championship run in the CARS Tour.
Family Legacies and Generational Change
Juan Pablo Montoya, the experienced Cup Series competitor, did not participate in national series events this year. His shift is reflected in his self-described status as a former racecar driver, but his involvement in the sport continues through his son, Sebastian, who currently holds a top-ten spot in the Formula 2 standings.
Thad Moffitt, though unable to secure a full-time national series ride, competed in ARCA for Nitro Motorsports, seeking to build on a strong runner-up performance at Talladega earlier in the year and aiming for higher finishes in upcoming races, such as the event in Phoenix.
Manufacturer Shifts, Technical Roles, and Diverse Pursuits
Among drivers seeking opportunities outside the top series, Patrick Gallagher and Jack Hawksworth found success in the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship’s GTD class, with Gallagher earning three fourth-place finishes for Turner Motorsport and Hawksworth taking three runner-up results with Vasser Sullivan Racing.
Mike Skeen participated part-time in IMSA, sharing the GTD class with Triarsi Competizone and Conquest Racing, while drivers like Armani Williams, after debuting in the Xfinity Series in 2024, did not return to professional racing in 2025.
Kyle Keller remained an active competitor, racing full-time in ARCA West for Jan’s Racing Team, including a victory at Tri-City Raceway and entering the final race of the season second in points. Meanwhile, Gus Dean, after years of national and ARCA Menards Series participation, shifted focus to mud truck racing in the Southern Mud Outlaws.
What These Departures Mean for NASCAR’s Future
The departure of these NASCAR drivers who left 2025 marks a turning point, signaling both the passage of legendary eras and the rise of new opportunities for emerging talent. With figures like Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Marco Andretti stepping away, the sport must adapt to the closing of longstanding chapters while maintaining a steady pipeline for rising stars in major and regional circuits. Established names transition to roles off-track as analysts, broadcasters, or team executives, serving to guide the next generation. As NASCAR looks beyond 2025, attention now shifts to who from these departing figures may return, in what capacities they’ll remain part of the sport, and how the changing landscape will shape competitions, fan engagement, and the ongoing story of America’s premier stock-car racing championships.
How cool is this?! @driverRyanReed is out here to support @GregVanAlst35, who is running a throwback to his Lilly Diabetes paint scheme. Like Reed, Van Alst is a type 1 diabetic. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/WLvW19zXag
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) April 5, 2025
