What\u2019s Happening?<\/p>\n
With the 2025 NASCAR Season in the books and 2026 on the way, it\u2019s time to take a look back at some of the 2025 free agent signings that paid off for teams, even though they may have been overlooked entering the new year.<\/p>\n
NASCAR Cup Series \u2013 Ryan Preece<\/p>\n
RFK Racing took a step in a new direction in 2025, leasing a charter from Rick Ware Racing to field a third full-time car for the coming season.<\/p>\n
To drive the car, the team turned to former Stewart-Haas Racing driver Ryan Preece, who, despite success in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, had struggled at the sport\u2019s highest level.<\/p>\n
Though this seemed like a lost opportunity to find an underdog driver or new prospect, Preece would not disappoint in 2026, scoring career highs in nearly every statistical category and falling just shy of a playoff spot on points.<\/p>\n
While Preece (and RFK as a whole) missed out on the playoffs, for the first year of a new car, Preece outperformed RFK co-owner Brad Keselowski and also had the second-best average finish of his four former SHR teammates.<\/p>\n
In 2026, a win would be the obvious next step for Preece, something that RFK\u2019s roster failed to do in 2025; nonetheless, the perceived risk of signing Preece paid off for RFK.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Happening?<\/p>\n
After months of speculation, RFK Racing announced on Tuesday morning that it will expand to three full-time cars for\u2026<\/p>\n
NASCAR Xfinity Series \u2013 Sam Mayer<\/p>\n
Amid the reshuffling of SHR into the Haas Factory Team, HFT retained SHR\u2019s two-car NASCAR Xfinity Series operation, bringing in a refreshed roster with Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed.<\/p>\n
At one point in his career, Mayer was looked at as a potential star for Chevrolet, and even though he won often in three years at JR Motorsports, the now series veteran failed to find consistency.<\/p>\n
The 2025 season would ultimately result in Mayer flipping his past performance in the series, only winning one race, but scoring a career-high average finish of 11.5, and sitting near the top of the standings for a majority of the season.<\/p>\n
Mayer will be back in the No. 41 in 2026 and back in the Chevrolet camp. While he seems like a championship contender, more consistency and less on-track drama could take him to new heights in the newly named NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series.<\/p>\n
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series \u2013 Giovanni Ruggiero<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to call a rookie of the year underrated, but with no prior experience in NASCAR\u2019s National Series, what Gio Ruggiero did in 2025 cannot be overlooked by NASCAR fans.<\/p>\n
With the promotion of Taylor Gray to Joe Gibbs Racing, TRICON Garage brought on Giovanni Ruggiero to drive their No. 17.<\/p>\n
While fans may not have known much about Ruggiero, the young driver had just scored a top ride with a five-truck operation that had a winning record.<\/p>\n
Despite their large field of trucks, only one driver had ever won at TRICON (formerly DGR-Crosley) under the TRICON banner, Corey Heim. Fortunately, Ruggiero would break this streak for the team\u2019s four other entries in 2025.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old would start the season out racing mid-pack, with a 13.6 average finish through the first 13 races. But, in the final 12 races of 2025, Ruggiero turned on the jets, outperforming several playoff drivers with a win at Talladega, riding atop five top-fives, six top-tens, and an 11.1 average finish.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Next season, the playoffs would be a clear sign of improvement from Ruggiero, but with Corey Heim out of the picture and his improved consistency, there is a world where Ruggiero makes a run at the title.<\/p>\n
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