NASCAR

2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season: Matt DiBenedetto to Viking Motorsports, Greg Van Alst to Joey Gase Motorsports

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published19 Dec 2024

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xfinity viking racing hances (1)

Viking Motorsports has been busy.  

The fledgling NASCAR Xfinity Series franchise finalized a big offseason change, while retaining internal stability and adding proven outside assistance.  

Viking will field Chevrolets instead of Fords in 2025. Driver Matt DiBenedetto agreed to return to the No. 38 machine and should benefit from the garage’s new technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, according to RacingNews.  

DiBenedetto competed in 28 of 33 events last season, registering three top-10s and led one lap. The team’s best finish was a pair of P7s, at Iowa Speedway and Michigan International Speedway.  

Qualifying could be an area of offseason focus for DiBenedetto’s team. Only once, at Loudon Motor Speedway, started better than the outside of the fifth lane. 

DiBenedetto’s second-half performance last season reportedly put the former Cup Series pilot in position to lead the new organization long-term. 

Joey Gase Motorsports Inks Driver Greg Van Alst 

Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, an organization known for developing young drivers, went in the opposite direction with its choice to drive in a majority of Xfinity Series events next season. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based team plans to field two machines and Van Alst, a 43-year-old rookie, will pilot the No. 35 Chevrolet. 

“I am thrilled about this opportunity to compete in most of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season with Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen,” said Van Alst, who will open with the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 15. 

A regular on the ARCA Menards Series last season, Van Alst competed in seven series events over the past two seasons. Driving for SS-Greenlight Racing, his best finish was P26 at Martinsville Speedway. He compiled one top-five and seven top-10 finishes on the ARCA circuit. 

Van Alt captured the 2023 ARCA opener at Daytona, his lone NASCAR win.