The NASCAR Xfinity Series saw a new team enter the field in 2023. Announced in October of 2022, Truck/ARCA Series team AM Racing decided to enter a fulltime entry into the Xfinity Series. Journeyman driver Brett Moffitt was tabbed to drive for the team. This would give Ford a third team in the Xfinity Series as well. Based on their Truck Series results, it was easy to overlook the team as another back marker that would struggle to even make races. However, the team introduced the “Future Focused” initiative that seemed to indicate their Xfinity runs would be better than their performance in Trucks. In their first season, what grade will AM Racing receive in their Season in Review?
Brett Moffitt – #25
2023 Stat Line:Â 33 Starts – 1 Top-5, 9 Top-10s, 24 Laps Led, Avg Fin 17.9
Crew Chief: Joe Williams
Driver Points Ranking: 15;Â Owner Points Ranking: 17
Notable Results: Top-5 at Chicago; 4 straight Top-11 finishes from Chicago to Pocono
Brett Moffitt was tabbed to drive the newly formed AM Racing Xfinity Series team for the 2023 season. As with many smaller teams in the Xfinity Series, the big question was whether fulltime was actually going to be fulltime. Moffitt is no stranger to being booted out of his ride in the middle of the season. In each of the past three seasons, Moffitt was unable to run the full Xfinity schedule due to a driver change. Usually, sponsorship was the deciding factor for said changes.
Luckily for Moffitt, the funding for his ride was coming straight from the team. Outside of a handful of races, AM Technical Solutions was the primary sponsor for the 25 car. In his first true fulltime season in the Xfinity Series, Moffitt put up solid results. AM Racing was never going to be a true threat to win anywhere other than superspeedways. However, Moffitt made the most out of the equipment he had. His 9 Top-10s were the second most for a driver not with one of the top teams. At a variety of tracks, it was not uncommon to see Moffitt battling to be within the Top-10.
2023 Grade: C+
For the 2023 season, Brett Moffitt put up career highs in most statistical categories. While he was one Top-10 away from matching his best, 2023 saw his best average finish, points ranking, and lead lap finishes. Plus, this was the first time in his career where his average finish (17.9) was an improvement over his average start (18.3). Arguably, this was the best equipment that Moffitt has driven in the Xfinity Series. Although, 4 of Moffitt’s 5 DNFs were due to mechanical failures.
Brett Moffitt got the most out of the equipment he was given. Plus, he kept the car in one piece. Clearly, road courses and intermediates were where Moffitt thrived the most. Those two track types is where 6 of Moffit’s 9 Top-10s occurred. If not for mechanical failures at half the road courses, Moffitt’s average finish was inside the Top-10. Moffitt might be a journeyman driver, but he is demonstrating the talent that deserves fulltime opportunities like he had in 2023.
2024 Outlook
For both Brett Moffitt and the 25 AM Racing car, the future is currently unclear. AM Racing has already announced that Hailie Deegan will be driving for their new 15 team. In numerous reports, their intention is to have two fulltime cars in 2024. However, there has been little to indicate who would be piloting the 25 car.
Will Brett Moffitt return to AM Racing? Based on the results, one would think that a reunion would make sense. However, the usual issue of funding might get in the way. Deegan seems to have funding covered for her ride. Meanwhile, Moffitt had the team essentially sponsoring itself in 2023. The question is whether AM Racing wants a driver with funding or keep the consistency from Moffitt. As for Moffitt, his 2023 results should net him a fulltime ride somewhere (depending on funding).
AM Racing Grade: C-
As a first season, AM Racing had a decent season. However, most of their positive results were from tracks where driver skill matters more than the equipment. Plus, almost all of Brett Moffitt’s DNFs were mechanical issues on road courses. Of course, a brand new team is going to go through some growing pains. The pains from 2023 were minor too, which is promising for the future for AM Racing.
The team is clearly in the second tier of the Xfinity Series. Depending on the track, there is potential to battle with some of the top tiered teams. However, it will take a major jump to see AM Racing battling for race wins and Top-5s outside the superspeedways. A big test will be how well Hailie Deegan performs next season. Especially if they end up with two fulltime teams, it will be a good litmus test for both Deegan and the team. A reunion with Moffitt should only help improve the program (and take pressure off Deegan to carry the team). Can AM Racing make the jump that Big Machine Racing did in 2023? It will be something to watch in 2024.
For other 2023 Season in Review articles, click the link(s) below:
Griffin Fuller
- Cup: Team Penske, Wood Brothers, Stewart-Haas Racing, Trackhouse Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI Racing, RFK Racing, The Money Team/Beard Motorsports
- Xfinity: Stewart-Haas Racing
Robert Cwick – JTG-Daugherty, Live Fast, Front Row (Part 1), Front Row (Part 2), Legacy Motor ClubÂ
Daniel Smith (Statistical Breakdown)
- Cup: Team Penske/Wood Brothers, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI & Legacy Motor Club, RFK/Front Row, Trackhouse/RCR, Stewart-Haas Racing, JTG/Rick Ware/Live Fast, Kaulig/Spire, Final Rankings
- Xfinity: Stewart-Haas/AM Racing, JR Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing/Sam Hunt Racing, RCR/Kaulig Racing, Big Machine/Jeremy Clements/BJ McLeod/Our Motorsports, Jordan Anderson/DGM, RSS Racing, JD Motorsports/SS Green Light Racing, Alpha Prime/Emerling-Gase, Final Rankings
