2024 NASCAR New Year’s Resolutions: Kaulig Racing, JTG Daugherty

It is still the start of the year, and that means NASCAR New Year’s resolutions – this time for Kaulig Racing and JTG Daugherty. I’ve combined these two due to the small size of their teams. With JTG fielding just one car and Kaulig with one full-time driver and an All-Star car, it makes sense.

There are a few things that each of these teams can do to improve in 2024. For JTG Daugherty, it is hard to do after winning the Daytona 500. Not only that, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took a step up across the whole season.

As for Kaulig Racing, they need to focus on not falling back too far. The Cup Series program appears to be taking a step back. So, they need to prove people wrong and come out swinging.

Kaulig Racing Resolutions:
– Show you made the right decisions
– Give Daniel Hemric the best chance to succeed
– Be honest about performance
– Pick up a win

JTG Daugherty Resolutions:
– Build off of 2023 momentum
– Put Stenhouse in position to win
– Make the playoffs
– Win a race

Kaulig Racing is going to have to show they made the right decisions in the offseason. Daniel Hemric isn’t the most exciting driver ever. Get a win from that All-Star car with AJ Allmendinger and whoever else drives it, and everything will be fine.

As for JTG Daugherty, 2023 was a great year. Daytona 500 champions, and Stenhouse’s best season since 2017 with Roush. Build off that momentum and get back to the playoffs, either on points or with a checkered flag.

Kaulig Racing, JTG Daugherty Driver Resolutions

Now that we’ve got the team goals down, let’s get into the driver goals. In this case, they are going to be very similar to the team goals at large. However, there are specific things that these drivers can do to ensure they have a good 2024 season.

AJ Allmendinger/Kaulig All-Star Car Resolutions:
– Show you can still win in Cup (Allmendinger)
– Make the most of your opportunities
– Force Kaulig to make you full-time in 2025
– Audition for other full-time rides

Allmendinger needs to show he can win. He won at the Roval in 2023 and another road course victory could go a long way to getting him back in this ride full-time. Then again, he’s only going to be another year older in 2025.

As for the other drivers in this car, this is your audition, your interview. Just like Allmendinger, show you can race full-time at the highest level. Give Kaulig a hard decision.

Daniel Hemric Resolutions:
– Prove that this was a good decision
– Finish better than 26th overall (Justin Haley in 2023)
– 5+ top-10s, 3+ top-5s
– Avoid DNFs at all costs

There is a simple way for Hemric to show he belongs – finish better than Justin Haley did in 2023. So, top-25 in the points. Pick up as many top-5s and top-10s as you can, and avoid DNFs. Corey LaJoie had a career-best season in large part thanks to his lack of DNFs.

Hemric can do that for Kaulig Racing in 2024 if he is careful.

Rick Stenhouse Jr. Resolutions:
– Don’t get caught up trying to repeat history
– Do what made you successful in 2023
– Be consistent on repeat tracks
– Get some momentum going

In 2024, Stenhouse Jr. needs to focus on what made him successful. He raced great at Daytona last year, but let’s be honest, it was a little bit to a lot of luck that led to his win. Another issue Stenhouse had in 2023 was not being consistent on repeat tracks. P8 at Martinsville-1, P19 at Martinsville-2. P17 at Atlanta-1, P10 at Atlanta-2.

Finally, create momentum and rally off a few top-10 finishes in a row. Racing is a lot about momentum, it can change your season. I’d like to see that from the 47 team.