User blog:Ajaxcupseries/The Impending Chris Barrymore Sweepstakes - Who’s the Favorites to Land ASCA Royalty?

The Fallon Corner - August 2025

While Chris Barrymore has reported to the CJ Barrymore Racing shop and is expected to complete the entire 2025 season behind the wheel of the No. 21, the relationship remains FAR from sunshine and rainbows between he and his father’s organization at the moment.

The 27 year old has an opt out ‘driver option’ clause in his current deal that allows Barrymore to void the final year of his contract if he so chooses, effectively making him a free agent as soon as the campaign wraps up December 18th at Belltown.

And considering the strained relationship between the two parties - a divorce seems like the most likely and favorable option for both.

Following the run in between himself and Cameron Atwood on the opening lap in Denver last year, it seems THAT was the final straw that broke the camel’s back in Barrymore actively wanting out of his current situation.

The Computerville native had taken shots in the media before at the 2023 Cup champ, most recently following the thrilling finish the two put on at The Stoneyard earlier that season, and it appeared the relationship between the two was already on thin ice well before this incident.

After all, Barrymore was the team owner’s son, had been with the outfit since 2018, and was making $11M a year. If a CJ Barrymore Racing driver were to be competing for wins and championships on a weekly basis, it was SUPPOSED to be him.

So you can imagine the former Craftsman champ’s shock in 2023 when Cameron Atwood rattled off a record five wins, secured a championship, and a fat new three year contract extension that tied him as the highest paid driver in the sport - all while Barrymore went winless and barely cracked the top 10 in the final standings.

Its understandable why Barrymore believes he needs a fresh start to achieve his true potential in the sport. Not just any driver can score 20 total ASCA victories, a Craftsman championship, and multiple wins at The Stoneyard in less than a decade long span.

It did take Randle Woods leaving his father’s team Ronnie Woods Motorsports for the greener pastures of Toyota and Michael White Racing to win his first Cup title after all.

And as for CJ Barrymore Racing, it could be argued they’d like to put a fresh face behind the wheel of the No. 21 as well.

Outside of Cameron Atwood, the team has not had a driver finish within the top 5 in points since Ryan Dixon in 2018. Throughout his eight year Cup tenure to date, Chris Barrymore has NEVER pulled off that feat; even despite scoring multiple wins in 2022.

Barrymore has failed to live up to the expectations that he’d be a generational talent when he began his Cup career as a 19 year old rookie, only showing flashes of elite level ability here and there but failing to put that together over a full season.

That being said, with the bidding war that Brynn Rennerd’s services received last year leading to him becoming the highest paid driver in the ASCA; a driver with five Cup wins still in his late 20’s during the prime of his career will CERTAINLY demand top dollar hitting the open market.

Here are the top organizations I think will break the bank to bring Barrymore in this silly season:

Dexter Andrews Motorsports
Considering we’ve already discussed the legal issues DAM’s young superstar is dealing with on a previous edition of The Fallon Corner, why wouldn’t the team pony up the big money to bring in another big name to replace him?

While the last time Dexter Andrews tried to hire a CBR driver resulted in an unscheduled retirement a month before the new season, there’s no doubt Barrymore appears to have plenty left in the tank and doesn’t seem to want to give up racing anytime soon.

Also consider the fact that unless Marcus Edwards lights the world on fire his rookie season, Barrymore would step into a role where he would be the #1 driver - an honor that seems to be the key reason for his departure from his dad’s team.

Likelihood: 7/10

Orkedi Bros Racing
With the impending retirement of Nick Orkedi at season’s end, while many have penciled reigning Craftsman champion Graham Daugherty into the No. 2 for 2026, who’s to say they don’t break the bank to get a proven veteran into the seat?

Already having some youth in the organization with Carson Schmidt to carry the team into the future, why not go all in to keep the dynasty afloat while the reigning Cup champ remains in his prime by bringing in a proven race winner that can compete for titles in the right equipment in Chris Barrymore.

While Barrymore’s ego would have to take a backseat to Diego Orkedi, the garage area knows the talent is there on his day. But is it really worth giving up the opportunity to put a potentially generational talent like Daugherty in the seat?

Likelihood: 3/10

Ronnie Woods Motorsports
Entering a contract year, the jury is still out on if former Craftsman champ Ross Jackson can develop into the elite level talent RWM envisioned him to be.

Back to back points finishes of 14th and 17th in his first two Cup seasons along with no wins isn’t exactly giving the team much confidence Jackson will ever develop into a solid driver, let alone a championship contender. On the other hand, eight top 10 finishes in the eight races he finished last year proves the 24 year old has dealt with an astronomical amount of bad luck.

Ronnie Woods has proven he will be as aggressive as it takes to get the drivers he wants (see: Shane Park), and isn’t opposed to poaching his fellow team owner’s sons (see: Doug Bowden). Woods has been VERY open in the past praising Chris Barrymore’s talents - but does he give up on a four time Craftsman winner to do so?

Todd Kidd, Shane Park, Colin Ward, and Barrymore could very well be this team’s lineup in 2026. Talk about a superteam if it happens.

Likelihood: 5/10

Michael White Racing
They broke the bank to bring Brynn Rennerd into the fold - so who’s to say they wouldn’t do the same for Chris Barrymore?

With Braeden Bennett already entering a contract year in his sophomore campaign, a dreaded sophomore slump could very well mean an early trip to the unemployment line for the 24 year old which would make room for Barrymore in the No. 11.

However, coming off a Rookie of the Year winning season, its unlikely MWR will give up on Bennett just yet even if he does produce a down year in 2025.

Likelihood: 2/10

Flores Motorsports
I know, I know, this is a team that just brought in Tommy Woods for the 2025 season. They wouldn’t pull the plug on him after one year…..would they?

If they were thinking about it, considering the fact that the 25 year old is only on a cheap one year deal it’s not exactly hard to ditch him after a rough rookie campaign. Now that he’s out of the No. 20 Craftsman seat making room for hotshot prospect Tony Del Valle II, Flores Motorsports is under no obligation to build around Woods long term.

This is where Chris Barrymore is entered into the mix.

With Michael White Racing likely not having any room for the former Craftsman champ, if team owner Manny Flores wants to take his chances bringing a big name into his team Toyota certainly wouldn’t be against helping make it happen.

Barrymore would get what he wants in the first driver role and a part time Craftsman seat so he can chase Randle Woods’ all time wins record, while the team would finally have a driver that could help them take the next step.

Nobody is talking about Barrymore to the No. 23, but it might just be the most likely outcome of all.

Likelihood: 8/10