Five to Watch: Possible candidates to replace Jimmie Johnson

The 2020 season is Jimmie Johnson's final full-time year as driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Now that we're in the throes of summer, before long it will be time for Hendrick Motorsports to fill the seat of the No. 48, one of the most iconic rides in NASCAR.

Here are five potential candidates to watch. Of note: This list was initially published in December and has been updated.

Erik Jones

Hendrick has dipped into the Toyota camp before for a prospect (hello, William Byron). Would the team do it again? If so, Jones, whose run with Joe Gibbs Racing is ending after the 2020 season, makes sense. Jones is only 24 years old and has won at the Cup level. It wasn't long ago when some were comparing Jones to a young Kyle Busch -- who also drove for Hendrick Motorsports early in his career.

Bubba Wallace

Richard Petty Motorsports has reportedly offered Wallace a stake in the team should he stay in their camp, but it's intriguing to think of what Wallace might accomplish in Hendrick equipment. With Wallace's position as one of the sport's leaders on social justice issues, a run with Hendrick could give him an even bigger platform from which to launch.

William Byron

Byron, 22, took a leap in performance during his sophomore campaign in 2019 (although he hasn't made the jump many expected in Year 3). Of every driver in NASCAR, he may emulate Johnson the most, though. From his unquestioned ability to being a well-liked ambassador of the sport, even at a young age, Byron seems like Johnson 2.0. That he's already in the Hendrick stable means sponsor Ally, which will sponsor every race on the No. 48 through 2023, could begin to build and strengthen a relationship.

Chase Briscoe

Briscoe wasn't on our initial list, but he stands out as a legitimate candidate for a NASCAR Cup Series ride next year after winning five of the first 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2020. There likely will be competition for Briscoe's services -- including with his current team, Stewart-Haas Racing, which fields four Cup Series entries. He has the look of a future superstar.

Corey LaJoie

LaJoie has a reputation of being an excellent, natural-born racer who gets the absolute most out of his equipment. His #StackingPennies hashtag on Twitter indicates consistent small progress at Go FAS Racing. Getting a shot in Hendrick equipment could turn LaJoie into a contender -- and we know he wants the ride, as evidenced by a handwritten letter he presented to team owner Rick Hendrick earlier this year.