Key drivers in 2019 NASCAR Silly Season
By Staff Report | Tuesday, September 17, 2019
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The NASCAR Silly Season is in full swing. As drivers and teams begin to announce plans for next year, we're keeping running tabs on those who are key players over the next few months of action.
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Daniel Hemric
2019 ride: No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Monster Energy Series
2020 outlook: RCR announced Sept. 17 that it exercised its option to release Hemric at the end of the 2019 season. This was Hemric's first full-time Monster Energy Series season with the organization. He was previously a full-time RCR driver in the Xfinity Series from 2017-18.
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Matt DiBenedetto
2019 ride: No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota, Monster Energy Series
2020 outlook: What a turn of events. DiBenedetto posted on Twitter in early August that Leavine Family Racing would go in a different direction for 2020. It didn't take him long to land elsewhere -- he'll drive the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford next year.
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Paul Menard
2019 ride: 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, Monster Energy Series
2020 outlook: Menard and Wood Brothers Racing announced the driver would retire after the 2019 season.
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Erik Jones
2019 ride: No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Monster Energy Series
2020 outlook: Jones' extension with Joe Gibbs Racing was announced on Sept. 6 -- just days after his Darlington win locked Jones into the NASCAR Playoffs for the second straight season.
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Christopher Bell
2019 ride: No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, NASCAR Xfinity Series
2020 outlook: Bell is the crown jewel in the Toyota driver pipeline, and he has six Xfinity Series wins in 24 starts this season. It is expected he will be bumped to the premier series.
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Kurt Busch
2019 ride: No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet, Monster Energy Series
2020 outlook: When Busch joined Ganassi in the offseason, the team announced it was a one-year deal. Given how competitive the veteran has been, though, he may be in line for an extension.
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David Ragan
2019 ride: No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford, Monster Energy Series
2020 outlook: Ragan announced in August he would step down from full-time NASCAR competition at the end of the season, opening a ride at Front Row Motorsports.
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Tyler Reddick
2019 ride: No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, NASCAR Xfinity Series
2020 outlook: One year after a surprise series championship, Reddick has emerged as a superstar. Team owner Richard Childress said he thinks Reddick will be in a Monster Energy Series ride in 2020, and the team also announced Daniel Hemric would not return in the No. 8 Monster Energy Series ride.
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Ross Chastain
2019 ride: No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
2020 outlook: Chastain may top 80 total NASCAR national series starts this season, and he has emerged as a Gander Trucks title contender. Expect his name to be linked to numerous rides.
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Cole Custer
2019 ride: No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, NASCAR Xfinity Series
2020 outlook: Custer exploded for five wins in the first 17 races of the season, and he has come into his own as a top prospect. He's committed to Stewart-Haas Racing, but in which series?
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Clint Bowyer
2019 ride: No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, Monster Energy Series
2020 outlook: Bowyer is like his teammates who follow him on this list -- if Stewart-Haas Racing is set on bumping Custer to the Monster Energy Series, it means one of the veterans will be looking for a new ride.
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Daniel Suarez
2019 ride: No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, Monster Energy Series
2020 outlook: Suarez is like his teammates on this list -- if Custer is earmarked for an SHR seat in the Monster Energy Series, a veteran will be odd man out.
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Aric Almirola
2019 ride: No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, Monster Energy Series
2020 outlook: Almirola's situation resembles that of his teammates -- if Stewart-Haas Racing promotes Custer to the premier series, whose seat will he take?
