Editor’s Note: The following are completely made-up trades around the fantasy of NASCAR having a trading deadline
Silly Season is a time where lots of rumors and speculation take place as it is really the only time that drivers change teams. And while those rumors are running rampant throughout the garage, other sports have a trade deadline — usually around the middle to two-thirds mark of a season — that leads to additional speculation and movement. Baseball’s such deadline is July 31st and has already seen one giant domino fall in the form of crosstown rivals in Chicago connecting on a deal involving starting pitcher Jose Quintana.
That got us to thinking: What if NASCAR had a trade deadline or allowed driver trades? What follows are some deals in this made up, fantasy world of driver trading.
SILLY SEASON: Bowman in the No. 88 | Jones in the No. 20 | Blaney-Menard movement
Trade No. 1: Change of scenery deal that brings a driver back to familiar turf
Joe Gibbs Racing gets: Joey Logano
Team Penske gets: Denny Hamlin
Why: Hamlin’s recent hot streak (four top-four finishes in his last six races) makes this deal a little tougher to make, but there is still a big benefit to it. Penske seems to be in a rut, speed wise. Since the Talladega race, the two-car organization has led just 95 laps in 10 races. Hamlin, who has been at JGR his whole career and notched 30 wins, could see the same late career surge that Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth had upon moving to different organizations. On the JGR side, yes those early team meetings might be awkward for a bit, but long term “Sliced Bread” is solid. This is a bit of a buy low move that has high upside as JGR transitions a bit in terms of personnel with the recent moves up to the top series of Daniel Suarez (in 2017) and Erik Jones (to JGR in 2018).
Trade No. 2: The four-team extravaganza
Stewart-Haas Racing gets: Rights to Carl Edwards, Aric Almirola
Joe Gibbs Racing gets: Ryan Reed
Richard Petty Motorsports gets: Trevor Bayne
Roush Fenway Racing gets: Kurt Busch
Why: Where to begin? The headliner in this one is a driver who isn’t currently turning laps in NASCAR. SHR nabs the rights to Edwards, should he decide to return. With Busch and Danica Patrick not locked in for 2018, SHR could certainly tempt him into returning. A Kevin Harvick-Clint Bowyer-Edwards led trio would be fascinating from day one. Almirola takes over the No. 41 and gets a chance to show what he can do in top equipment, even if just for a trial basis, since his contract is up at the end of the season. JGR gets value from an asset not currently driving by acquiring Ryan Reed, who slots into one of their XFINITY Series cars full-time with sponsorship, setting up a likely Reed-Matt Tifft-Christopher Bell trio to compete for the XFINITY title in ’18. To replace Almirola, Petty gets Bayne, sticking with a driver in the Ford family that brings significant sponsorship to the table as well. And lastly, Roush brings Kurt Busch back to the organization he won a championship with in 2004 and gives Ricky Stenhouse Jr. the most accomplished teammate in the Monster Energy Series he has had since Edwards. Moving Reed also opens the door for Roush to stick NASCAR Next product Ty Majeski in a full-time XFINITY ride for the coming season.
Trade No. 3: The future for right now
Hendrick Motorsports gets: Martin Truex Jr.
Furniture Row Racing gets: William Byron, Kasey Kahne
Why: With seven wins over the past season-and-a-half, Truex has the second-most victories in this time (his new Hendrick teammate-in this scenario– Jimmie Johnson has the most with eight). That success, though, brings a high acquisition price and that comes in the form of Byron. The 19-year-old has already racked up 10 NASCAR national series wins. The deal is, in essence, an instant title contender for a driver that could set up Furniture Row Racing for multiple championships down the line with his upside and future growth. In addition, Hendrick sends the Washington native and recent Indianapolis race winner Kahne closer to his home as Furniture Row seeks to keep its two-car operation intact for future seasons with Erik Jones moving to JGR in 2018. The Kahne departure would also open the door for Hendrick to pursue Matt Kenseth for the No. 5.