NASCAR Silly Season and News

MAJOR SEAT OPENINGS......hmmm

Harvick?
Newman?
Johnson?
Kurt Busch?
Denny Hamlin?

 

Why would Hamlin's seat open up? He's having the best year of his career right now.

 

Looking at contract situations, top line rides that could be available for the start of 2021 are:

1 - Busch still unsigned could do another one year deal
10 - Smithfield and Almirola are confirmed for 2020
11 - Hamlin contract through 2020
14 - Bowyer unsigned could do a one year deal for 2020
20 - Jones signed a one year extension
21 - DiBenedetto signed a one year deal
41 - Suarez uncertain future now but has mentioned there are options on his deal for 2020
42 - Larson contract through 2020
43 - Bubba signed through 2020
48 - Johnson is signed through 2020 and everyone seems to think he should be about done so may be pressured out (one added note, Ally said in there sponsorship announcement they will be on the 48 until 2023 regardless of who is driving, interesting wording there)
88 - Bowman just lost Nationwide and is signed through 2020
95 - Assuming Bell is on a one year deal to give JGR the option to bring him in house for 2021

All of these have drivers with expiring contracts in 2020 or unknown situations currently. And you can't account for any unexpected changes like injuries or retirements.

 

Hamlin has had back issues in the past even though there hasn't been much discussion about it it could always be a reason to step away. Also like I have mentioned right after you supposedly his contract may be up after 2020.

 

Stenhouse to JTG for 2020
https://twitter.com/jtgracing/status/1184533154268401664?s=21

 

Why?

 

Mediocre driver, medicore car. Perfect.

 

I'm a big fan of Stenhouse but I was really hoping that ride went to Hemric. Hope he proves everyone wrong next season.

 

Stenhouse is underrated as hell and the haters are laughable.

 

History is proving you wrong

 

Imagine if everyone wrote off Logano after he got the boot at JGR....

Chemistry is very underestimated. If you don't gel with people, you won't succeed. Hope the best for him, he's pretty exciting to watch.

 

put it into this perspective.... 2020 is the last year with the current package; teams get a reset in 2021 with a new car that is suppose to use talent over mechanical grip. Stenhouse, KyBusch, Larson are just 3 that I'll mention that have car control with Stenhouse and Larson running dirt. I feel like he'll be better in 2021 but next year spent as gelling with the team

 

This. You speak of history. History is full of change where a driver goes from zero to hero or vise versa in a single season. Team chemistry, ability to translate a package (be it mechanical or aero), being able to work the points, and luck are all just as important as talent. Ricky has talent. He has back to back championships in the Xfinity series. I get it 100%, he has not worked out so well in Cup (though at least he has won...lucky wins but wins non the less), but he has spent that entire time with one team. Moving around will be good for him.

I'm not really a fan of Stenhouse, but it drives me nuts when fans write off a driver as 'bad' because they don't win all the time.

 

This^ Many solid drivers have come and gone without getting wins, or regular success, but that does not mean they are bad. People act like the top level should have the best of the best, drivers who string together win after win. and they try to promote it that way, but it never has. There will always be haves and have not's, and sometimes one change is enough to make a driver *click.* Many solid drivers have rarely won cup races, whether equipment, like J.D. McDuffie, or Buddy Arrington, or age, such as Dick Trickle. Others like Paul Menard may not have the winning edge, but can still put together solid runs, and bring cars home in one peice. And there are just as many if not more cup win caliber drivers running local short tracks that will never get the chance. It all boils down to being with the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

 

Kaulig Racing hauler involved in an incident on the way to Kansas Speedway.

https://twitter.com/KauligRacing/status/1184632156343197696?s=09

 

And there was a fire in one of the Cup haulers on Saturday. Quite the weird week.

 

Doesn't surprise me, but it's probably a little premature to put him in an Xfinity ride. He is incredibly talented, but I worry when they put an extremely young person right into the hard stuff right away that they will use up that talent too quickly