The silly season for NASCAR can prove to be almost as entertaining as the season itself. It's always interesting to see different faces in different places. This "silly-season" has already been interesting with Dale Earnhardt. Jr. retiring, Alex Bowman replacing him, Matt Kenseth being ousted at Joe Gibbs Racing, Penske forming a third team and the looming question as to what will happen to Danica Patrick. So I'm going to attempt to play matchmaker here and predict what the 2018 Monster Energy Cup Series field will look like.
First off I'm going to make a few predictions: Danica Patrick will leave Stewart-Haas after this year and return to Indycar Racing. Sponsors are pulling from Danica and the results just don't warrant keeping her. I also think that Matt Kenseth will end up retiring. Kenseth is 45 years old and appears to be past his prime. There might not be a ride for Kenseth.
DISCLAIMER-I didn't include the #95 Leavine Family Racing Team or the #72 Tri-Star Motorsports Team. I personally wouldn't be surprised if both teams sold or leased their charter to another team.
#1 CAR (Chip Ginassi Racing)-Jamie McMurray
McMurray could become a free agent at the end of the year, but given his strong run in 2017, I don't see why Chip Ginnassi would part ways with him.
#2 CAR (Team Penske)-Brad Keselowski
Keselowski just signed an extension with Penske this week, so it's safe to say that he's not going anywhere.
#3 CAR (RCR)-Austin Dillon
As long as Grandpa is footing the bill, Austin Dillon will have a ride at RCR, whether his performance justifies it or not.
#4 CAR (Stewart-Haas Racing)-Kevin Harvick
Harvick is signed through at least the 2019 season.
#5 CAR (Hendrick Motorsports)-William Byron
This is the first bold prediction of this post, Kahne's win at Indy doesn't save him his ride, because sponsors are still backing out. Byron despite being only 19 years old appears to be the real deal. Hendrick has a history of wasting no-time giving young kids top notch rides. He did so with Brian Vickers, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott.
#6 CAR (Roush-Fenway Racing)-Trevor Bayne
Bayne is under contract through 2019 and has shown some flashes of promise this year. I don't think he's going anywhere.
#10 CAR (Stewart-Haas Racing)-Kasey Kahne
As I mentioned earlier, I don't think Danica will be in NASCAR in 2018, nor should she be. This seems like a good fit for Kahne. Him and Stewart seem to be good friends and this still puts him on a serviceable team. I personally think there's pry one other name that Tony Stewart would rather have, but I don't think he will be available.
#11 CAR (Joe Gibbs Racing)-Denny Hamlin
Hamlin is locked up through 2020, so he's not going anywhere. I have a strange feeling that he's going to retire at JGR.
#12 CAR (Team Penske)-Ryan Blaney
This one was just announced yesterday, Blaney makes the leap over from Wood Brothers to jump into a new Team Penske Car.
#13 CAR (Germain Racing)-Brandon Jones
I don't think Ty Dillon will be in this car in 2018. Brandon Jones has held his own in the Trucks and Xfinity Series. This seems like a good fit.
#14 CAR (Stewart-Haas Racing)-Clint Bowyer
Barring something crazy happening, Bowyer isn't going anywhere
#17 CAR (Roush-Fenway Racing)-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
This has been a breakout year for Stenhouse. No way he leaves
#18 CAR (Joe Gibbs Racing)-Kyle Busch
This one is a no-brainer.
#19 CAR (Joe Gibbs Racing)-Daniel Suarez
Suarez has struggled to be consistent, but he's shown flashes of promises.
#20 CAR (Joe Gibbs Racing)-Erik Jones
This is another move that's already been announced as Jones will make the move to JGR after spending his first season at Furniture Row Racing.
#21 CAR (Wood Brothers)-Paul Menard
Let's be honest, the only reason Menard got this ride is because he brings a sponsor.
#22 CAR (Penske Racing)-Joey Logano
Logano is locked up through 2023
#24 CAR (Hendrick Motorsports)-Chase Elliott
This one is a lock.
#27 CAR (Richard Childress Racing)-Ty Dillon
I wouldn't be surprised to see the number change, but Ty Dillon will end up running with his grandpa's team. They should change their name from Richard Childress Racing to Spoiled Unproven Grandsons Racing.
#31 CAR (Richard Childress Racing)-Ryan Newman
Newman should keep this ride unless Richard Childress has another grandson that none of us have ever heard about.
#34 CAR (Front Row Motorsports)-Landon Cassill
FRM's plans are uncertain right now, they could possibly expand to three teams. Not sure Cassill stays with this car number, but I look for him to stay with FRM.
#37 CAR (JTG RACING)-Chris Buescher
If Ty Dillon doesn't go to RCR, Buescher might, but I think he stays put
#38 CAR (Front Row Motorsports)-Bubba Wallace
Lots of moving parts in this one. Front Row Motorsports could expand to three teams and field cars for Cassill, Wallace and David Ragan, but it also sounds like Richard Petty Motorsports could field another team and give the ride to Wallace. However, in this scenario I think Wallace spends a year at Front Row Motorsports the same way Chris Buescher did.
#41 CAR (Stewart-Haas Racing)-Kurt Busch
I don't think Busch is going anywhere, however that could change depending on sponsorship
#42 CAR (Chip Ginassi Racing)-Kyle Larson
Sounds like Larson is content on staying with Ginassi. Chip should thank him. He's going to bring a ton of good publicity to his race team.
#43 CAR (Richard Petty Motorsports)-Aric Almirola
There's a chance that he's replaced by Bubba Wallace, and there's also a chance that given his recent back injury, he decides to walk away.
#47 CAR (JTG Racing)-A.J. Allmendinger
All signs point that Allmendinger will return in 2018.
#48 CAR (Hendrick Motorsports)-Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie will retire at Hendrick. No doubt.
#77 CAR (Furniture Row Racing)-Christopher Bell
I think Stewart-Haas Racing would love to have Bell, but due to his affiliation with JGR, I think he ends up in this ride much like Erik Jones did. Bell is the real deal, he reminds me a lot of Kyle Larson
#78 CAR (Furniture Row Racing)-Martin Truex. Jr.
Truex isn't going anywhere.
#88 CAR (Hendrick Motorsports)-Alex Bowman
This move has already been made official. Bowman will replace Dale Earnhardt. Jr. He showed flashes of promise while assuming this ride last year while Dale was injured.
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