Beyond the Flag
Fansided

NASCAR: Five Drivers To Replace Dale Earnhardt Jr.

By Matt Lovisa

Mar 5, 2017; Hampton, GA, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (2) leads NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (42) around turn four during the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2017; Hampton, GA, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski (2) leads NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (42) around turn four during the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Nov 18, 2016; Homestead, FL, USA; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver William Byron celebrates after winning the Ford Ecoboost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; Homestead, FL, USA; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver William Byron celebrates after winning the Ford Ecoboost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

William Byron

Currently: Hendrick Motorsports (Xfinity Series), No. 9 Chevrolet

Why it will happen: After bursting on to the scene in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2016, William Byron turned his magnificent rookie year into a drive with Hendrick Motorsports for the 2017 season. Byron drove for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2016 and scored seven wins, three poles, 11 top-five finishes and 16 top-ten finishes in 23 races. He did everything but win the championship. Pretty impressive for a rookie.

Hendrick Motorsports moved Chase Elliott to the Cup Series after just two seasons in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series. Through five races this season, Byron has one pole, two top-five and five top-ten finishes already. In a sport where young superstars are hard to find, Byron sure looks like one on a continued path of growth. Not to mention, Byron comes with sponsorship from Liberty University already in hand.

Why it won’t happen: The sample size on Byron is very, very small. Just one full-time season in a top NASCAR series is cause for concern. The Cup Series schedule is long, 36 races across different tracks, some of which Byron has yet to race on. The timing just doesn’t make sense for Hendrick Motorsports to run Byron into the Cup Series when they could possibly wait until the end of the 2018 season when Kasey Kahne’s contract is set to expire.

Home/Dale Earnhardt Jr