NASCAR: Which Four-Car Team is Downsizing?

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – JUNE 29: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 UniFirst Chevrolet, talks with Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on June 29, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

Hendrick Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is retiring and needs a replacement in the No. 88 or No. 25 if Rick Hendrick decides to go back to that number. Sponsorship has not been confirmed for Kasey Kahne in the No. 5 for the 2018 season. Chase Elliott just signed an extension and so did Jimmie Johnson.

So that leaves two options. The No. 88 finds a replacement and the No. 5 car is eliminated or the No. 88 car is eliminated and the No. 5 car stays. Many believe that Alex Bowman is the driver who deserves the No. 88 ride after filling in for Dale Earnhardt Jr. last season.

There has also been a lot of discussion around William Byron eventually replacing Kasey Kahne in the No. 5 after the 2018 season. Hendrick Motorsports could shut down the No. 5 car for one season and then bring Byron up to the Cup Series with sponsorship from Liberty University in 2019.

At the same time, Hendrick could decide to move up Byron in 2018 with sponsorship and move Bowman to the Xfinity Series in one of the JR Motorsports cars. This would seem a little less likely given that Bowman has stayed around as substitute and test driver for Hendrick Motorsports for the 2017 season.

It all comes down to sponsorship for this team. If no sponsorship is available for the No. 5 car with Kasey Kahne and Nationwide sticks around on the No. 88, then it could be Alex Bowman in the Cup Series with Kahne on the outside looking in.

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