Kyle Larson: Five Possible Landing Spots in 2018
By Asher Fair
No. 10 – Stewart-Haas Racing
The #10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford is currently driven by Danica Patrick, who has severely underachieved in her five seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. In fact, she has yet to finish in the top 5 through 171 races, with her career-high finish being a 6th place effort at Atlanta in 2014.
Also through 171 races, she has finished in the top 10 just seven times. In fact, since her 9th place finish in the eighth race of the 2015 season, she has finished in top 10 in just one of the 81 races since, and that was only a 10th place finish at the beginning of June at Dover.
Driving for one of the top teams in the sport, this lack of productivity will not cut it for long. In fact, it is surprising, at least from a results perspective, that the team has held onto her for this long. All four of her finishes in the championship standings up to this point in time have been from 24th through 28th place, and she currently sits in 29th place, which is higher than just three full-time drivers. She is the lowest driver among top-tier teams.
If she were to retire following the conclusion of the 2017 season, which is a scenario that seems to get increasingly likely by the week, Kyle Larson would make a fantastic replacement. The move would give Larson the 2014 champion Kevin Harvick, the 2004 champion Kurt Busch and Clint Bowyer as teammates, which would likely result in Stewart-Haas Racing having all four of their drivers in the playoffs.
Here is what Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner said about having Kyle Larson come on board as a part of the team:
I would love to have him. You need to ask him that question
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) June 19, 2017
Maybe Kyle Larson going to Stewart-Haas Racing to drive the #10 Ford is not the most likely scenario, but it is certainly a scenario that a lot of people would not mind seeing happen, including Tony Stewart. And anything is possible.