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NASCAR: Early Silly Season Driver Lineup for 2018

By Asher Fair

SPARTA, KENTUCKY - JULY 08: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Children's Hospital Chevrolet, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 8, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
SPARTA, KENTUCKY - JULY 08: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Children's Hospital Chevrolet, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 8, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images) /
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SONOMA, CA – JUNE 23: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 DeWalt Flexvolt Toyota, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
SONOMA, CA – JUNE 23: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 DeWalt Flexvolt Toyota, drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23, 2017 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota

Denny Hamlin hasn’t won a race yet in 2017, but he has been solid as usual. After recently signing a contract extension to remain with Joe Gibbs Racing, there is nothing to indicate that one of the more underrated drivers in NASCAR will not be in the #11 car yet again in 2018.. Joe Gibbs Racing. Toyota. DENNY HAMLIN. #11

Joe Gibbs Racing. Toyota. KYLE BUSCH. #18. Kyle Busch doesn’t have a win yet in 2017, but he is still in 3rd in the championship standings. In fact, this whole Joe Gibbs Racing team is winless in 2017 but is still arguably the fastest team in the sport. Busch isn’t going to be leaving the #18 car in 2018. Not a chance.

#19. Young rookie Daniel Suarez has shown promise in his rookie season with four top 10 finishes. He has pretty much done what was expected of him in his first season at NASCAR’s top level. While he hasn’t won a race yet this season, neither have any of his teammates. Joe Gibbs Racing needs to hang onto this star in the making.. Joe Gibbs Racing. Toyota. DANIEL SUAREZ

Toyota. ERIK JONES. #20. Matt Kenseth, who currently drives the #20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, will not be doing so in the 2018 season. Erik Jones, who currently drives the #77 car for Furniture Row Racing, the team that has an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing, was just announced as his replacement. Jones drives the #20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing the Xfinity Series, so the move only makes sense, especially with the seat of the #20 car in the Cup Series being open to begin with.. Joe Gibbs Racing

Next: Top 5 Candidates To Replace Danica Patrick in 2018

Which drivers do you think will end up with which teams in the 2018 season? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to follow me on Instagram as well as Beyond the Flag on both Instagram and Twitter. Finally, don’t forget to follow along with Beyond the Flag for the latest news, opinions and analysis stemming from a number of different motorsports series. You don’t want to miss any of it.

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