NASCAR: Is Leavine Family Racing ready to expand?

As the NASCAR silly season rumors continue to swirl, could Leavine Family Racing have a big role to play in the development of rides for the 2018 season?

The NASCAR Cup Series silly season has been at a fever pitch since the middle of the summer, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. From new drivers in new places, to old faces saying goodbye, there are lots of names, sponsors, colors, and crews on the move ahead of the 2018 season. But could Leavine Family Racing be ready to throw another monkey wrench into the silly season?

Reports have surfaced in the last week that team owner Bob Leavine has considered expanding to two cars for the 2018 season, having already held discussions with veteran drivers. Kasey Kahne was one of those names included in the LFR possibilities, making the move a reality earlier this week. This leaves current driver Michael McDowell without a ride for the 2018 season, at least for now. Could he be in the fold for a second car with LFR?

While owner Bob Leavine has called the chances of his team expanding about “50-50”, some observers believe the chances are greater than that. Jayski has reported that LFR could move their alliance from Richard Childress Racing to Hendrick Motorsports, which could come with support from Rick Hendrick’s partners and businesses. However, the #95 team lost two major sponsors, including primary sponsor Thrivent Financial, to end the 2016 season, but was still able to field a ride for Michael McDowell this year.

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Leavine Family Racing ran a second car briefly in 2016, entering the #59 Chevy for Michael McDowell at Daytona and Homestead when Ty Dillon was sharing the #95 ride. The #59 car would likely make a comeback if a sponsor or sponsors step forward to help foot the bill. McDowell has seen consistent support from partners like K-Love throughout the years, which could help him land a ride for the coming year. Whether that means he returns to Leavine Family Racing or not remains unknown.

NASCAR would certainly benefit from the addition of another car to the LFR stable. Teams continue to move in the contraction direction, with Furniture Row Racing shuttering the #77 team after just one year of competition. Richard Petty Motorsports ran two cars in 2016, then cut down to one car this year, and is looking for help to stay on track for 2018. And with Paul Menard leaving Richard Childress Racing at the end of the year, the future of the #27 car appears bleak. Just one other team, Team Penske, is set to expand their operation in the coming year.

Next: Kasey Kahne to Leavine Family Racing in 2018

What do you think, should Leavine Family Racing expand to two cars in 2018? Who would be a good teammate for Kasey Kahne at LFR? Comment below with your thoughts on team expansion for the coming season, and stay tuned to Beyond The Flag for the latest news from the NASCAR garage.

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