NASCAR: StarCom Racing and Jeffrey Earnhardt part ways
By Alex Herbst
After just five races in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, StarCom Racing and Jeffrey Earnhardt have parted ways.
Changes come often to driver lineups during the offseason in NASCAR, and that included StarCom Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Derrike Cope moved off the track, while Jeffrey Earnhardt moved into the #00 Chevrolet.
But just five races into the 2018 season, the young son of Kerry Earnhardt is out of a ride, splitting with StarCom after the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California on Sunday.
The news was confirmed on Facebook by Earnhardt’s team and on Twitter by StarCom Racing:
"JEI Crew here. Wanted to let everyone know that tonight was Jeffrey’s last race with the 00 team. They are wonderful people and we’re very appreciative to have had the opportunity to work with them and begin the 2018 season. Jeffrey & JEI will be exploring other options and working on some new sponsorship programs. There’s some very exciting news on the horizon and we’re confident you’ll be pleased with the outcome. Strategic pause time."
We want to thank @JEarnhardt1 for his time with SCR, we have mutually agreed to move in different directions at this time. It was a pleasure working together & we wish success to Jeffrey & his team. Stay tuned this week for more information on who will be at the wheel of the 00!
— StarCom Racing (@StarcomRacing) March 19, 2018
Things were looking up for both Earnhardt and StarCom Racing at the beginning of the 2018 season. The team purchased a charter from Richard Childress Racing, securing a spot in every Cup Series race going forward.
They also picked up a sponsor not associated with their parent company for the first handful of races in VRX Simulators. However, it appears Earnhardt’s ride may have been contingent on additional funding, as he is now without a ride heading into Martinsville.
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StarCom Racing does not have to look far for a new driver, though they do not plan to name a replacement for Earnhardt at Martinsville until later this week.
Derrike Cope, who drove for the team in their first two races in 2017, manages the operation and could be the logical replacement in the #00 car. Other potential drivers include occasional Cup Series drivers Joey Gase, Ryan Sieg, and Josh Wise. The team had potential plans to field a second car in select races in 2018. There is no word yet on how Earnhardt’s departure could impact those plans.
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Will Jeffrey Earnhardt find another ride in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2018? Who will be his replacement at StarCom Racing?