NASCAR Cup Series: 2019 Silly Season driver lineup prediction
By Asher Fair
Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 19. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. DANIEL SUAREZ. #19.
It is no secret that Daniel Suarez, who guaranteed that he would make this season’s playoffs, has underwhelmed since he took over the driving duties of the #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota last year after Carl Edwards announced that he would be stepping away from the sport. However, he has shown flashes of potential more and more frequently, so if that continues, Joe Gibbs Racing will have no reason to cut ties with him before next season.
Even if it doesn’t continue, it may make sense to give him another season to try to prove himself. If that doesn’t work out, Toyota drivers Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series or Noah Gragson of Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series could possibly replace him. Neither one of those drivers absolutely needs his ride in 2019.
#20. . No. 20. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. ERIK JONES
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Erik Jones is in his first season driving the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota after he replaced Matt Kenseth following the conclusion of the 2017 season. While he had a slow start to the season, he has since picked it up. He is currently on a roll that includes his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory at Daytona International Speedway.
With Jones having secured his first career Cup Series playoff berth thanks to his first career Cup Series victory, it will be fun to see how he handles the rest of the season with those monkeys off of his back. Given how hot he has been lately, it would not be surprising to see him contend for this year’s championship. Even if he doesn’t do so, you can expect to see him back behind the wheel of the #20 Toyota contending for championships for many years to come.
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Is this how you see the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup shaping out among the sport’s top six teams? If not, which drivers do you believe will drive for which teams next year?