NASCAR: Noah Gragson tipped to sign with JR Motorsports in 2019

By Asher Fair | Aug 30, 2018

HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 24: Noah Gragson, driver of the #18 Safelite Toyota, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Active Pest Control 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 24, 2018 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

Noah Gragson has been tipped to replace the retiring Elliott Sadler at JR Motorsports in the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

Noah Gragson, who is in his second season as a full-time NASCAR Truck Series driver driving the #18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota, has been tipped to replace Elliott Sadler at JR Motorsports in the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

Sadler, 43, announced earlier this month that he will be retiring from his role as a full-time Xfinity Series driver following the conclusion of the 2018 season, which is his 10th season as a full-time Xfinity Series driver and his 23rd season as a full-time NASCAR driver.

Gragson, 20, has three starts in the Xfinity Series under his belt. All three of his starts in the series came earlier this season behind the wheel of the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. He finished in second place in the race at Richmond Raceway, fourth in the race at Talladega Superspeedway and seventh in the race at Dover International Speedway.

More from Xfinity Series

With in average finish of 4.33 in his first three races in the Xfinity Series, Gragson would be poised to have success if he replaces Sadler behind the wheel of the #1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet next season.

In his first two seasons driving for JR Motorsports in 2016 and 2017, Sadler finished in second place in the championship standings. He currently sits in third with 10 races remaining in the 33-race 2018 season. In his 89 races driving for the team, he has racked up three victories, 37 top five finishes and 73 top 10 finishes.

After finishing in 10th place in the Truck Series standings last season with one victory at Martinsville Speedway, four top five finishes and 13 top 10 finishes, Gragson has become a championship contender. He has competed in 16 of the 17 races that have been held so far this season, and he has racked up one victory at Kansas Speedway, six top five finishes and 13 top 10 finishes.

Gragson is one of the eight drivers who qualified for the playoffs, and he has the third highest playoff point total (24) among all drivers. He is one of the favorites to advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark

Will Noah Gragson be the replacement driver for Elliott Sadler behind the wheel of the #1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season?

Home/Xfinity Series