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NASCAR: 5 possible landing spots for Christopher Bell in 2019

By Asher Fair

DARLINGTON, SC - AUGUST 31: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images)
DARLINGTON, SC - AUGUST 31: Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images) /
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DOVER, DE – MAY 05: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 STANLEY Toyota (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
DOVER, DE – MAY 05: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 STANLEY Toyota (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

Joe Gibbs Racing (NASCAR Cup Series)

Because of the fact that Furniture Row Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. has been tipped to replace Daniel Suarez behind the wheel of the #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota next season with Furniture Row Racing set to shut down once the 2018 season comes to a close, the odds that there will be a seat open for Christopher Bell at Joe Gibbs Racing next year are not the greatest.

Considering the fact that Joe Gibbs Racing’s other three drivers, including Kyle Busch, Erik Jones and Denny Hamlin, are all set to return to the team next year, Bell would have to replace Suarez if he ends up driving for the team in 2019, which is what Truex Jr. seems to be lined up to do.

However, Truex Jr. has not been officially confirmed as Suarez’s replacement. Seeing as how Joe Gibbs Racing may form a technical alliance with Leavine Family Racing for next season, it may be in their best interest to have him sign with Leavine Family Racing given the fact that he has had so much success driving for Furniture Row Racing over the last three seasons.

Furniture Row Racing have had a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing since the 2016 season, and there has been arguably no driver better than Truex Jr. since this alliance began. After all, he is the defending Cup Series champion and has a great chance to repeat as champion given his success so far this year that has put him in third place in the championship standings to start the playoffs.

If Truex Jr. gets sent to Leavine Family Racing to continue driving for a Joe Gibbs Racing-affiliated team like he has done in each of the last three seasons, this would open the door for Bell to be promoted from Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series team to their Cup Series team, which would leave Suarez looking for a ride unless Leavine Family Racing field a second entry for him.

But if Bell drives in the Cup Series next year for a team other than Leavine Family Racing or Joe Gibbs Racing, which team would that be?

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