NASCAR Cup Series: Only one full-time ride without confirmed driver for 2019
By Asher Fair
Following Stewart-Haas Racing’s confirmation of Daniel Suarez as Kurt Busch’s replacement, there is only one full-time ride left without a confirmed full-time driver for the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Spire Sports + Entertainment confirmed in December that they purchased the charter that the now defunct Furniture Row Racing team used to field the #78 Toyota, which was driven by Martin Truex Jr., to compete full-time in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season. This charter sale was reportedly the most expensive charter sale in the sport’s history.
Spire Sports + Entertainment are set to field the #77 Chevrolet in each of the 36 races on the 2019 schedule as a result of this charter sale. However, roughly one month after making this confirmation, the team have not yet confirmed who their full-time driver will be.
In fact, they technically have not confirmed that only one driver will drive the #77 Chevrolet throughout the 2019 season.
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That said, all signs are pointing in that direction, as it is unlikely that they will hire multiple drivers to drive the car.
This means that following Stewart-Haas Racing’s confirmation that Daniel Suarez is set to replace Kurt Busch behind the wheel of the #41 Ford for the 2019 season, the only full-time ride without a confirmed full-time driver for the 2019 season is the #77 Spire Sports + Entertainment Chevrolet.
Rick Ware Racing have also not confirmed the drivers of their #51 and #52 cars (manufacturer to be determined), but based on history, multiple drivers will drive both of these cars, so the team will likely not have any full-time drivers.
Even with under a month and a half to go before the 2019 season is scheduled to begin with the 61st annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 17, there are no clear-cut favorites when it comes to who will drive the #77 Spire Sports + Entertainment Chevrolet.
But with the season-opening action from Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida drawing closer and closer, expect this to change in the near future.
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Who will Spire Sports + Entertainment hire to drive the #77 Chevrolet in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season, and when will they announce who their driver will be? Will they hire one full-time driver to drive the car like they are expected to, or will they pull off a bit of a surprising move and hire multiple part-time drivers to drive the car?