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NASCAR Cup Series: Tyler Reddick tipped to drive for Richard Childress Racing in 2020

By Asher Fair

WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK - AUGUST 03: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #2 Anderson's Pure Maple Syrup Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Zippo 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 03, 2019 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK - AUGUST 03: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #2 Anderson's Pure Maple Syrup Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Zippo 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 03, 2019 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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With Daniel Hemric not returning to Richard Childress Racing for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, Tyler Reddick has been tipped to replace him.

On Tuesday, Daniel Hemric confirmed that Richard Childress Racing will not be retaining him for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

The 28-year-old Kannapolis, North Carolina native was in his rookie season after signing a two-year contract to drive the #8 Chevrolet for the team ahead of the 2019 season, but the two-car team utilized an option in his contract to release him one year early.

This is believed to be the case because of the eagerness of team owner Richard Childress to promote Tyler Reddick to the Cup Series.

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Reddick won last year’s Xfinity Series championship driving for JR Motorsports with two victories throughout the 33-race season. He made the move to Richard Childress Racing for the 2019 season, and he won the regular season championship with a career-high five victories in 26 races.

Childress spoke about Reddick’s future earlier this year, and he gave no indication that the 23-year-old Corning, California native was in the team’s plans as far as the Xfinity Series is concerned.

But he also made clear that he believed that, one way or another, Reddick would be in the Cup Series next season.

That put Richard Childress Racing in a position to make a decision that would ultimately come down to sponsorship funding:

Do they keep running two cars for Hemric and Austin Dillon and let Reddick get away to a rival team?

Do they keep running two cars with one for Dillon and another for Reddick?

Do they become a three-car team for the first time since the 2017 season and run a third car for Reddick?

With Hemric out, that really only leaves one option.

Reddick drove for the team in two Cup Series races earlier this year, including the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, which he was wrecked out of late. In his second start of the year at Kansas Speedway, he drove his #31 Chevrolet to an impressive ninth place finish.

In a combined 54 starts so far this season, Dillon and Hemric have only finished in the top nine in a combined three races.

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Will Richard Childress Racing confirm Tyler Reddick as a member of their driver lineup for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season? While nothing is official yet, this appears to be all but a done deal. The major question appears to be whether or not Reddick be the guy to get Richard Childress Racing back competing at an elite level like they have been known for over the years.

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