NASCAR: 5 replacement candidates for Chris Buescher in 2020
By Asher Fair
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Not even two months after it was “confirmed” that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. would continue driving the #17 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing through the 2021 season, it was “really” confirmed that Stenhouse will not be returning to the team even for the 2020 season.
As a result, the 31-year-old Olive Branch, Mississippi native is currently without a full-time ride for the 2020 season, something he hasn’t been able to say since the 2009 season before he joined Roush Fenway Racing as a full-time Xfinity Series driver.
Stenhouse has only ever driving for Roush Fenway Racing in NASCAR, as he drove for the team from the 2010 season through the 2012 season in the Xfinity Series and won the 2011 and 2012 championships before he was promoted to Roush Fenway Racing’s Cup Series team as the replacement for Matt Kenseth. He has driven the #17 Ford ever since.
With Chris Buescher set to replace him from JTG Daugherty Racing even after JTG Daugherty Racing were confident that Buescher would return to the organization for a fourth season next year, could an effective driver swap be in order?
The team clearly weren’t ready for Buescher to leave, and Stenhouse clearly wasn’t ready to leave Roush Fenway Racing. The two sides agreeing to a one-year contract with an additional option could be the best-case scenario for everyone involved given Stenhouse’s experience and JTG Daughtery Racing’s established place as a mid-pack team.