NASCAR: Clint Bowyer tipped to return to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2020
By Asher Fair
Clint Bowyer has been tipped to return to Stewart-Haas Racing in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, which would be his fourth season with the team.
There have been rumors throughout much of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season that Stewart-Haas Racing may alter their driver lineup ahead of the 2020 season.
Should they do so, it would mark their fourth consecutive season without retaining the same four-driver lineup from one year to the next.
Only two of the team’s four drivers have been confirmed for the 2020 season. Kevin Harvick, who has driven for the team since the 2014 season, is set to return to the #4 Ford next year, and Aric Almirola, who has driven for the team since the 2018 season, is set to return to the #10 Ford.
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One of the rumors about the team’s 2020 driver lineup revolves around Clint Bowyer, who has driven the #14 Ford for the team since the 2017 season when he replaced Tony Stewart.
There have been rumors that the 40-year-old Emporia, Kansas native will be replaced by Xfinity Series superstar Cole Custer ahead of the 2020 season.
But in mid-August, Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern reported that despite these rumors, Bowyer still had a good chance to return to the team for what would be his fourth consecutive season there next year.
.@ClintBowyer still has a solid chance of returning to @StewartHaasRcng's No. 14 Ford next year, per sources, though no extension has been reached yet.
— Adam Stern (@A_S12) August 14, 2019
➖ Veteran drivers have faced paycuts in recent years, and there's little reason to think Bowyer will be immune from the trend. pic.twitter.com/Q3hODWsBNz
Now over two months later, FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass has reported that Bowyer and Stewart-Haas Racing have agreed to a contract extension to keep the veteran with the team in the 2020 season, although he did say that Stewart-Haas Racing have not yet confirmed this news with anybody on the outside.
Source: Clint Bowyer has agreed to a contract extension and will return to SHR in the No. 14 Cup car in 2020. ... When asked about Clint's status for next season, SHR says no update. #nascar @NASCARONFOX
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) October 15, 2019
With all things considered, expect Bowyer to be back with Stewart-Haas Racing alongside Harvick and Almirola next year, and keep an eye on this situation to see whether or not the team will confirm this news in the coming weeks to officially knock down another Silly Season domino.
With the uncertainty surrounding Daniel Suarez’s ride behind the wheel of the #41 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, which he landed ahead of the 2019 season, be sure to keep an eye on that situation as well, because the #41 Ford could also be a potential landing spot for Custer within the team.
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When will Stewart-Haas Racing confirm Clint Bowyer as the driver of the #14 Ford for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, and who will they confirm as the driver of the #41 Ford with rumors that Daniel Suarez may not be back with the team next year? Will Cole Custer be promoted to the Cup Series as his replacement? Will he be sent to Go Fas Racing via a technical alliance with the team?