NASCAR: Undiscussed ramification of Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cup decision

By Asher Fair | Oct 19, 2019

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS - OCTOBER 18: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #41 ARRIS Ford (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

Depending on Stewart-Haas Racing’s driver lineup decision for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, an additional opportunity could be created for another driver.

Stewart-Haas Racing have now confirmed three of their four drivers for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, with Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer set to return to the team behind the wheels of the #4 Ford, the #10 Ford and the #14 Ford, respectively. They are currently in their sixth, second and third seasons with the team, respectively.

But with his first season driving the #41 Ford for the team coming to a close, Daniel Suarez still does not have a contract solidified for the 2020 season.

Suarez remains optimistic about staying with the team for a second season next year, and that has been rumored as the most likely outcome for several weeks.

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Assuming Suarez returns to the #41 Ford next year, there are rumors that the team will still find a way to promote Xfinity Series driver Cole Custer to the Cup Series.

There are rumors that they will form a technical alliance with Go Fas Racing and field the #32 Ford for the 21-year-old Ladera Ranch, California native.

Assuming Suarez doesn’t return to the #41 Ford next year, the #41 Ford will almost inevitably be the ride that Custer lands. Regardless, assuming Stewart-Haas Racing don’t make absolutely no changes to their four-car lineup for the first time since between the 2015 and 2016 seasons and assuming Custer ends up in the Cup Series on some level next year, this would free up the #00 Ford that Custer currently drives in the Xfinity Series.

This would provide a great opportunity, one that is virtually going undiscussed as a possibility amid these rumors, for any driver looking for a competitive ride, perhaps even some current Cup Series drivers who are not slated to return to the series next year.

There is no doubt that the #00 Ford is a competitive ride. Custer won the 2017 season finale to secure his first career Xfinity Series victory in his rookie season, although he finished in fifth place in the championship standings, as he was not a member of the Championship 4.

He then finished in third place in the 2018 championship standings as a member of the Championship 4 after earning another victory during the season. Now 29 races into the 33-race 2019 season, he is tied atop the wins list with a whopping seven victories.

If the #00 Ford ends up open, who will end up in that championship-caliber ride with a championship-caliber team?

Daniel Hemric, who is slated to lose his Cup Series ride at Richard Childress Racing to current Xfinity Series driver Tyler Reddick, has been rumored as a candidate, and reigning Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt has to be in the mix if he is promoted to NASCAR’s second highest series next year.

Could Austin Cindric make an unexpected switch from Team Penske to Stewart-Haas Racing with the prospect of a Cup Series ride with the team becoming available sooner? Could Corey LaJoie, Go Fas Racing’s current driver, could get that opportunity if he is replaced by Custer and doesn’t land with Front Row Motorsports as the replacement for the retiring David Ragan? Could Suarez even be in the mix if Custer replaces him directly but Stewart-Haas Racing opt to hold on to him?

At this point, it’s anybody’s guess as to who would land what would become the most competitive available seat in NASCAR, albeit in the Xfinity Series, should Custer be promoted to the Cup Series next year.

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If Stewart-Haas Racing opt to promote Cole Custer to the NASCAR Cup Series for the 2020 season, whether that be as Daniel Suarez’s replacement or through a technical alliance with Go Fas Racing, who will replace him behind the wheel of the #00 Ford in the Xfinity Series?

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