NASCAR: 5 replacement candidates for Jimmie Johnson in 2021

Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson is set to enter a contract year with Chip Ganassi Racing in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season, and there are already several rumors regarding where he might end up in 2021.

One such option is Stewart-Haas Racing, where the 27-year-old Elk Grove, California native has been rumored to end up for years after team co-owner Tony Stewart wanted him to serve as his own replacement following his retirement after the 2016 season.

There will more than likely be at least one seat open at the four-car Ford team after the 2020 season considering the fact that they haven’t maintained the same driver lineup from one year to the next since between the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

But Hendrick Motorsports also can’t be ignored. As much as the Chevrolet teams struggled in the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the Camaro ZL1, Hendrick Motorsports were the only Chevrolet team with more than two wins, and they collected seven, starting in the second half of the 2018 season. With the new Camaro ZL1 1LE set to debut in 2020, they will be a team to keep an eye on.

Larson, who is already linked to Hendrick Motorsports via their technical alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing and their contract to supply the team with engines, has also expressed interest in competing in the Indianapolis 500 and doing the Memorial Day Double, but doing that at while at Hendrick Motorsports likely wouldn’t be an option.

Team owner Rick Hendrick prevented Kasey Kahne, who had signed with the team for the 2012 season, from competing in the 2011 IndyCar championship finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a chance to win $5 million if he were to win the race after starting in 34th (last) place.

Dan Wheldon ended up being the driver who drove for the $5 million, and he was killed in a crash early on in the race, a race that was ultimately canceled. So after playing a role in effectively saving Kahne’s life, it’s hard to see Hendrick allowing Larson or any of his drivers to compete in IndyCar even with the new Aeroscreen that is set to be utilized beginning next year.

With that being said, Larson is still a NASCAR driver before he is an IndyCar driver, and he has driven for Chip Ganassi Racing for six full seasons already and still not competed in the Indy 500.

It’s hard to see that one race dictating where he lands, and assuming it doesn’t, driving the #48 Chevrolet isn’t out of the picture. But then again, neither is staying at Chip Ganassi Racing or moving to Stewart-Haas Racing.