NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Kyle Larson in 2021

Stewart-Haas Racing

If Stewart-Haas Racing team co-owner Tony Stewart would have gotten his way, Kyle Larson would have been behind the wheel of the #14 Ford in the 2017 season, and the 2021 season would likely be his fifth season with the four-car Ford team.

Alas, that did not pan out.

In 2015, Stewart announced that the 2016 season would be his final season competing in the Cup Series. He wanted Larson to be his replacement, but the timing did not work out given Larson’s contract with Chip Ganassi Racing. Larson was unable to sign a deal with another team at that time, per the specifics of that contract.

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Instead, Stewart named Bowyer his replacement, and Bowyer still drives the #14 Ford. But the 2020 season is set to be another contract year for the 40-year-old Emporia, Kansas native after signing a one-year contract extension in 2019, one that many thought would not come.

Bowyer had a breakout year in 2018, winning for the first time since 2012 and finishing the season with two victories and a trip to the round of 8. But after a winless 2019 season, a winless 2020 season could prompt Stewart-Haas Racing to replace him, especially with Larson available.

Bowyer is Stewart-Haas Racing’s oldest driver aside of 44-year-old Kevin Harvick, but Harvick is still performing at a championship level and has not shown any signs of slowing down. He has qualified for five of the six Championship 4s, including the last three, and he has already signed with the team through the 2023 season.

Even if Bowyer does end up back at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2021, there is no guarantee that Aric Almirola will be back after he, too, had a winless 2019 season after winning a race in 2018 and advancing to the round of 8. Perhaps Larson will end up behind the wheel of the #10 Ford in 2021.

Additionally, it is worth noting that when Kurt Busch attempted the Memorial Day Double back in 2014, he did so with Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart himself has attempted the feat as well, and Larson could very well be the next to do it should he join the team.

Don’t forget the fact that Stewart-Haas Racing have switched out one of their four drivers on a yearly basis after each of the last four seasons as well.

Where will Kyle Larson end up in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season? Will he stay with Chip Ganassi Racing, move to either Hendrick Motorsports or Stewart-Haas Racing? Could he end up somewhere not discussed in this article?