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NASCAR Cup Series: Top 5 open seats for 2021

By Asher Fair

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 03: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald's Chevrolet, leads Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 03, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 03: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald's Chevrolet, leads Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 03, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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FONTANA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald’s Chevrolet (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
FONTANA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald’s Chevrolet (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Kyle Larson has driven the #42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing since the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series season, but he is set to be arguably NASCAR’s hottest free agent after the 2020 season after he was confirmed by the team for next year but not beyond.

Larson has already been linked with several other teams, most notably Stewart-Haas Racing and Hendrick Motorsports.

Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart wanted Larson behind the wheel of the #14 Ford for the 2017 season, and he made that clear in 2015 when he announced that the 2016 season would be his last. Unfortunately, Larson was unable to sign a contract with another team at that time, per the specifics of his contract with Chip Ganassi’s team.

As for Hendrick Motorsports, Larson is social media’s favorite to replace seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel of the #48 Chevrolet after he steps away from full-time competition following the 2020 season.

Because Larson’s dirt track racing schedule will remain his priority, a return to Chip Ganassi Racing isn’t out of the question, even factoring in loyalty alone; he has only ever driven full-time for Ganassi.

Nevertheless, the #42 Chevrolet will be a seat to watch, especially if he leaves.

Would the team sign Ross Chastain, who impressed in three Xfinity Series races for them in 2018? Chastain was set to compete full-time for the team in the 2019 Xfinity Series season, but a sponsorship debacle caused the team to shutter their Xfinity Series program and prevented that from happening.

Chastain is still tied to the team, and Ganassi needs to make sure that remains the case. He ended up finishing in second place in the 2019 Truck Series championship standings, and he has his best chance to shine on a full-time basis in the Xfinity Series after landing a ride with Kaulig Racing for 2020. Through the first four races of the season, he sits in fifth in the standings.

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