NASCAR: 3 drivers who could pull a Tom Brady move
By Asher Fair
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson hasn’t been with Chip Ganassi Racing for quite as long as Brad Keselowski has been with Team Penske, but he is also in a contract year with potentially multiple options if he opts to switch cars for the first time in his career as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver.
Larson did make a few starts for Phoenix Racing in the 2013 season, but that was before he was a full-time driver. He signed with Chip Ganassi Racing to replace Juan Pablo Montoya ahead of the 2014 season behind the wheel of the #42 Chevrolet, and he has not missed a race since then.
The 27-year-old Elk Grove, California native is widely believed to be the hottest pending free agent on the market, especially with Ryan Blaney no longer in the mix to challenge him for that title, and there have been several rumored landing spots for him next year.
Larson could opt to remain loyal to Chip Ganassi, but he could very well find himself with a different team after seven years as well. He has been discussed as a potential replacement candidate for Jimmie Johnson behind the wheel of the #48 Chevrolet at Hendrick Motorsports.
But him landing there would likely depend on whether or not team owner Rick Hendrick would be willing to allow him to continue running his dirt racing schedule, which he has maintained is still his priority. Ganassi has always allowed him to do that.
Another option is Stewart-Haas Racing. They are slated to have multiple open seats, and team co-owner Tony Stewart even wanted Larson to be his replacement ahead of the 2017 season. Notably, Stewart and Larson share illustrious dirt racing backgrounds, so Larson’s dirt racing schedule wouldn’t be an issue.
Unfortunately, Stewart announced that he was set to retire after the 2016 season all the way back in September of 2015, and per the specific’s of Larson’s contract with Chip Ganassi Racing at the time, he was unable to sign a deal with another team, and Stewart ended up signing Clint Bowyer, who is one of the Stewart-Haas Racing drivers in a contract year this year.
But could it happen in 2021?