NASCAR: 3 possible landing spots for Erik Jones in 2021
By Asher Fair
Possible Erik Jones 2021 landing spots: Hendrick Motorsports
Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski had been the rumored replacement candidate for seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson next year after Johnson retires from full-time competition.
But the 2012 champion, who has only ever competed full-time for Roger Penske’s organization, signed an extension earlier this month, just like teammate Ryan Blaney did in March.
As a result, Hendrick Motorsports are still looking for a replacement, and landing a talented veteran like the 36-year-old Rochester Hills, Michigan native is effectively be out of the question.
While they could go young and turn to the Rick Hendrick co-owned JR Motorsports Xfinity Series team like they did for Chase Elliott and William Byron and sign Noah Gragson, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to rush him up the ladder with other more experienced and yet still young options available.
Wood Brothers Racing’s Matt DiBenedetto and Go Fas Racing’s Corey LaJoie are two 28-year-old veterans who are pending free agents. But at 24 years old, Erik Jones is even younger than they are and still has four seasons of experience to his name. He would fit in well with the team’s current young lineup, which, aside of the retiring Johnson, does not feature anybody above the age of 27.
Jones could drive the #48 Chevrolet that Johnson has driven since 2002, or if Hendrick Motorsports opt to move Alex Bowman to that seat due to the fact that it is already fully backed by Ally Financial, he could drive the #88 Chevrolet.
But if that doesn’t work out, where else might he land?