NASCAR: Clint Bowyer back with Stewart-Haas Racing in 2021?

Clint Bowyer is once again in a contract year with Stewart-Haas Racing. Will he be back with the team for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season?

Clint Bowyer is in his fourth NASCAR Cup Series season as the driver of the #14 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing after replacing team co-owner and three-time champion Tony Stewart when he retired following the 2016 season.

But the 41-year-old Emporia, Kansas native is once again in a contract season, and there are questions surrounding his future with the team, and perhaps even in the sport, following the 2020 season.

Bowyer’s most recent win came more than two years ago in June of 2018 at Michigan International Speedway. Among the team’s four drivers this season, Bowyer sits in third in points (11th place) but last in terms of his playoff outlook (14th) due to the win by rookie Cole Custer at Kentucky Speedway.

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Stewart-Haas Racing have made a change to their driver lineup after each of the last four seasons. Is there any reason to believe they will stop there?

Kevin Harvick is under contract through 2023, and there is zero reason to believe that Custer will be out after only a year. That leaves Bowyer and Aric Almirola, the driver of the #10 Ford. The winner of this year’s NASCAR All-Star Fan Vote recently discussed his outlook as it pertains to securing his seat with the team for a fifth consecutive season next year.

Here is what he had to say about the matter last month, according to NASCAR.

"“No, I haven’t really talked to [Stewart-Haas Racing] much about it. I mean, I’ve been talking to partners and things like that and just trying to do everything I can do to make sure that all the things line up for next year for them. That’s what I can do. I’ve got to do a better job inside the race car. We’ve got to do a better job of getting this 14 car back up front where it belongs. Doesn’t matter what you do outside the car if you’re not taking care of business in the car, you shouldn’t be in any of them.“Stewart-Haas is a wonderful organization. I want to be there. I want to retire there, and I love the opportunity, the people behind it. I believe in, all the pieces of the puzzle are there. The manufacturer in Ford, I mean we’re sitting here representing Ford today, and you couldn’t ask for a better manufacturer that’s invested in this sport the way they are. Again, it’s a perfect fit for me.”"

We spoke briefly with Bowyer about the matter back in early June, asking him if he had plans to move to the broadcast booth once he retired. He notably concluded his response by emphasizing to us and assuring us that it “damn sure ain’t gonna happen any time soon.”

This statement coupled with the fact that he wants to retire as a Stewart-Haas Racing driver certainly make it look like he will be back with the team next year.

But it is also possible that the team may look to promote Xfinity Series driver and breakout star Chase Briscoe or even perhaps sign the suspended Kyle Larson, who lost his ride with Chip Ganassi Racing back in April after using a racial slur.

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Stewart has shown interest in Larson on several previous occasions, and Stewart-Haas Racing have been heavily rumored as his most likely landing spot for whenever NASCAR lifts his indefinite suspension.

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