NASCAR: 5 possible Chip Ganassi Racing drivers for 2021
By Asher Fair
Possible Chip Ganassi Racing drivers: Erik Jones
Erik Jones ended up being the odd man out at Joe Gibbs Racing since they opted to change their driver lineup after the 2020 season, as they moved him out of the #20 Toyota while their other drivers had already been signed through at least 2021. Plus, the Denny Hamlin rumors didn’t amount to anything).
With two of the team’s other three drivers slated to be quadregenarians next year, it would have made sense to extend the 24-year-old Byron, Michigan native’s deal. But an overall lack of performance led them to cut ties with him after just three seasons.
Christopher Bell had been waiting in the wings at the Joe Gibbs Racing-affiliated Leavine Family Racing after signing a “multi-year” contract with Toyota and Leavine Family Racing, and with Leavine Family Racing set to no longer operate after 2020, he ended up being promoted, sending Jones to free agency.
There are several possible landing spots for Jones outside of Joe Gibbs Racing next year, including Hendrick Motorsports, with seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson set time retire, and Stewart-Haas Racing, given the fact that only three of their four drivers are under contract for next year, the fact that they have changed their driver lineup after four straight seasons and the fact that they have recently signed an ex-Joe Gibbs Racing driver.
But Chip Ganassi Racing is also one, albeit more of a longshot. Chip Ganassi has already said that he has a plan for Ross Chastain, but he did not disclose the details of said plan. If that plan does not involve a promotion to the team next year, it could very well mean replacing Kurt Busch behind the wheel of the #1 Chevrolet at some point after 2021, which would free up the #42 Chevrolet for Jones in 2020.