NASCAR: 5 possible landing spots for Ross Chastain in 2021
By Asher Fair
Ross Chastain 2021 landing spots: Hendrick Motorsports
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson is set to retire after the 2020 season, and Hendrick Motorsports have not yet announced his replacement behind the wheel of the #48 Chevrolet despite the fact that Johnson announced his retirement last November.
If Ross Chastain opts to leave the Chip Ganassi Racing organization entirely, a move to Rick Hendrick’s four-car squad would make a ton of sense.
Alex Bowman re-signed with the team for next year back in May, but he lacks a decent amount of sponsorship. There has been no specific confirmation that he will be back behind the wheel of the #88 Chevrolet in 2021, and the #48 Chevrolet is already fully funded by Ally Financial through the 2023 season.
Chastain’s sponsorship money from Nutrien Ag Solutions could be what makes him stand out in a crowded group of replacement candidates for the seven-time champion.
This could allow Bowman to shift over to the #48 team while Chastain drives the #88 Chevrolet, using additional sponsorship from some of the #88 team’s current sponsors, including Llumar, Valvoline and Cincinnati, where needed.
This is a scenario that could be good for all parties involved but hasn’t been widely discussed in Silly Season talks. Will that change?