NASCAR: 3 replacement candidates for Bubba Wallace in 2021

Bubba Wallace is set to move to a new NASCAR Cup Series team owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin next year. So who will drive for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2021?

Bubba Wallace had been slated to become one of many free agents at the end of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season after signing a two-year contract extension with Richard Petty Motorsports in August of 2018.

The 27-year-old Mobile, Alabama native has driven the #43 Chevrolet since replacing Aric Almirola after the 2017 season, as Almirola took his Smithfield backing to Stewart-Haas Racing to replace Danica Patrick behind the wheel of the #10 Ford.

Wallace actually spent four races behind the wheel of the #43 car, then a Ford, as the replacement for the injured Almirola in 2017 and he did a solid job, posting an average finish of 17.75 with a top result of 11th place at Kentucky Speedway.

Richard Petty Motorsports nearly had to shut down in 2019 due to a lack of funding, despite the fact that they had Wallace under contract through 2020. Fortunately for them, World Wide Technology formed a strategic partnership with Victory Junction and the team, keeping them afloat.

They were able to finish out the 2019 season, and they have run better in the 2020 season than they have in many recent years. But Wallace has decided that he will not be returning to the team for a fourth season next year, and he is instead set to compete for a new team owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin.

Who will drive the #43 Chevrolet in 2021? Here are three options.