NASCAR: What we know about the 2021 driver lineup

While the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup has not yet been solidified, most of the seats have confirmed drivers for next year.

The start of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season is still roughly two and a half months away, but much of the driver lineup for the upcoming year has been solidified.

Much of this lineup was solidified throughout the 36-race 2020 season, while several seats had been confirmed for 2021 prior to 2020.

Here’s a look at what we know so far.

More from NASCAR Cup Series

Entering the year, Hendrick Motorsports already had Chase Elliott under contract to continue driving the #9 Chevrolet through 2022, and while William Byron only signed an extension through the 2022 season late in the 2020 regular season, he had already been under contract through 2021.

Joe Gibbs Racing entered the 2020 season with Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. already under contract through the 2021 season to continue driving the #11 Toyota, #18 Toyota and #19 Toyota, respectively.

Stewart-Haas Racing, which signed Cole Custer to a multi-year deal late in the 2019 season to drive the #41 Ford, also signed Kevin Harvick to continue driving the #4 Ford through the 2023 season just before the 2020 season began.

Joey Logano signed a multi-year extension with Team Penske that runs through the 2023 season all the way back in February of 2017 to continue driving the #22 Ford.

Both Richard Childress Racing drivers, Austin Dillon and Tyler Reddick, entered the year being set to return behind the wheels of the #3 Chevrolet and #8 Chevrolet, respectively, in 2021. When rumors emerged that the letter could leave for Hendrick Motorsports, he confirmed that he is set to return in 2021.

Additionally, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s first season behind the wheel of the #47 Chevrolet at JTG Daugherty Racing was the first of a multi-year deal, as was Quin Houff’s first season behind the wheel of the #00 Chevrolet at StarCom Racing.

Ryan Preece is also set to return for a third season at JTG Daugherty Racing and second behind the wheel of the #37 Chevrolet.

Both Roush Fenway Racing drivers, Ryan Newman and Chris Buescher, are set to return to the team behind the wheels of the #6 Ford and #17 Ford, respectively, barring any unexpected changes.

The rest of the 2021 lineup which has been confirmed thus far was confirmed during the 2020 season itself.

Team Penske signed Ryan Blaney to a multi-year contract extension to continue driving the #12 Chevrolet back in early March. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit, and the 2020 season was unexpectedly paused for 10 weeks.

But during that hiatus, Hendrick Motorsports and Alex Bowman found the time to agree on a one-year extension. Bowman is set to move from the #88 Chevrolet to the #48 Chevrolet, which seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson had driven for more than 19 seasons prior to his retirement.

Unfortunately, not everybody’s hiatus went well. Kyle Larson used a racial slur and was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing. Matt Kenseth replaced him behind the wheel of the #42 Chevrolet on a one-year deal, and Ross Chastain is set to drive that car next year.

But Larson is set to return, joining Hendrick Motorsports as Johnson’s replacement, but he is set to drive the #5 Chevrolet. With Bowman set to drive the #48 Chevrolet, there will not be a #88 Chevrolet in 2021.

Since then, Team Penske have re-signed Brad Keselowski to continue driving the #2 Ford, and Joe Gibbs Racing have confirmed that Christopher Bell, who competed for the Joe Gibbs Racing-affiliated Leavine Family Racing behind the wheel of the #95 Toyota in 2020, is set to replace Erik Jones behind the wheel of the #20 Toyota next year. Leavine Family Racing have been sold and will not operate next year.

Additionally, Stewart-Haas Racing re-signed Aric Almirola to continue driving the #10 Ford, and they signed Chase Briscoe as the replacement for Clint Bowyer behind the wheel of the #14 Ford.

Bubba Wallace is set to leave Richard Petty Motorsports and join a team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, 23XI Racing, as the driver of the #23 Toyota. 23XI Racing will have a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. Jones is set to replace Wallace behind the wheel of the #43 Chevrolet at Richard Petty Motorsports.

Daniel Suarez is set to join Justin Marks’s new team, Trackhouse Racing Team, as the driver of the #99 Chevrolet, and Matt DiBenedetto is also set to return to Wood Brothers Racing behind the wheel of the #21 Ford. Trackhouse Racing Team will have an alliance with Richard Childress Racing.

Finally, John Hunter Nemechek won’t be back with Front Row Motorsports behind the wheel of the #38 Ford, and Corey LaJoie is set to become Spire Motorsports’ first ever full-time driver behind the wheel of the #7 Chevrolet.

Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark

There are still a few seats without confirmed drivers for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, but there is still plenty of time to solidify those lineup situations with nearly two and a half months until the season is scheduled to get underway on Sunday, February 14 with the 63rd annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

Home/NASCAR Cup Series