We’re deep in the NASCAR “silly season,” and this year’s takes place amid other concerns.
The pandemic has brought postponed races and new restrictions. And that’s during a time when salaries for A-list drivers have declined and sponsors are leaving the sport. It’s tough out there for drivers.
Still, this season, NASCAR’s annual game of musical chairs has gotten interesting. Fox News dubbed it “the most tumultuous free-agent period in two decades.”
Here are some NASCAR drivers searching for a team in 2021:
Ty Dillon, the driver of the No. 13 Chevrolet for Germain Racing, is now available. That’s after Germain agreed to sell its charter to the Jordan-Hamlin led team. So, Germain will exit NASCAR for good at the end of the 2020 season, leaving Dillon available.
Corey LaJoie had been driving the No. 32 Ford for Go Fas. He confirmed this August that he is leaving Go Fas and is in discussions with other Cup teams.
Erik Jones currently drives the No. 20 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. JGR said on August 10 that Jones will not return to the team after the 2020 season. Christopher Bell will replace Jones in the No. 20 car.
Austin Cindric, who had been driving the No. 22 Ford for Team Penske, may be up for grabs. This August, he said he is in the process of looking into “what’s out there.”
Clint Bowyer drove the No. 14 Racing Ford for Stewart-Haas. He has acknowledged he wants to leave SHR and return with a different team for 2021.
Matt DiBenedetto notched a strong season in the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing. But his option has yet to be picked up by Wood Brothers. And so for the second year in a row, he’s in limbo late in the season.
