After Kyle Larson was caught using racial slurs on a live stream, Chip Ganassi Racing made the only move they could, firing him from the race team.
Nobody knows if Larson will ever get another shot, it’s far too early to tell, but his #42 Chevrolet will be one of the most coveted rides this offseason. Focusing on the future on the ride, here are some possibilities to replace Larson.
Ross Chastain
‘The Watermelon Man’ is my favorite choice to take over the #42. He’s shown some real talent this year, being competitive in the #77 car at Daytona and putting up a real fight while driving the #6 for the injured Ryan Newman. Chastain is an easy to like, charismatic driver who reminds me of a young Carl Edwards. If he were to take over the #42, he could show the series what he could do with better equipment.
Justin Allgaier
Justin Allgaier cut his teeth in cup for a year, but he obviously wasn’t ready. Since he returned to the Xfinity Series, driving for Junior Motorsports, he’s shown some real driving ability while waiting for his next chance in Cup. Allgaier could be a great sleeper pick, especially if Ganassi is looking for someone young to take over the reigns.
Erik Jones
Erik Jones would be the money pick to replace Kyle Larson. Jones’ time at Joe Gibbs Racing could be winding down, as they might look to replace him with current driver of the #95, Christoper Bell. If Jones is let go, he should be one of the most sought after free agents in NASCAR. He’s shown great skill, making the playoffs and winning races, even if he’s the fourth priority on JGR. If he were to switch to Ganassi, we could see a real breakout from him.
Clint Bowyer
Ahh, the most shocking choice on the list. Bowyer has shown more personality than ever this year, starting a podcast with Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy and being the in-race reporter for iRacing on FOX. If Bowyer underperforms in the Stewart-Hass #14 car though, they could look to replace him. At Bowyer’s age, he might not get another opportunity at a top ride, so a role as a placeholder at Ganassi could fit him. Who knows, a motivated Bowyer at CGR could be lightning in a bottle.
Who do you think the best choice is to replace Kyle Larson?
Villen 