Silly Season - 2020-21 - Who goes where? (all speculations and rumours go here).

[Rollo75]

"This was not an easy decision as I have nothing but the utmost respect for Richard Petty and his family, but I believe it's time for someone else to take over the reins of the No. 43."
- Bubba Wallace. via Twitter, Sep 11 2020

I personally think that Wallace is fishing for the spot which will be vacated by Jimmy Johnson and then fishing for the Ganassi #42 ride as a second chance draw.
I have no idea who'd take up the now cursed #43 though.

 

[ddrap14]

PREDICTIONS (this all assumes Hendrick run four cars next year):
#48: Matty D
#42: Bubba
#43: Jones
#20: Bell Confirmed
#32: Cassill
#21: LaJoie
Second Spire car (as yet unnumbered): A rookie

Probably a few more rookies come up, but I'm only going on confirmed events so far.

 

[ddrap14]

Just to clarify, it wasn't widely publicised at the time of announcement- the LFR charter was sold to Spire to run a second car

 

[Cola83]

PREDICTIONS (this all assumes Hendrick run four cars next year):
#48: Matty D
#42: Bubba
#43: Jones
#20: Bell Confirmed
#32: Cassill
#21: LaJoie
Second Spire car (as yet unnumbered): A rookie

Probably a few more rookies come up, but I'm only going on confirmed events so far.

I like it all except, I just don't see Matty D. leaving the 21 after 1 season..... I think Hendricks is going to a 3 car team, with no new Drivers.

 

[Cola83]

1. @ Highbank: Said
   I say put the 48 on cool down and bring out the 5 or 25 for a year with a veteran Matt Kenseth type in it.

I totally Agree... - if there is a 4 car team at Hendericks - still think only 3

 

[ddrap14]

I like it all except, I just don't see Matty D. leaving the 21 after 1 season..... I think Hendricks is going to a 3 car team, with no new Drivers.

Well then who gets that charter?

 

[Rollo75]

Dumb question - aren't factory teams are contracted to run a certain number of teams?

As I understand it, Hendrick as the preferred team for General Motors (and carrying the sponsorship of the General Motors Acceptance Company (branded as Ally)), needs to run four cars in the same way that JGR does for Toyota?
I have no idea about the internal arrangements but wouldn't it be more sensible to keep running four cars, rather than lose the fourth car and the accompanying funding?

 

[DaleTona]

Dumb question - aren't factory teams are contracted to run a certain number of teams?

As I understand it, Hendrick as the preferred team for General Motors (and carrying the sponsorship of the General Motors Acceptance Company (branded as Ally)), needs to run four cars in the same way that JGR does for Toyota?
I have no idea about the internal arrangements but wouldn't it be more sensible to keep running four cars, rather than lose the fourth car and the accompanying funding?

NASCAR doesn't really do the whole, "works team has to run X amount of cars deal"

The main driving force behind multiple cars is the data sharing IIRC. JGR didn't expand to 4 cars until 2015 and they had been the "factory" Toyota team for years.

NASCAR manufacture contracts typically don't stipulate, "you must have X cars or you lose the funding."

 

[mtblillie]

As I understand it, having big money is the primary factor in how many teams there are. I think all teams would have as many cars as they could if they had an open choice, but money is the main defining factor. I think teams like Hendrick and JGR would have more than 4 if there weren't a rule against it. They get around it by having the "technical alliances."

I'm pretty sure MattyD said that he doesn't plan on leaving the 21. That doesn't mean he won't, but it seems unlikely to me. I think it is a decent possibility that Jones goes to the 43, but he may end up in the 42. Bubba will probably go to the 48 or 42. Someone brought up that whoever ends up in the 48 will probably be a short contract as it seems like Noah Gragson is being groomed for it.

 

[psugorilla]

Here's a random thought, With Geico leaving, could Bubba have possibly landed a sponsor deal and took that to the 13? I will say it's highly unlikely but...

Justin Marks starting up a team. I am willing to bet he buys a charter. I would expect it to come from one of the teams leasing a charter.

 

[ddrap14]

Justin Marks starting up a team.

Is it bad that I've never heard of this name?

 

[Rollo75]

I thought that Germain Racing with no sponsor signed, is looking to sell the team?
I was going to accuse Ty Dillion of being mediocre but it looks like Germain Racing have been content with mid-table mediocrity for a while.

I like that.

This like Minardi. Basically Minardi in all guises have gone 36 seasons for only 2 wins. It's easy to make fun of teams like this but when they do it week in and week out for years, that takes real determination and grit. Very occasionally, legends happen.

 

[ddrap14]

Very occasionally, legends happen.

Pierre Gasly has entered the chat

 

[psugorilla]

Is it bad that I've never heard of this name?

Slightly. He has been around forever. Mostly in ARCA, Trucks, and Xfinity. He's a heck of a road racer too. Used to have sponsorship from CROCS and then later Go Pro through his family. He was never considered a big name

 

[Cola83]

Well then who gets that charter?

They lease the charter... !!

 

[JMurrayMO81]

Hendrick said in an interview recently that they will have 4 cars next season.

To me, I can see Bubba going to the 48. Think of it this way. Jimmie has some say on who gets that ride, just like Junior did in choosing Bowman. We know that Jimmie has been very supportive of Bubba on the issues on diversity. Maybe that plays a part into Jimmie saying to choose him, that it would be big for Bubba as well as for the sport.

The only question on that is what happens as far as sponsors. Sponsors that just signed with him would want to be on his car. So if he was to go to the 48, either Ally has to cut back or move to another car like the 88.

 

[DaleTona]

Hendrick said in an interview recently that they will have 4 cars next season.

To me, I can see Bubba going to the 48. Think of it this way. Jimmie has some say on who gets that ride, just like Junior did in choosing Bowman. We know that Jimmie has been very supportive of Bubba on the issues on diversity. Maybe that plays a part into Jimmie saying to choose him, that it would be big for Bubba as well as for the sport.

The only question on that is what happens as far as sponsors. Sponsors that just signed with him would want to be on his car. So if he was to go to the 48, either Ally has to cut back or move to another car like the 88.

Considering the sponsorship issues on the #88, moving Ally over there would be a smart play, while Bubba brings his sponsors to the #48

 

[Highbank]

No way Bubba drives for Hendrick he's to controversial.

 

[Cola83]

No way Bubba drives for Hendrick he's to controversial.

I agree, Bubba is going to the 42...

 

[mtblillie]

Don't forget that Jeff Gordon is (or maybe was?) part owner of the 48, he may have some say.

I think that HMS could handle the controversy surrounding Bubba. To be fair, I happen to think the controversy surrounding Bubba is silly and we should really move past it. I'm seeing a lot of it being used for political propaganda for both sides and it makes me crazy.

But there is still a lot of good reasoning behind him moving to the 42 instead. Either way, I'm sure it will be announced in the next month or so.