Monday, January 13th 'What If' Question

For those who haven’t heard, Chase Elliott is now officially going NASCAR racing.

Earlier this month it was announced that Elliott had signed a full-time deal with JR Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. He’ll drive the No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet with crew chief Greg Ives. Coming after Elliott won his first career Camping World Truck Series race last season but has yet to run a single lap in NNS competition.

The son of 1988 Cup champion Bill Elliott has grown up in NASCAR garages. Having the best to learn from as he’s made his way through the racing ranks. The younger Elliott becoming a legend in his own right on short tracks.

So with the name come the expectations. Before Elliott was even old enough to compete in NASCAR he was already being called the heir apparent to Jeff Gordon’s No. 24. Now that Elliott is signed to a NNS deal, as well as linked to Hendrick Motorsports as a development driver, the scenario could become quite likely over the next few seasons.

Right now his NNS deal is a multi-year one according to JRM. The trend seeming to be for young drivers that two full years in the NNS and then it’s time to move to Cup. Should Elliott follow in that direction, a decision will have to be made about where he ends up and if he does indeed end up replacing Gordon.

It’s all part of speculation, something that’s familiar in NASCAR. The 2014 season hasn’t even started yet and the future is already trying to be predicted. Yet, with Elliott that’s been the case since he could walk.

And let’s not forget the biggest part of this deal: Jeff Gordon. Many have been ready to attach the retirement tag to the four-time champion since about 2005. Yet he’s not ready to entertain such notions and hasn’t revealed when exactly he plans on stepping away.

But …

What if Chase Elliott is ready for the Cup Series in 2-3 years, and with being connected to Hendrick, how do you fit him in?

@MarshallGabell After Jimmie Johnson wins two more Championships then Elliott will become Hendrick’s franchise driver

@ABolt89 5 team or will they cut ties with whoever the weaker driver is!! Honestly that is a great question

@Talon64 If it’s 3 years, then at least any one of Gordon, Stewart or Danica will be gone to open up a seat within the HMS family.

@ThomasCHitch JR Motorsports emerges.

@jshaunAU2006 in reply to @Talon64 and @KellyCrandall I still think JRM will have a cup team in the future.

@Talon64 to @jshaunAU2006 Dale Jr. would have to leave HMS for it.

@Revvin4Seven48 I figure Gordon will be done after 2015.

@jshaunAU2006 to @Talon64 Dale Sr. didn’t leave RCR for DEI.

@Talon64 to @jshaunAU2006 4 car limit in Cup would prevent Dale Jr. for owning another team while he’s driving for HMS.

@MattWisneski Chase Elliott has been lined up for the 24 car since we first head his name. I sat 2015/16 all but signed #napa24

@jasonskow I think that Jeff Gordon retires or goes part time

@jackrlewis Gordon will retire. I don’t see any other instance, unless Kahne regresses

@AustinPollak8 Gordon retires

@MikeGraf2 Gordon will be retired

@R_Informative I think we’re seeing Jeff Gordon’s career come to a close, like it or not, and that is what will make room for Chase

@HarpAmyStabler He becomes the heir apparent to Jeff Gordon. Or, he goes to a satellite team like SHR until a seat opens up at HMS.

Monday, December 26th 'What If' Question

With Kurt Busch gone from Penske Racing and AJ Allmendinger gone from Richard Petty Motorsports, replacing Busch in the No. 22, the No. 43 previously driven by Allmendinger is up for grabs.

As of late last week the leading candidate for the position was Aric Almirola, the current driver of JR Motorsports No. 88 in the Nationwide Series. Almirola finished fourth in points last season after moving back to the NNS, he had been in the Cup Series, sharing a ride with Mark Martin at Dale Earnhardt Inc. back in 2008 before lack of sponsorship shut the team down.

Now with news that he could be headed back to the Cup Series his No. 88 becomes of the hottest seats available. JR Motorsports has helped put drivers like Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. on the NASCAR map. They contended for championships and won races as JRM has become one of the best driver development organizations in the NNS. Drivers are lining up to get their resume into team owner Dale Jr. for the 2012 season.

Those included might be Reed Sorenson, who lost his ride with Turner Motorsports midway through last season while he battled for the championship. Or even Cup drivers Brian Vickers, David Reutimann and David Ragan who have all lost their rides, might not mind racing for the sports most popular driver and winning races. A job is a job, regardless of the series.

Or will JRM again find a young talent who is waiting to get his shot? Drivers like Chase Eilliott and Darrell Wallace Jr. who are dominating in other divisions would love to get a jumpstart on their NASCAR careers.

No announcement has been made about the new driver of the No. 43 for RPM yet. Anything official would be announced after the New Year and with Almirola's name expected to be attached. He would get the nod over the aforementioned drivers of Ragan, Reutimann and Vickers, past Cup winners. They come with the Cup experience that many sponsors are after whereas Almirola has nothing but unpleasant Cup memories from his past. He'll be itching to erase those should get the chance, which Ragan, Reutimann and Vickers are hoping he doesn't.


But ...

What if Aric Almirola is announced as driver of the 43 for Petty, who should be next driver JR Motorsports gives a shot in the 88? #NASCAR

@cruetten I like Reed Sorenson, but my out-there pick is Reutimann

@chreister89 Would like to see @ColeWhitt get a chance at a good ride.

@HarpAmyStabler I think that JR Motorsports should give David Reutimann a shot for a second chance at his career.

@Race_Girl24_7 26 #givereutiaride

@HD388 hopin for Sorenson if the 88 opens up

@rcracer20 Reed Sorenson and Reutimann are good picks,but Cole Whitt has talent that needs to be expossed and JR can do it

@racinwithjason Matt DiBenedetto!!

@BONES6699 Ryan Truex... Or is he under contract with JGR?

Thursday, April 7th 'What If' Question

Every driver needs their big break, something that will propel them into the spotlight and catch the eye of team owners who are looking for a new, fresh face to put in one of their cars.

In late 2007 that's what happened to Brad Keselowski. He got a call from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to come and run the remainder of the season in his No. 88 Navy Chevrolet. Keselowski had impressed Earnhardt Jr. in what he was accomplishing in less than well funded equipment as well as the substitution job he had done for Ted Musgrave's Truck team.

Earnhardt Jr. then signed Keselowski to a full-time deal for 2008 and 2009 in the Nationwide Series. He went out won his first career race and then kept on winning. In both years he finished second in the championship points. In 2009 he was on top of everyone's radar including team owner Rick Hendrick and James Finch. Both let Keselowski drive one of their cars in select Cup Series events.

In Talladega, Keselowski went out and won after a finish with Carl Edwards that won't soon be forgotten. Since then he's been snagged away from the a potential HMS job by Roger Penske and won the 2010 NNS championship. He now runs full-time in the Cup Series and searching for his second career win. Keselowski has officially made it to the top. Just as Martin Truex Jr. had done before him with the help of Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports.

But ...

What If Dale Jr. didn't take a chance & sign @Keselowski to Nationwide deal in 07 would he have ever become big name/winning driver? #NASCAR

@KaitlynVincie: Hard question, without Jr.'s financial backing it may not have been possible. We know success is not solely based on talent.

@ladybug388: No as its all bout opportunity & there was his. Thou he may have with running more truck races for the team & then moving up

@cruetten: doubtful. i think he would've continued his mediocre performance in NNS (before signing w/JR),& stayed permanently in trucks.

@JoJo_6040: Yep! Some other team owner would've noticed his talent. Must admit, I paid more attn. to BK when he started driving for JR

@chuckallen2: his good run subbing in the truck race defined his career. Cinderella story for sure, and why racing is cool.