Kaulig Racing should target these drivers for the No. 31 car in 2024

Kaulig Racing should target these drivers to replace Justin Haley in the No. 31 car for the NASCAR Cup Series starting in 2024.

[autotag]Kaulig Racing[/autotag] has an opening in the No. 31 car for their NASCAR Cup Series program after Justin Haley announced he would join Rick Ware Racing on a multi-year deal starting in 2024. It was a shocking development as both sides wanted to continue far into the future. Now, Kaulig Racing is tasked with finding Haley’s replacement, and which drivers make the most sense?

[autotag]Austin Hill[/autotag] is one of Kaulig Racing’s top targets for the No. 31 car and it is easy to understand why that is the case. Hill currently drives for Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and sits as the points leader with four wins, 13 top-5 finishes, 17 top-10 finishes, and a 7.5 average finishing position. In this situation, Hill would stay in the Chevrolet camp and go into the perfect situation for both parties.

If Hill surprisingly doesn’t go to Kaulig Racing, there is another stellar option. [autotag]Chandler Smith[/autotag], a driver for the organization in the Xfinity Series, would be a natural fit after his first season with the race team. Smith currently sits seventh in the point standings with one win, five top-5 finishes, eight top-10 finishes, and a 15.4 average finishing position. Smith is bound to end up with Kaulig Racing in the Cup Series one day so why not next year?

Finally, there is an out-of-the-box idea that would make sense for Kaulig Racing. What about Big Machine Racing driver [autotag]Parker Kligerman[/autotag]? The driver of the No. 48 car runs in the Xfinity Series and currently sits 17 points below the cut-line. It would be a surprise to see Kligerman in the No. 31 car but he does have experience in the Cup Series. If Kaulig Racing is looking for a veteran driver, Kligerman could be an fascinating situation.

Either way, the No. 31 car for Kaulig Racing will be one to look out for during the remainder of NASCAR silly season. It represents one of the best rides available in the Cup Series and could give a driver in the lower ranks of the sport a great opportunity.

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