[autotag]Stewart-Haas Racing[/autotag] has been one of the main teams involved in NASCAR silly season and that will not be changing until an announcement is made on Aric Almirola. The driver of the No. 10 car is expected to walk away from the NASCAR Cup Series, which would leave the entry vacant. However, the driver market has started to dry up.
Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland are both returning to Front Row Motorsports in 2024 after previously being linked to Stewart-Haas Racing. Also, Trackhouse Racing signed Zane Smith to a multi-year contract despite being considered Ford’s best prospect. All three of those drivers were linked to Stewart-Haas Racing’s possible opening in the No. 10 car.
With options coming off the table, there is one name that truly makes sense. The organization demoted [autotag]Cole Custer[/autotag] to the NASCAR Xfinity Series to bring in Ryan Preece for the No. 41 car; however, Custer should receive a promotion now. The driver of the No. 00 Xfinity car would like to return to the Cup Series for the “right opportunity.”
RETWEET TO CONGRATULATE COLE CUSTER ON HIS NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WIN AT PORTLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY. pic.twitter.com/FnNw9UNBjN
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) June 3, 2023
Simply put, there are not many options available at this time. Ford does not have many prospects with Riley Herbst being the closest driver to the Cup Series. If Stewart-Haas Racing needs to fill the No. 10 car with sponsorship, Herbst would be a good option as he carries Monster Energy. The only question is whether the young driver is ready for that kind of jump.
It essentially leaves Custer as the only driver for Stewart-Haas Racing unless they poach someone from a different manufacturer. Fortunately for the NASCAR team, there shouldn’t be much competition for Custer and it would likely represent an easy situation to navigate. The majority of the Cup Series drivers are set for 2024 so Stewart-Haas Racing would likely have to dip into the Xfinity Series anyway.
Smith’s signing with Trackhouse Racing represented a loss for Ford but it may have brought some clarity to Stewart-Haas Racing. The only driver that is truly ready is Custer and he has already been linked to a possible move back to the Cup Series. There can always be surprises but the No. 10 car seems to have an overwhelming favorite by the public eye.