Stewart-Haas Racing’s driver lineup in the NASCAR Cup Series will certainly look different after the checkered flag flies at Phoenix Raceway in November. Kevin Harvick is set to walk away from the Cup Series and JR Motorsports driver Josh Berry will replace him in the No. 4 car.
Meanwhile, Aric Almirola has a “very high chance” of retiring alongside Harvick and it could create a very complicated situation. Busch Light, a primacy sponsor on the No. 4 car, is joining Ross Chastain at Trackhouse Racing on a multi-year deal. If Smithfield Foods, a primary sponsor on the No. 10 car, leaves in Almirola’s absence, it could prove to be a very costly NASCAR silly season.
Despite the possible sponsorship difficulties, Stewart-Haas Racing is still looking for the best drivers to round out the 2024 driver lineup and another Front Row Motorsports driver has been linked to the seat. According to The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi, [autotag]Todd Gilliland[/autotag] is viewed as a candidate to replace Almirola at Stewart-Haas Racing next year.
Front Row Motorsports drivers Zane Smith and Michael McDowell are also viewed as candidates; however, Gilliland is an interesting idea after Front Row Motorsports demoted him to a part-time Cup Series driver until he picked up other races with Rick Ware Racing.
The driver of the No. 38 car is worthy of a promotion to Stewart-Haas Racing but does it make sense from a sponsorship perspective? It will be interesting to see the situation play out but Stewart-Haas Racing can’t go wrong with Gilliland, Smith, or McDowell.