Ty Dillon is expected to drive the #14 Chevy for Tony Stewart at Atlanta, Phoenix, Auto Club Speedway and Talladega, a source with knowledge of the deal but not authorized to comment told NBC Sports. Nothing has been finalized. Stewart-Haas Racing is not expected to announce who will drive the car at Atlanta until the Wednesday after the Daytona 500. Dillon is expected to drive the races with Bass Pro sponsorship of the #14 car. Bass Pro, which has backed Dillon for years, is scheduled to be a co-primary sponsor with Mobil 1 for the Feb. 28 race at Atlanta, the March 13 race at Phoenix and the March 20 race at Auto Club Speedway. Bass Pro is scheduled to be the car’s primary sponsor for the May 1 race at Talladega. Dillon’s next race Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing in the #95 is expected to be at Texas in April. Also, a candidate to drive Stewart’s car at Las Vegas is Brendan Gaughan, a Las Vegas native, whose family owned South Point Hotel and Casino backs him. Vickers also is a candidate to drive the car in other races.(NBC Sports)(2-15-2016)
UPDATE: Ty Dillon acknowledged Tuesday that he’s had discussions about potentially taking a substitute driving role with Stewart-Haas Racing, filling in for Tony Stewart as the three-time NASCAR champion recovers from a severe back injury. ‘Obviously that’s something that’s been talked about a lot,’ Dillon said. ‘Nothing has been finalized. Unfortunately, it kind of stinks that we’re even talking about that this year.’ Dillon, who is locked into the Daytona 500 field with Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing’s #95 entry, could take the wheel of Stewart’s #14 Chevy in the second Sprint Cup Series race of the season ‘ at Atlanta. Dillon said no contract has been signed, but that he hoped to have news to report ‘sooner or later.’ Negotiations have been positive, Dillon said, adding that he’s honored to have his name mentioned as Stewart’s interim replacement.(NASCAR.com)
