Noah Gragson, a Cup rookie last year driving for Legacy Motor Club before his release in August, remains the favorite to replace Almirola, who won’t race full time in Cup next year although he is exploring at least a part-time ride in the Xfinity Series.
NASCAR had suspended Gragson for liking a racially insensitive social media post in August and then reinstated him in September after he completed a program conducted by RISE, the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality.
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There were questions about where Gragson would end up, and it appears that SHR remains the likely destination. Is Gragson bringing funding/sponsorship to the ride since the team lost anchor sponsor Smithfield? That would be likely but still unclear.
— Fox Sports—