2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Team / Driver Chart
see the UNOFFICIAL 2018 MENCS Silly Season Chart / Page
NOTE: This is an unofficial page compiled by Jayski.com from many different sources.
Try to make it as complete as possible and update it as often possible, USUALLY daily.
It’s a guide to what is heard/found for each team and what has been announced/reported.
Updated often…as changes happen
Updated 12-12-2017
Team charts by season: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007,2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998
2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Team/Driver Chart
2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Team/Driver Chart
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2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year Candidates (ROTY)
#13-Ty Dillon (announced)
#55/#23-Gray Gaulding (part-time)
#77-Erik Jones (announced)
#23/#83-Carey LaJoie (part-time)
#19-Daniel Suarez (announced)Unofficial rules and info about the Sunoco Rookie of the Year program can be found on the:
2017 MENCS Rookie of the Year PageYELLOW STRIPES: sometimes a driver not a candidate for the ROTY award may run the yellow stripes on the back bumper of their car if running on a race track the driver has never competed on before
- POTENTIAL Free-Agent Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Regulars AFTER the 2017 season
#43-Aric Almirola (contract ends 2017)
#37-Chris Buescher (on loan from RFR to JTG)
#41-Kurt Busch (contract ends 2017)
#77-Erik Jones (moves to JGR #20 car in 2018)
#5-Kasey Kahne (released from Hendrick at end of season)
#20-Matt Kenseth (contract ends 2017, won’t return to JGR)
#2-Brad Keselowski (contract ends 2017)
#1-Jamie McMurray (contract status unknown)
#27-Paul Menard (usually works on a year-to-year deal)
#10-Danica Patrick (uncertainty over sponsorship)
#43-Bubba Wallace (contract status unknown) - Possible Free-Agent (full-time) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Regulars after 2016 season
Greg Biffle (split with RFR, no 2017 ride, will do some TV)
David Gilliland (unknown 2017 plans, has not raced in Cup)
Bobby Labonte (semi-retired)
Casey Mears (NXS part-time ride)
Josh Wise (unknown 2017 plans) - Drivers not running full-time after 2017
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., announced that he will retire after the 2017 season - Drivers not running full-time after 2016
#19-Carl Edwards (shockingly left the sport in Jan 2017)
#24/#88-Jeff Gordon (FOX Broadcaster/semi-retired), ran some 2016 races in the #88 for Dale Jr.
#44-Brian Scott, retired after 2016 to spend more time with family
#14-Tony Stewart, says he will not run CUP races in 2017 - Charters that were sold / leased / changed for 2017
#7-Tommy Baldwin Racing has sold Charter to #95 Leavine Family Racing, will run open car part-time
#15-HScott Motorsports has sold the Charter to Premium Motorsports, which goes to the #98 team, but keeps the #15 and will use it.
#16-Roush Fenway Racing, Biffle leaves, team to lease the Charter to a 2nd JTG Daugherty team, #37.
#32-Go FAS Racing, leases their Charter to #21-Wood Brothers Racing and in-turn leases the #44 Charter from Richard Petty Motorsports.
#33-Circle Sport, was leased to #95 Leavine Family Racing, merged with #30 TMG, will run #33 Chevy.
#44-Richard Petty Motorsports leased their Charter to #32 Go Fas Racing which also bought 6 cars from RPM, RPM scales back to one car in 2017, the #43.
#46-HScott Motorsports, team leased Charter from Premium Motorsports who sold it to Furniture Row Racing #77 new team.
#55-Premium Motorsports (ran #55 & #98 in 2016), leased to #46 HScott Motorsports, then sold it to Furniture Row Racing #77, a new team.
#83-BK Racing sold their Charter to Front Row Motorsports who leased it to the new #72 TriStar Motorsports team.
#98-Premium Motorsports, bought the #15 SCott Motorsports Charter and will run the #15, dropping the #98.
NOTES: Charters can be leased once every five years
(leased Charters in 2017: #37 leases #16; #32 the #44; #21 the #32)
NASCAR can remove a Charter for a team in the bottom 3 of owners standings, looks like none will be removed in 2017 - Teams Looking to buy / lease a Charter in 2017
#21-Wood Brothers Racing / Ryan Blaney, will lease #32 Go Fas Racing Charter
#32-Go Fas Racing / Matt DiBenedetto, will lease #44 RPM Charter
#37-JTG Daugherty Racing / Chris Buescher, will lease #16 RFR Charter
#72-TriStar Motorsports, leases a Front Row Motorsports Charter, which was purchased by FRM from #83 BK Racing
#77-Furniture Row Racing / Erik Jones, bought #62 Premium Motorsports #46 HSM leased Charter
#95-Leavine Family Racing / Michael McDowell, bought #7 TBR’s Charter
##98-Premium Motorsports buys HScott Motorsports #15 Charter, and will run the #15 instead of #98.
- Unofficial full-time rides by Manufacturer and Car# Assignments
36 Full Time Teams (36 teams have a Charter)
Chevy: 14 Teams 1,3,5,13,24,27,31,33,37,42,47,48,88,95
Ford: 13 Teams – 2,4,6,10,14,17,21,22,32,34,38,41,43
Toyota: 8 Teams – 11,18,19,20,23,77,78
Toyota/Chevy: 1 Team – 15
Ford/Toyota/Chevy: 1 Team – 72
(* Teams without a Charter, have to qualify on speed) - Some Part-Time / Open Teams by car # that may / could / will attempt a race or races:
Chevy: 7,51,66,75
Ford: none
Toyota: 83,96
Toyota/Chevy: 55
these teams do NOT have a Charter, are considered Open teams - Unofficial Unassigned Numbers for 2017
0,8,9,12,16,25,26,28,29,30,35,36,39,40,
44,45,46,49,50,52,53,54,56,57,58,59,
60,61,62,63,64,65,67,68,69,70,71,73,
74,76,79,80,81,82,84,85,86,87,89,90,
91,92,93,94,97,98,99,
00,01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,09
Numbers are owned and assigned by NASCAR
teams can request a number and hold the license
paying NASCAR to hold a number
CHART KEYS
? unknown or a rumor for that section
* part time team, or a team that has skipped at least one race, listed below the full-time teams
ROTY = Rookie of the Year Candidate
(i) = not running for Cup Series points
(NC) = full-time team without a Charter, has to qualifying for each race via speed
Red = new driver, sponsor, car#, owner, crew chief…etc
A team in all red = new full time or part time team for this season
| FULL TIME TEAMS (teams that plan on running all 36 point races) |
||||||
| CAR# (click # for news) |
DRIVER (contract end year..if known) (champ/roty) |
CAR MANUFACTURER |
PRIMARY SPONSORS (number of races…if known) (signed thru..) |
TEAM / LISTED OWNERS | CREW CHIEF (contract end year..if known) |
ENGINE BUILDER / SUPPLIER |
| NOTES…………….. | ||||||
| 1 | Jamie McMurray (2017?) |
Chevy | McDonald’s (19 races)Cessna (11 races) CreditOne Sherwin-Williams Bass Pro Shops GearWrench |
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Chip Ganassi Felix Sabates Rob Kauffman |
Matt McCall | Hendrick Motorsports |
| Sherwin-Williams will be the sponsor at Texas in April (4-3-2017). GearWrench announced to sponsor the #1 and McMurray in 2017 for multiple races (supposedly 4 races)(11-1-2016). No word or announcements on McMurray’s status for 2017, but the last announcement of his signing was late in 2013. All indications are that McMurray will return to the #1 in 2017. McDonald’s and Cessna are expected to return as sponsors for most of the races. No word if Sherwin Williams (usually 2 races), Bass Pro Shops (All-Star race) and/or CreditOne (3 races) return as sponsors in 2017. There were some rumors that Ganassi could switch to Ford from Chevy, but it seems unlikely with Stewart-Haas Racing switching its four car team from Chevy to Ford. With the team making the Chase in 2015 and 2016, looks like crew chief Matt McCall returns (10-11-2016). It was last reported that McMurray signed a new deal starting in 2014. | ||||||
| 2 | Brad Keselowski (2017) (2012 Champ) |
Ford | Miller Lite (24 races)(2017)Alliance Truck Parts (8 races) Wurth AutoTrader (2 races) SKF (Clash) Fitzgerald |
Team Penske Roger Penske |
Paul Wolfe (2017) | Roush-Yates |
| Fitzgerald will be the primary sponsor at Talladega in May and Richmond in September (2-22-2017). Keselowski and Miller Lite are signed thru 2017, with Miller Lite being the primary sponsor in 24 races. AutoTrader(2), Alliance Truck Parts(8) and Wurth(5) will return in 2017. SKF will be the sponsor in the Clash at Daytona. Crew chief Wolfe is also signed thru 2017 | ||||||
| 3 | Austin Dillon | Chevy | DOW (~24 races)
American Ethanol AAA ?Bass Pro Shops Lucas Oil New Era Cap Okuma |
Richard Childress Richard Childress Racing |
Justin Alexander | ECR Engines |
| Justin Alexander (former #27 RCR crew chief) takes over as the crew chief effective for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May. Former crew chief Slugger Labbe has left to pursue other opportunities (5-22-2017). New Era Cap was the sponsor at Bristol in April (4-17-2017). Okuma was the sponsor at Martinsville (4-1-2017). Dillon and Labbe will return in 2017 after Dillon made the Chase. All sponsors are back except looks like Cheerios will not be. | ||||||
| 4 | Kevin Harvick (2019) (2014 Champ) |
Ford | Busch Beer (2019)(16 races)Jimmy Johns (2017+)(16 races) Mobil 1 |
Stewart-Haas Racing Tony Stewart Gene Haas Joe Custer |
Rodney Childers (2017+) Daniel Knost |
Roush-Yates |
| Daniel Knost will be the crew chief as Childers serves a one-race suspension at Martinsville (3-30-2017). Jimmy Johns renews with SHR in a multi-year deal. Jimmy John’s will be the primary sponsor for 16 races in 2017 (12-1-2016). Busch Beer re-signed with SHR for three more years, thru 2019, upping their sponsor commitment from 12 to 16 races starting in 2017 (11-3-2016). Harvick re-signed with SHR in May, a multi-year contract, probably a three-year deal thru 2019. SHR will switch to Ford starting after the 2016 season. Anheuser-Busch’s Busch brand was the sponsor for 12 races in 2016. Supposedly the contract was thru 2016, but nothing has been announced. Mobil 1 will sponsor all four SHR Fords in 2017, with Harvick as their primary driver. Mobil 1 sponsored Tony Stewart in 2016 for 12-15 races. Danica Patrick, Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch will run at least one race in 2017 with Mobil 1 as the sponsor. Jimmy John’s was the primary sponsor for 21 races in 2016, supposedly they will return. diTech and Outback Steakhouse was the primary sponsor for a couple of races each in 2016, no word on their contract status. Crew Chief Rodney Childers signed a contract extension to stay with the team thru at least 2017, but probably matches up with Harvick’s contract. | ||||||
| 5 | Kasey Kahne (2018) |
Chevy | Farmers Insurance (12 races)(2017/leaves)Great Clips (10 Races)(2017/leaves) LiftMaster Quicken Loans ?Panasonic Toughbook Mountain Dew (1 race)(2018) ?AARP Drive to End Hunger UniFirst (2 races)(2023) |
Rick Hendrick | Darian Grubb | Hendrick Motorsports |
| Darian Grubb named the crew chief of the #5 team for the remaining nine playoff races of the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season, starting at New Hampshire in September. Grubb replaces Keith Rodden, who was the team’s crew chief for 99 races and remains under contract to HMS through 2017 season. Rodden will be assigned other responsibilities. The team’s crew chief for the 2018 season has not been determined (9-18-2017). Hendrick announced that Kahne will be released at the end of the season(8-7-2017). Alex Bowman could drive this car in the Clash at Daytona in February as Kahne is not eligible and the other three Hendrick cars are (12-1-2016). Farmers Insurance is signed thru 2017 for 12 races then will leave the team (10-27-2016). Kahne is signed thru 2018. Great Clips, LiftMaster, Quicken Loans and Mountain Dew will return as a primary sponsor. UniFirst comes aboard as a new sponsor thru 2023 for two races in 2017 and 3 races a year thru 2023. No word on contract status for sponsors Panasonic Toughbook or Drive to End Hunger. Rodden became the crew chief in 2015 and no word of changes there (10-11-2016). | ||||||
| 6 | Trevor Bayne (2019) |
Ford | AdvoCare (2019)Liberty National Life Insurance Company Performance Plus |
Roush Fenway Racing Jack Roush John Henry |
Matt Puccia | Roush-Yates |
| Performance Plus Oil will be the primary sponsor in a few 2017 races (1-11-2017). Liberty National Life Insurance Company will be the primary sponsor in a few 2017 races, first at Atlanta in March (11-30-2016). RFR scales back to two-cars, with the #16 Charter being leased to JTG Daugherty Racing along with driver Chris Buescher. Matt Puccia returns as Baynes crew chief in 2017. Kevin Kidd and Tommy Wheeler will lead Roush Fenway’s overall competition efforts going forward. Kidd will assume the role of Competition Director, and Wheeler will serve as the team’s Operations Director (11-29-2016). Robbie Reiser will no longer be the General Manager and was offered a position in the car production side of RFR (11-24-2016). Roush Fenway Racing announced that AdvoCare and Bayne have re-signed thru 2019 (11-2-2016). No word on crew chief changes as Matt Puccia is the crew chief (10-10-2016) | ||||||
| 10 | Danica Patrick (2018?) |
Ford | Aspen Dental (2017+)(10+ races)TaxACT (2017+)(3 races) Mobil1 (? races) Code3 Associates Nature’s Bakery/Feeding America |
Stewart-Haas Racing Tony Stewart Gene Haas Joe Custer |
Billy Scott | Roush-Yates |
| Nature’s Bakery/Feeding America returns to be the sponsor for two races and conclude their business with SHR. Kentucky and one other race (7-6-2017). It was announced that Aspen Dental will be the lead sponsor for the #10 car, being the primary sponsor in ‘double-digit’ races, including the Daytona 500 (2-14-2017). Nature’s Bakery had announced a decrease in the number of races it would be the primary sponsor, from 28 in 2016 to 25 in 2017, then to 20 a season thru 2018. Rumors started floating that they were not paying and wouldn’t return. It was announced on Feb 3rd that Stewart-Haas Racing has filed lawsuit against Nature’s Bakery, accusing them of refusing to pay millions of dollars it owes the team. Nature’s Bakery sent a letter to the team on Jan. 19 terminating the sponsorship agreement (2-3-2017). Switches to Ford from Chevy for the 2017 season. Nature’s Bakery will scale down its primary sponsorship from 28 to 25 in 2017. Code2 Associates move over from Tony Stewart’s #14 car for 3-4 races in 2017. Mobil 1 will be the primary in a couple of races (10-9-2016). Billy Scott was the crew chief for 2016, no word on any changes there. TaxAct returns as the primary sponsor in four races as does Aspen Dental. Stewart-Haas Racing signed Patrick to a multi-year extension on August 2005 that is expected to run thru 2018.(10-13-2016) | ||||||
| 11 | Denny Hamlin (2020) |
Toyota | FedEx (2020): Express, Freight, Ground, OfficeSport Clips (2 races) |
Joe Gibbs Racing | Mike Wheeler | Toyota Racing Development (TRD) |
| JGR re-signed Hamlin and FedEx to a multi-year deal, usually JGR does 3-year deals. Hamlin’s last contract was thru 2017 (2-23-2017). It was reported in August that Hamlin is signed thru 2017 and is in talks with JGR to extend that contract and stay with JGR. FedEx and Sport Clips will return as the sponsors in 2017. Crew chief Mike Wheeler came aboard at the start of the 2016 season and there are no changes expected there (10-10-2016). | ||||||
| 13 | Ty Dillon (ROTY) |
Chevy | GEICO (2018)(32 races)Twisted Tea (?4 races) |
Germain Racing Bob Germain |
Bootie Barker | ECR Engines |
| Twisted Tea will be the primary sponsor in a few races and an associate sponsor the rest of the season (2-1-2017). Ty Dillon named the new driver for 2017. No word on Casey Mears plans. The rumor was Mears would go to thew #95 but McDowell says he will be back full-time in the #95 in 2017 (11-28-2016). McDowell was named the full-time driver of the #95 Chevy ride, no word what thew plans are for Mears in 2017 (11-24-2016). Indications are that Casey Mears will move to the #95 team in 2017 as Tommy Baldwain Racing sold its charter to the #95 team. Supposedly Ty Dillon will be the new driver of the #13 with increased RCR support. No word if crew chief Todd Parrott moves from the #95 to the #13. No word what happens to the GEICO sponsorship, if it stays on the #13 or moves with Mears to the #95 (10-19-2016). GEICO and Mears agreed to a 3-year extension thru 2018 in November 2015, but there have been reports that Ty Dillon could take over this ride with additional support from Richard Childress Racing. Last heard crew chief Barker was signed thru the 2015 season but was the crew chief in 2016, no word on his status (10-12-2016) | ||||||
| 14 | Clint Bowyer (2018) |
Ford | Mobil 1 (? races)
Rush Truck Centers Haas Automation |
Stewart-Haas Racing Tony Stewart Joe Custer Gene Haas |
Mike Bugarewicz | Roush-Yates |
| Tony Stewart retired at the end of the 2016 season (says he could run a race or two if needed for injured driver, but doubtful). Clint Bowyer takes over the #14 Ford in 2017 (have not heard anything about the team switch to #15), supposedly thru 2018. Five-Hour Energy did not move over with Bowyer and instead goes to the #77 Furniture Row Racing car of Erik Jones in 2017. Bowyer drove the #15 HScott Motorsports Chevy in 2016, waiting for this ride to open up. Stewart-Haas Racing switches to Ford starting for the 2017 season and beyond. Mobli 1 will be the primary sponsor in a few races, otherwise sponsorship is unknown for the #14. No word if Rush Truck Centers, Bass Pro Shops or TaxAct will return to the #14. Code 3 Associates moves over to #10-Danica Patrick. #4-Kevin Harvick will be considered the primary Mobil 1 driver. Mike Bugarewicz was the crew chief in 2016 and no word on any changes there (10-13-2016) | ||||||
| 15 | Reed Sorenson Joey Gase(i) Ross Chastain(i) Kevin O’Connell D.J. Kennington Michael Waltrip |
Toyota (restrictor) Chevy |
Losers Bar & Grill Sparks Energy Delaware Office of Highway Safety Lordco Aaron’s |
Premium Motorsports Jay Robinson |
Tommy Baldwin Jr. | Race Engines Plus
TRD |
| Tommy Baldwin Jr. named the Competition Director of Premium Motorsports and Crew Chief of the #15 starting at Darlington. Scott Eggleston will remain as Team Manager, Pat Tryson will be moving to the crew chief position for the #55 (9-1-2017). Sorenson in the car at Kentucky (7-6-2017). Kevin O’Connell in the car at Sonoma in June (6-21-2017). D.J. Kennington will be in the car at Daytona in July (6-18-2017). Reed Sorenson has been in the car since for most of the races in 2017, sponsors included: Corrigan Oil, Energex, Low T Centers, Harrah’s, Achange of America, VIP Racing Exchange, The Maids (6-18-2017). Ross Chastain to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Dover in June with Delaware Office of Highway Safety as the sponsor. (5-30-2017). Joey Gase ran the car at Talladega in May (4-12-2017). Michael Waltrip will run his final Cup race in the Daytona 500 with Aaron’s as the sponsor (2-1-2017). This was the #98 team in 2016, which will use the Charter from the #15 HScott Motorsports team that was purchased by Premium Motorsports after the 2016 season (1-23-2017). Robinson confirmed that Sorenson will pilot the #55 in the Daytona 500 next month, with more races possible, dependent on sponsorship. Though Sorenson will be competing in the #55 car, it is the #15 car that has a guaranteed starting position into all 36 races after Premium Motorsports’ purchase of the charter from HScott Motorsports, which shut down over the off-season. The organization decided to keep the #15, getting rid of the #98, which attempted to qualify for 33 races in 2016. Lee Leslie be the crew chief for the #55 car. Having no ties with any manufacturer, the team will run Toyotas at the four superspeedway (Daytona / Talladega) races in 2017, moving to Chevy in the other 32 events. Robinson didn’t name a full-time driver for the #15 car, but revealed he has found a driver for the Daytona 500 (Waltrip?) that will be released at a later date. In the off-season, Premium Motorsports moved its race shop to Mooresville, NC (1-23-2017). Hearing Derrike Cope could drive in 10 races for Premium Motorsports, not sure which team (1-19-2017). Michael Waltrip said he would drive a Toyota in the Daytona 500, indications are that it will be with Premium Motorsports. No word if the team will use or lease it’s Charter it bought from HScott Motorsports (1-6-2017). Harry Scott, Jr. announced in a team meeting that HScott Motorsports would not field a NASCAR entry during the 2017 season and that the #15 Charter, which was owned by HScott Motorsports, has been sold to Premium Motorsports (#55 & #98). The charter that was leased for the #46 HSM team was sold by Premium Motorsports to Furniture Row Racing. So that means the 2nd FRR #77 with Erik Jones has a Charter for 2017. Premium Motorsports still has one Charter left (from the #15) to use, sell or lease in 2017, not sure if they would run it using the #15, #55, #62, #98 or chose a new car number (12-5-2016). Cole Whitt left the team late in the 2016 season, says he has plans but nothing announced (11-3-2016). With HScott Motorsports probably selling its one charter and closing down. Premium Motorsports gets back the charter it leased to HSM’s #46 team. No word if the team would lease it again or keep it for the #55 or #98 team (10-20-2016). Ran a full season without a charter as an open team. The lead team to the #55 team. Cole Whitt ran or attempted most of the races in this car with Reed Sorenson, Ryan Ellis and Timmy Hill also running races in the #98. Whitt also ran a few races in the team #55 car. The team mostly used Chevy’s but used Toyota in a few races. No word which, if any, of the sponsors return in 2016 (10-12-2016) | ||||||
| 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2017+) |
Ford | Fastenal (~15 races)(2018+)Fifth Third Bank (5 races)(2017) SunnyD Ford EcoBoost |
Roush Fenway Racing Jack Roush John Henry |
Brian Pattie | Roush-Yates |
| Ford EcoBoost to be featured at Texas in April (4-3-2017). RFR scales back to two-cars, with the #16 Charter being leased to JTG Daugherty Racing along with driver Chris Buescher. Brian Pattie, who was the crew chief for the #16 Cup Series team last season, will transition to crew chief of the #17 team. Nick Sandler, who served as the #17 crew chief the last two seasons, has been named Director of Engineering. Kevin Kidd and Tommy Wheeler will lead Roush Fenway’s overall competition efforts going forward. Kidd will assume the role of Competition Director, and Wheeler will serve as the team’s Operations Director (11-29-2016). Robbie Reiser will no longer be the General Manager and will take another position within RFR (11-24-2016). Zest, a primary sponsor for 6 races, announced it will not return in 2017 as a NASCAR sponsor in 2017 (11-23-2016). Stenhouse Jr. is signed thru at least 2017. Fastenal re-signed to sponsor the team for a few more seasons and ups its number of races as primary sponsor in 2017 and beyond. SunnyD will return, no word how many races, after sponsor the #17 in 4 races. No word on the status of Zest, the sponsor for 6 races. Fifth Bird Bank will return for 5 races in 2017. Roush Fenway Racing formed an enhanced technical alliance with Front Row Motorsports, providing engineering, equipment and driver support to Front Row (10-10-2016) | ||||||
| 18 | Kyle Busch (2019+) (2015 Champion) |
Toyota | M&M’s (2019+) M&M’s Carmel Skittles Pedigree Dog Food Banfield Pet Hospital SnickersInterstate Batteries (6 races) |
Joe Gibbs Racing | Adam Stevens | Toyota Racing Development (TRD) |
| Busch and sponsor M&M’s are signed thru at least 2019 after announcing an extension in November 2015. Skittles, Snickers and Pedigree Dog Food were Mars products featured in some races. Long time JGR sponsor Interstate Batteries to return in 2017 for six races. Adam Stevens took over as the crew chief in 2015 and no word of changes (10-12-2016)). | ||||||
| 19 | Daniel Suarez (ROTY)(2017?) |
Toyota | ARRIS (22 races)(2019+)Stanley (?12 races) Subway |
Joe Gibbs Racing | Scott Graves Dave Rogers |
Toyota Racing Development (TRD) |
| Crew chief Dave Rogers took an indefinite personal leave after Auto Club Speedway in March. No other information was made available. Scott Graves moves up from JGR’s #18 Xfinity Series team to take over for Rogers (3-29-2017). SUBWAY will be the primary sponsor in four races: Auto Club in March; Charlotte in May; Daytona in July; and Talladega in October (2-23-2017). ARRIS renews sponsorship, will be the primary in 2017 for 22 races, up from 17 (2-16-2017). In a shocking and unexpected move, Carl Edwards left the sport and will not race full-time in 2017. He didn’t say he was retired, but plans to pursue other interests (rumors have him going to Penske in 2018, but they were denied). Daniel Suarez takes over the #19 and will run for rookie of the year. ARRIS, Stanley Tools and Subway are return as sponsor. Crew chief Rogers stays as does most of the crew (1-11-2017). Edwards was signed thru 2017, some rumors having him going to a 3rd Penske car in 2018 (1-11-2017) | ||||||
| 20 | Matt Kenseth (2017) (2003 Champion) |
Toyota | DeWalt (15 races)Tide Pods (3 races) Circle K PEAK / BlueDEF Interstate Batteries |
Joe Gibbs Racing | Jason Ratcliff | Toyota Racing Development (TRD) |
| Erik Jones takes over this ride in 2018. No word on Kenseth’s plans or what becomes of the #77 team (7-11-2017). Matt Kenseth announced he would not return to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2018. All indications are that Erik Jones will move from the #77 Furniture Row Racing car back to the #20 JGR car in 2018. 5-Hour Energy has to stay at the #77 can’t move with Jones. (7-8-2017). Circle K will be the primary sponsor for six races in 2017 (4-19-2017). PEAK / BlueDEF will be the sponsor at Las Vegas and Auto Club in March (3-8-2017). Interstate Batteries was the sponsor in the Clash (2-18-2017). Tide will be the sponsor for three races: Phoenix in March, Indy in July and Charlotte in October (2-17-2017). Kenseth is signed thru 2017. DeWalt will take over the primary sponsorship for the majority (15) of the 2017 races. Dollar General left as the main primary sponsor after the 2016 season and not return to NASCAR, no word on replacement sponsors past DeWalt | ||||||
| 21 [was 32] | Ryan Blaney | Ford | Motorcraft / Quick Lane SKF |
Wood Brothers Racing Glen Wood Eddie Wood |
Jeremy Bullins | Roush-Yates |
| Blaney will move tie Bullin’s to a third Penske car in 2018, the #12 Ford (7-26-2017). Go FAS Racing, leases their Charter to #21-Wood Brothers Racing for the 2017 season (12-15-2016). Blaney will return to drive with Bullins as the crew chief, running a full season again in 2017. Expect Motorcraft/Quick Lane and Ford Performance to return as a primary sponsor for at least 12 races (10-10-2016) | ||||||
| 22 | Joey Logano (2023) |
Ford | Shell-Pennzoil (2023)(32+1 races)AAA / Automobile Club of Southern California (3 races) Autotrader.com (2 races) |
Team Penske Roger Penske |
Todd Gordon Miles Stanley |
Roush-Yates |
| Miles Stanley will sub for suspended crew chief Todd Gordon at Talladega and Kansas (5-4-2017). Team Penske announced at Daytona that they have re-signed Shell-Pennzoil thru 2022 and Logano’s contract was extended thru 2012 (2-24-2017). Logano is signed thru 2018. Shell-Pennzoil will sponsor 32 races a season and is signed thru 2018. AAA Insurance and AutoTrader are expected to return to sponsor the rest of the races (10-11-2016) | ||||||
| 23 | Corey LaJoie
Joey Gase(i) Ryan Sieg(i) |
Toyota | Best Home Furnishings (3 races) Dr Pepper |
BK Racing Ron Devine Wayne Press |
Randy Cox | ? |
| Gray Gaulding has been running the #55 Premium Motorsports car part-timme. Looks like he and the team have parted ways (7-8-2017). Alon Day will run the car at Sonoma with EarthWater Limited as the sponsor (6-19-2017). Ryan Sieg was in the car at Michigan, no word on plans for Gaulding (6-16-2017). Randy Cox moves over from BK Racing’s #83 team to be the crew chief. Doug George moves to the #83 team (6-14-2017). Patrick Donahue parted ways with BK Racing after Pocono, Doug George will be the new crew chief (6-10-2017). Bubba Burger to be the sponsor at Charlotte in May (5-17-2017). SunFrog the sponsor at Phoenix and Auto Club in March (3-20-2017). Gray Gaulding will run the car starting at Atlanta for the full season, except for the three races Gase is scheduled to run. Gaulding not run the Daytona 500 (not eligible) but run the #83 car at Kentucky in July and Bristol in August (1-24-2017). Patrick Donahue will return as a crew chief with BK Racing in 2017 (1-2-2017). Joey Gase scheduled to run three races in 2017 for BK Racing in the #23 with Best Home Furnishings as the sponsor in three races: Daytona in February, Kentucky in July and Bristol in August (12-20-2016). David Ragan and BK Racing parted ways, Ragan goes back to Front Row Motorsports, this time in the #38. Looks like BK Racing will use many drivers in 2017 (12-9-2016). All indications are that Ragan will not return to this ride in 2017 (11-20-2016). Ragan was signed for one-year, no word on his plans. No word on BK Racing’s plans for 2017 (10-10-2016) | ||||||
| 24 | Chase Elliott (2018) |
Chevy | NAPA Auto Parts (24 races)(2018)
SunEnergy1 Kelley Blue Book (2 races) Mountain Dew (2 races) Hooters |
Rick Hendrick Jeff Gordon |
Alan Gustafson | Hendrick Motorsports |
| Hooters will be the primary sponsor for two races in 2017: Talladega in May and Phoenix in November. 3M supposedly was signed thru 2017 but haven’t heard anything about them returning (1-23-2017). NAPA Auto Parts will be the majority sponsor (24 races) of Chase Elliott and the #24 Chevy in 2017, with a new paint scheme, and is signed thru 2018. SunEnergy1 will be the primary sponsor for 4 races a year thru 2018. Kelley Blue Book will be the sponsor for two races in each of 2016 and 2017. Mountain Dew scheduled to return for a couple races. 3M was the primary sponsor for five races in 2016 but looks like they will not return in 2017. Gustafson remain as the crew chief (10-11-2016). | ||||||
| 27 | Paul Menard (2017) |
Chevy | Menard’s (2017) | Richard Childress Racing Richard Childress |
Matt Borland | ECR Engines |
| Menards and Menards will leave at the end of 2017 and move to the #21 Wood Brothers Racing team (7-26-2017). Matt Borland named the crew chief at the conclusion of the 2016 season, replacing interim crew chief Danny Stockman. Stockman will return to RCR’s NASCAR XFINITY Series program. Borland recently, he served as VP of technology for Stewart-Haas Racing, overseeing the team’s NASCAR and F1 operations (11-2-2016). John Menard says he (sponsor Menards) and Paul Menard are signed with Richard Childress Racing in NASCAR through 2017. Danny Stockman took over the crew chief responsibilities at Pocono in July 2016 (10-10-2015) | ||||||
| 31 | Ryan Newman (2017+) |
Chevy | Caterpillar (22 races)(2017+)Grainger (5 races) Kalahari Resorts Velveeta (2 races) |
Richard Childress Richard Childress Racing |
Luke Lambert | ECR Engines |
| Velveeta was the sponsor at Michigan in June and Daytona in July (7-1-2017). Kalahari Resorts will be the sponsor at Pocono in June (3-28-2017). Newman re-signed with RCR, a multiple year deal (usually 2-3 years), Caterpillar will return as a primary sponsor in 2017. Grainger is signed thru 2017 and was the sponsor in 8 races during the 2017 season. No word on the status of WIX Filters as a primary sponsor. WIX was the sponsor for three races. Whelen’s (2 races), Kalahari Resorts, Florida Lottery and Freightliner also was the primary sponsor in 1-2 races (10-10-2016). | ||||||
| 32 [was 44] | Matt DiBenedetto | Ford | Can-Am (13 races)(2018)Keen Parts / Corvetteparts.net Visone RV Really Cheap Floors E.J Wade Reddit.com |
Go Fas Racing Archie St. Hilaire |
Gene Nead | Roush-Yates |
| Reddit.com will be featured on the car car in the Open at Charlotte in May (5-15-2017). Corvetteparts.net returns to sponsor some races, 1st at Martinsville in April (3-18-2017). Gene Nead named the crew chief, coming over with DiBenedetto from BK Racing (1-19-2017). Go FAS Racing, leases their Charter to #21-Wood Brothers Racing and in-turn leases the #44 Charter from Richard Petty Motorsports (12-15-2016). Go Fas Racing (GFR) announced that Matt DiBenedetto will drive for all 36 scheduled races in 2017. The team says it has a fleet of newer race equipment (six cars from Richard Petty Motorsports) purchased this off season. Can-Am/Kappa, Keen Parts, Visone RV, Really Cheap Floors will return as sponsors and GFR announced there will be new additions to its 2017 sponsorship lineup that will be released at a later date. Wally Rogers will not return as crew chief, a new one will be announced soon (12-15-2016). Neither Bobby Labonte nor Jeffrey Earnhardt will return to the team in 2017. No word of Labonte will retire or try to find another part-time ride. Earnhardt ran a few races for BK Racing but hearing he will not go there in 2017 (11-23-2016). BRP’s Can-Am extended their contract with Go Fas Racing thru 2018 in association with the Kappa and Cyclops Gear brands. Can-Am will be the primary sponsor for 13 races in each season and as an associate the rest of races. No word on plans for Keen Parts / Corvetteparts.net, which was the sponsor for 8 races. Jeffrey Earnhardt drove the #32 Ford in the majority of the race, no word if he returns in 2017. No word if Bobby Labonte returns to run the restrictor plate races (Daytona / Talladega) or retire. The team ran a few different drivers in 2016: Labonte, Earnhardt, Gase, Jeb Burton, Patrick Carpentier, Eddie MacDonald and Boris Said. No word on any changes with the crew chief (10-10-2016). | ||||||
| 33 | Jeffrey Earnhardt
Boris Said |
Chevy | Hulu (19 races) NiceRide Superior Logistics Systems Genesee |
Circle Sport Joe Falk The Motorsports Group (TMG) Curtis Key |
Eddie Pardue | ?ECR Engines |
| Pardue named the new crew chief with Pat Tryson leaving the team (6-26-2017). Boris Said will run the car at Sonoma in June with Genesee Brewing Company as the sponsor (6-20-2017). NASCAR veteran Crew Chief, Eddie Pardue joined the team as if Michigan in June, as Head of Engineering (6-16-2017). NiceRide was the sponsor at Phoenix. Superior Logistics Systems was the sponsor at Las Vegas. Starter was supposed to be the sponsor for the 1st four races, but has not been on the car yet (3-19-2017). Jeffrey Earnhardt will be the driver, it could be full-time if sponsorship is found. Starter will be the sponsor for four races. ECR Engineering will supply engines for Daytona & Talladega. Hendrick organization to provide a trained pit crew and manager each week (2-11-2017). Circle Sport and TMG merged and will have a Charter from #33 team which was leased to #95 Leavine Family Racing in 2016. Pat Tryson has been named the crew chief and the team will run Chevy. The team could run a second car, the #30 as an open team in some races (1-6-2017). Circle Sport leased its Charter in 2016 to Leavine Family Racing’s #95 team and had to either use it or sell it for the 2017 season as a team can only lease their Charter once every five years. | ||||||
| 34 | Landon Cassill | Ford | Love’s Travel Stops (18 races)(2017)CSX Transportation FR8Auctions ?MDS Transportation ?The Pete Store Taco Bell ?Dockside Logistics |
Front Row Motorsports Bob Jenkins Brad Jenkins |
Seth Barbour | Roush-Yates |
| Front Row Motorsports purchased the Charter from BK Racing’s #83 team and will lease it to the #72 TriStar Motorsports team for 2017 as FRM prepares to expand to three chartered cars in 2018 (2-2-2017). Love’s Travel Stops will be the primary sponsor for 18 races including Daytona, both Texas races and Bristol in August (1-24-2017). Landon Cassill moves from FRM’s #38 team to the #34 (higher owners points 16th). Crew chief Donnie Wingo moves over with Cassill from the #38. No sponsors announced. David Ragan to FRM’s #38. FRM will continue its technical alliance with Roush Fenway Racing and its engine program with Roush Yates Engines (12-16-2016). RFR scales back to two-cars, with the #16 Charter being leased to JTG Daugherty Racing along with driver Chris Buescher, who RFR loaning to JTG. No word who will drive in the #34. Cassill will return to FRM, no word on the #34 or #38 car. No word on what crew chief Bob Osbourne will do, if he stays at FRM or goes back to RFR, but he will not go with Chris Buescher to JTG (11-29-2016). A report puts Chris Buescher in the 2nd JTG Daugherty car, supposedly on loan from Roush Fenway Racing, could also get a charter leased form RFR (11-23-2016). Rumors are afloat that Buescher could move to the 2nd JTG Daugherty team in 2017 (11-13-2016). Plans are to keep Buescher at Front Row Motorsports in 2017 and maintain the alliance with Roush Fenway Racing. RFR says they have no plans to expand to a 4th team in 2017 for Buescher. Love’s Travel Stops and CSX Transportation are expected to return in 2017. Indications are that crew chief Bob Osborne will return. Roush Fenway Racing formed an enhanced technical alliance with Front Row Motorsports, providing engineering, equipment and driver support to Front Row. The team will receive full engineering and pit support from Roush Fenway. No word on if FRM expands to a third full time, non-chartered team or just runs the #35 in a few races as they did in 2016 (10-12-2016) | ||||||
| 37 [was 16] | Chris Buescher | Chevy | Scott Products Cottonelle Mega Kroger Bush’s Beans Natural Light Velveeta Kleenex Cars 3 |
JTG Daugherty Racing Tad Geschickter Brad Daugherty |
Trent Owens | ECR Engines |
| Cars 3 will be featured on the #37 Kleenex Chevy at Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 in May in a one-race collaboration (5-16-2017). Trent Owens named the crew chief for Buescher in 2017. Owens was the #43 crew chief until late in 2016 and was released by RPM in October (1-2-2017). It was announced the team will run the #37 (12-12-2016). It’s official, JTG Daugherty Racing to start a 2nd team, leasing a Charter for the #16 Roush Fenway Racing team. RFR will loan driver Chris Buescher to JTG. No number, crew chief or sponsor has been announced. Buescher announced: “I can confirm that I have signed to race for JTG Daugherty Racing as they expand to a two-car team in the NASCAR premier series in 2017” (11-29-2016). A report puts Chris Buescher in the 2nd JTG Daugherty car, supposedly on loan from Roush Fenway Racing, could also get a charter leased form RFR (11-23-2016). Rumor has that Chris Buescher could move to this team (11-13-2016). JTG Daugherty Racing possibly starting a 2nd team in 2017. Greg Biffle has been rumored as the driver but looks like that may have fallen through. Could get a charter from the HSM #15 team if they sell. Kroger could move over from the #47 and sponsor this team (11-3-2016) | ||||||
| 38 | David Ragan | Ford | Camping World / Good Sam Club (9 races)Jacob Companies (6 races) Juice Battery |
Front Row Motorsports Bob Jenkins Brad Jenkins |
Derrick Finley | Roush-Yates |
| Juice Battery was the sponsor at Las Vegas in March (3-12-2017). Camping World / Good Sam Club will be the primary sponsor for 9 races, including the Daytona 500 and Atlanta. Jacob Companies will be the primary for 6 races, first one at Phoenix in March (2-18-2017). Front Row Motorsports purchased the Charter from BK Racing’s #83 team and will lease it to the #72 TriStar Motorsports team for 2017 as FRM prepares to expand to three chartered cars in 2018 (2-2-2017). David Ragan returns to FRM, this time to the #38 team with Landon Cassill moving from the #38 to the #34. Crew Chief Donnie Wingo moves to the #34 with Cassill, no crew chief named for Ragan. Sponsors to be announced at a later date. FRM will continue its technical alliance with Roush Fenway Racing and its engine program with Roush Yates Engines (12-16-2016). R (12-16-2016). Cassill said he will return to Front Row Motorsports in 2017, not sure in the #38 or move to the #34 as Buescher goes to a 2nd JTG car, but indications are it’ll be in the #38 (11-27-2016). No word on plans for Cassill in 2017. Roush Fenway Racing formed an enhanced technical alliance with Front Row Motorsports, providing engineering, equipment and driver support to Front Row. The team will receive full engineering and pit support from Roush Fenway. No word on if FRM expands to a third full time, non-chartered team or just runs the #35 in a few races as they did in 2016. No word on the status of crew chief Wingo (10-12-2016) | ||||||
| 41 | Kurt Busch (2017) (2004 Champ) |
Ford | Monster Energy (2017)(? races)Haas Automation (? races) State Water Heaters Mobil 1 |
Stewart-Haas Racing Gene Haas Tony Stewart Joe Custer |
Tony Gibson | Roush-Yates |
| Will switch to Ford starting after the 2016 season. Busch has signed a multi-year deal (2-3 year deal usually) to stay at SHR in the #41. Monster Energy was featured on the hood in 17 races and the quarter panels in 18 races with one full race sponsorship in 2016, supposedly that will be similar in 2017. Mobil 1 will likely be a primary sponsor in a race. No word if State Water Heaters will return as a one-race sponsor in 2017. Expect crew chief Gibson to stay in 2017 (10-11-2016) | ||||||
| 42 | Kyle Larson (2017+) |
Chevy | Target (26-31 races)(2017)CreditOne (?5 races) |
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Chip Ganassi Felix Sabates Robert Kauffman |
Chad Johnston | Hendrick Motorsports |
| Target will leave after the 2017 season, CGR says they have a new sponsor in place to be announced soon (7-28-2017). Supposedly CreditOne will be the sponsor for five races (12-30-2016). Target will reduce the amount of races it serves as primary sponsor of the #42, dropping 5-10 races as the primary sponsor in 2017 in a mutual agreement in order to allow other companies to start working with the team. Supposedly Target could be out as the sponsor after the 2017 season (12-19-2106). Larson is signed thru at least 2017 and supposedly has a multi-year deal with CGR, who never announces contract lengths. Target (and subs like Energizer, Luvs, Clorox, Axe) will return in 2017 as the primary sponsor and could leave after the season. Ganassi and Target parted company in open-wheel racing when the retailer ended its 27-year sponsorship. Ganassi has one more year with Target on its stock cars. No word on the status of crew chief Chad Johnston, who won a race with Larson in 2016 (10-11-2016). | ||||||
| 43 | Aric Almirola (2017)Regan Smith Darrell Wallace Jr. Billy Johnson |
Ford | Smithfield Foods (2017)(?31 races)U.S. Air Force (2017)(2 races) STP Fresh from Florida |
Richard Petty Motorsports Richard Petty Andy Murstein Doug Bergeron |
Drew Blickensderfer | Roush-Yates |
| Road racer Billy Johnson will sub for Almirola at Sonoma in June (6-19-2017). Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. will run the #43 at Pocono and Michigan and probably at Daytona and Kentucky in July. Almirola hopes to return to the seat at New Hampshire in July (6-19-2017). Regan Smith will sub for Almirola in the Open at Charlotte in May and run the All-Star race if he wins a segment and run at Charlotte (Coke 600) and Dover (5-25-2017). Almiorla suffered a fractured vertebra in his back in a wreck at Kansas Speedway in May. He will be out for an undetermined amount of time (5-14-2017). Fresh From Florida returns to be the primary sponsor at Talladega in May (1-24-2017). RPM Statement on 2017 from Brian Moffitt, CEO: “At the conclusion of the 2016 season, we evaluated how to best improve our on-track product. We feel that it’s in the best interest of our partners and for Richard Petty Motorsports to focus our resources on the #43 Ford Fusion and Aric (Almirola) in 2017. A concentrated effort on one team will position us for improvement while giving us adequate time to reestablish our two-car team in 2018. For the interim, we will lease one of our two charters” (12-16-2016). Air Force announced to return for two races (Charlotte-May, Phoenix-Nov) in 2017 with Almirola returning (11-12-2016). Nothing announced but Almirola is expected to return to the seat of the #43 in 2016. Smithfield expected to return as the major primary sponsor of the car as is the U.S. Air Force (for two races, usually Memorial Day and Veterans Day). No word on sponsors STP or Fresh from Florida. Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer took over in September 2016, replacing Trent Owens. Ford will be RPM’s Manufacturer in 2017 after signing a multi-year deal in 2016. RPM will continue to work on a services agreement with Roush Fenway Racing and field Roush-Yates engines (10-11-2016). | ||||||
| 47 | A.J. Allmendinger (2020) |
Chevy | Kroger ClickList(24 races)(2017)
Kingsford Charcoal / Clorox (2016) Scott Products (2017) Bush’s Beans (2017) Hungry Jack Better Than Bouillon Stouffer’s Lean Cuisine Crisco Louisiana Hot Sauce |
JTG Daugherty Racing Tad Geschickter Brad Daugherty |
Tristan Smith | ECR Engines |
| Tristan Smith has been listed as the crew chief since Watkins Glen in 2017. Ernie Cope takes over crew chief duties on the #47 JTG Daugherty Chevrolet and driver AJ Allmendinger, effective immediately (All-Star weekend at Charlotte). Former crew chief, Randall Burnett, who was recruited for the position after the 2015 season, will be reassigned within JTGD (5-19-2017). Ernie Cope the crew chief while Burnett is serving a three race suspension for missing lug nuts after Atlanta (3-7-2017). JTG Daugherty Racing starts 2nd team in 2017 with Chris Buscher as the driver on loan from Roush Fenway Racing. The team will run #37 and have a Charter from RFR’s #16 on a lease. Greg Biffle was rumored as the driver but it fell thru. Kroger could move over from the #47 and sponsor this team (11-3-2016). Allmendinger is signed thru 2020, no rumblings of any changes. Looks like most of the primary sponsors will return in 2017, including Kroger, Scott Products and Bush’s Baked Beans. No word on the status of crew chief Randall Burnett but he is expected to return in that capacity (10-10-2016) | ||||||
| 48 | Jimmie Johnson (2017) (2006,2007,2008,2009 2010,2013,2016 Champ) |
Chevy | Lowe’s Home Improvement Kobalt Tools Lowe’s ProServices Jimmie Johnson Foundation (2018) |
Rick Hendrick Jeff Gordon |
Chad Knaus (2018) |
Hendrick Motorsports |
| Johnson and Lowe’s are signed thru at least the 2017 season. Lowe’s will be the sponsor for all the races. Crew Chief Chad Knaus is signed thru 2018 (10-11-2016). | ||||||
| 72 [was 83] | Cole Whitt | Chevy Ford Toyota |
RTIC Coolers Florida State LotteryRinnai Standard Plumbing |
TriStar Motorsports Mark Smith |
Frank Kerr | Pro-Motor Engineering (PME) |
| Standard Plumbing was the sponsor at Phoenix on the #72 Chevy (3-18-2017). Rinnai was the sponsor at Atlanta and Las Vegas and the team ran a Chevy there (3-2-2017). Front Row Motorsports purchased the Charter from BK Racing’s #83 team and will lease it to the #72 TriStar Motorsports team for 2017 as FRM prepares to expand to three chartered cars in 2018 (2-2-2017). TriStar Motorsports announced it will return the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series for the 2017 season, fielding one-entry. Cole Whitt will drive the #72 (Ford was pictured in the PR) bringing with him Florida Lottery to serve as the primary sponsor for the Daytona 500. Other sponsorship will come from RTIC Coolers, Rinnai and Carolina Skiff throughout the 2017 season. Frank Kerr will be the crew chief. Reports have the team securing a Charter from Front Row Motorpsorts (2-2-2017) | ||||||
| 77 [was 46] | Erik Jones (2017)(ROTY) |
Toyota | Five Hour Energy (22 races)(2017)Sport Clips (4 races) SiriusXM Toyota Service Centers |
Furniture Row Racing Barney Visser |
Chris Gayle | TRD |
| Erik Jones will leave after 2017 and take over the #20 JGR ride in 2018. No word yet on plans for the #77 team. 5-Hour Energy has to stay with this team or the #78 and can’t move elsewhere due to Monster Energy being the series sponsor. If FRR decides not to run the car, it would have to sell of lease the Charter (7-11-2017). Matt Kenseth announced he would not return to the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing car in 2018. All indications are that Erik Jones will move from the #77 Furniture Row Racing car back to the #20 JGR car in 2018. 5-Hour Energy has to stay at the #77 can’t move with Jones. So this team will be looking for a driver in 2018 (7-8-2017). Toyota Service Centers will be on the car at Auto Club in March (3-20-2017). SiriusXM is scheduled to be the sponsor in two races at Atlanta and Watkins Glen (3-2-2017). Sport Clips will be the sponsor for four races in 2017: Bristol in April, Daytona in July, Indy in July and Texas in November (2-7-2017). The charter that was leased for the #46 HSM team was sold by Premium Motorsports to Furniture Row Racing (12-5-2016). Could buy a charter from another team such as the #15 HSM or Premium Motorsports or run as an open team in 2017 (11-1-2016). Supposedly this will be a one-season deal with Jones and 5-Hour Energy, no word on Joe Gibbs Racing’s plans for Jones after that (10-4-2016). Furniture Row Racing announced that it will field a second team in 2017 with Erik Jones driving the #77 Toyota. 5-hour ENERGY will be the primary sponsor on Jones’ Camry for 22 races. Jones will run for Rookie of Year. Team owner Barney Visser said Furniture Row has a one-year contract with Jones (and 5-Hour Energy), and would like to have more. Team owner Barney Visser said the team will attempt to gain a NASCAR charter for the #77 rather than competing as an open entry (10-10-2016) | ||||||
| 78 | Martin Truex Jr. (2018) |
Toyota | Furniture Row
Denver Mattress Bass Pro Shops Auto-Owners Insurance 5-Hour Energy Wix Filters |
Furniture Row Racing Barney Visser |
Cole Pearn | TRD |
| Wix Filters will be the primary sponsor for one race, at New Hampshire in July, and be an associate sponsor the rest of the races (1-24-2017). Auto-Owners Insurance re-signs thri 2018 for 6 races in each of the 2017 and 2018 season (1-17-2017). Truex Jr. signed a two-year deal to stay with FRR thru 2018. Bass Pro Shops will be the primary sponsor in 16 races in each of the 2017 & 2018 seasons. No word if Tanger Outlets returns in 2017. 5-Hour Energy will be the primary sponsor for two races in 2017, the Clash at Daytona and the All-Star race in Charlotte. Cole Pearn remains the crew chief. Furniture Row Racing announced that it will field a second team in 2017 with Erik Jones driving the #77 Toyota | ||||||
| 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2017) Alex Bowman |
Chevy | Nationwide Insurance (21 races)(2017)
Axalta Coatings Systems Mountain Dew (3 races) |
Rick Hendrick | Greg Ives | Hendrick Motorsports |
| Earnhardt Jr. will move to TV in 2018, working with NBC (7-24-2017). Alex Bowman will be the new driver in 2018 (7-21-2017). Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced he will retire at the end of the 2017 season. No replacement has been announced. Carl Edwards has been ruled out. Other candidates could be Alex Bowman or William Bryon (4-25-2017). To run a Philadelphia Eagles scheme at Pocono in June to promote Axalta’s All-Pro Teachers (4-5-2017). Earnhardt Jr. given medical clearance to race in 2017 and will start with the Daytona 500. Alex Bowman, who won the pole at Phoenix in November, will run the #88 Nationwide Chevy in the Clash at Daytona, Earnhardt Jr. will skip it even thou he is eligible (12-9-2016). After missing the last half (18 of 36 races) of the 2016 season with a severe concussion. Earnhardt Jr. is expected back in the car at Daytona in February 2017. Earnhardt Jr. has said he wants to return and race and expects to be cleared over the off-season. Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to get married in the off-season. Nationwide, Axalta and Mountain Dew will return in 2017. No word if TaxSlayer.com will be the primary sponsor again for one race. Jeff Gordon and Alex Bowman subbed for Earnhardt in 2016. Crew Chief Greg Ives is expected back. Earnhardt Jr. is signed thru 2017 but is supposedly working on an extension (10-11-2016). | ||||||
| 95 [was 7] | Michael McDowell | Chevy | K-LOVE Radio WRL General Contractors Procore Jolt Eye Drops |
Leavine Family Racing Bob Leavine |
Jon Leonard | ECR Engines |
| Jolt Eye Drops will be the sponsor at Martinsville in October(10-17-2017). Following the October Talladega race, Todd Parrott was let go as crew chief. Jon Leonard took over as interim crew chief(10-16-2017). Kasey Kahne will move to this ride in 2018 (9-19-2017). McDowell named full-time driver for 2017 with Parrott staying on as the crew chief (1-5-2017). Michael McDowell says he will be back in the #95 ride full-time in 2017 and that Ty Dillon has his plans for 2017 ‘all sorted out’ (heads to the #13). Joe Falk / Circle Sport will split with the #95 after leasing its Charter to the #95 team in 2016, Circle Sport has run the #33 in the past, no word on their plans, which is to run the team or sell the charter, they cannot lease it again for five years (11-24-2016). Team leadership at Leavine Family Racing announced that the team has secured an ownership charter in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The charter was purchased from #7-Tommy Baldwin Racing (11-17-2016). Thrivent Financial will not return as the primary sponsor. Team says it plans to run a full 2017 season with McDowell (10-12-2016). Indications were that Casey Mears was to be the driver in 2017 (but it didn’t happen), moving from the #13 team. Tommy Baldwain Racing has signed paperwork to transfer ownership charter to Leavine Family Racing (#95 Chevy). LFR leased their charter for 2016 from Circle Sport #33 team / Joe Falk. Baldwin could play an advisory role with the team. No word if Todd Parrott stays with the #95 team or moves to the #13 with Ty Dillon (10-19-2016). No word what the plans are with this team for 2017. Michael McDowell was signed thru 2016, Ty Dillon ran 5 races in 2016 and is planning on running a full-time Cup season in 2017. With Newman re-signed in the #31 RCR car, that ride is out. Unlikely RCR starts a 4th team with no charter. Three options include the #13 Germain Racing Chevy, #51/51 HScott Motorsports Chevy or this ride, the #95 Chevy. All have a charter and two (#13 & #95) have an alliance with Richard Childress Racing. RCR’s Todd Parrott was hired as the crew chief of the #95 just before Charlotte in Oct. 2016. The team ran full-time in 2016, having owners points from the #33 Circle Sport team / Joe Falk and getting a charter. The team has a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing (10-13-2016). | ||||||
| Teams that could run a part time schedule or have skipped at least one race |
||||||
| CAR# (click # for news) |
DRIVER (contract end year..if known) |
MANUFACTURER | PRIMARY SPONSORS (number of races…if known) |
LISTED OWNERS / TEAM | CREW CHIEF | ENGINE BUILDER / SUPPLIER |
| NOTES…………….. | ||||||
| 00* [NC] | Derrike Cope | Chevy | StarCom | StarCom Racing Derrike Cope |
Tony Furr | ? |
| The team raced at Kansas in October and again at Phoenix in November (11-12-2017). The team will debut at Kansas(10-17-2017). Cope parted ways with Premium Motorsports after making 13 starts in either the #55 or #15 (9-10-2017). | ||||||
| 7* [NC] | Elliott Sadler(i)
J.J. Yeley(i) Hermie Sadler Joe Gase Ross Chastain |
Chevy | Golden Corral (Daytona 500) Accell Construction Virginia Lottery |
Tommy Baldwin Racing Tommy Baldwin Jr. |
Ken Davis | ?ECR Engines |
| Ross Chastain to run the car at Homestead. This team may end up being Premium Motorsports 2nd team in 2018. The #55 hasn’t been entered the past few weeks (11-16-2017). Joey Gase in the car at Phoenix (11-10-2017(. Tommy Baldwin Jr. named the Competition Director of Premium Motorsports and Crew Chief of the #15 starting at Darlington. Scott Eggleston will remain as Team Manager, Pat Tryson will be moving to the crew chief position for the #55. The assets of TBR will transfer to Premium Motorsports once TBR race commitments are done (at least Talladega with E. Sadler and Martinsville with H. Sadler) (9-1-2017). Hermie Sadler will attempt tp make the race at Martinsville in October with sponsorship by Virginia Lottery (8-31-2017). Zombie Auto was the sponsor at Bristol in August with Yeley driving (8-19-2017). Yeley back in the car at Indy with Accell Construction (7-20-2017). Ran at Daytona in July with Sadler driving (7-1-2017). The team is entered to run Texas in April with Yeley as the driver (4-3-2017). Elliott Sadler will attempt to make the Daytona 500 with Golden Corral as the sponsor. The team has no Charter since selling it to the #95 team, so will run any races as an Open team (1-12-2017). Baldwin will oversee a Truck Series program as well as run a Modified team for Danny Lia in 2017 (1-11-2017). Hearing TBR will move to the Truck Series in 2017, but could still run some Cup races (12-13-2016). TBR could run some races as an open team or even attempt the whole season (12-4-2016). Tommy Baldwin Racing has signed paperwork to transfer ownership charter of the #7 to Leavine Family Racing (#95 Chevy). Baldwin could play an advisory role with the #95 team. Looks like this team will not exist in 2017 or run as an open team (10-19-2016). Smith is not signed for 2017, no word if he stays or TBR gets another driver. Nikko/Toy State is signed thru 2017 as the primary sponsor for 17 races. Expect Golden Corral to return in the four restrictor plate races (Daytona/Talladega). No word on if APC – Advanced Patient Care returns as a primary sponsor. Team owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. is the crew chief, no word on any changes there (10-9-2016). TBR had an alliance with Richard Childress Racing and ECR engines for 2016, expect that to continue (12-15-2015). | ||||||
| 51* [NC] | Timmy Hill(i) Cody Ware B.J. McLeod Josh Bilicki (road races) Ray Black II |
Chevy | Spoonful of Music (Daytona500)Bubba Burger Dashub |
Rick Ware Racing Rick Ware |
Jonas Bell | Pro-Motor Engineering (PME) |
| B.J. McLeod in the car at Kentucky and Indy (7-21-2017). Josh Bilicki will run the car at Sonoma and NHMS (7-14-2017). The team skipped Talladega in May and Michigan in June (6-16-2017). Ware drove the car at Dover and Pocono, but injured his back and may be out a few weeks (6-12-2017). Cody Ware will drive the car in the Open at Charlotte in May (5-16-2017). Josh Bilicki will drive the #51 at the two road course events, Sonoma in June and AWatkins Glen in August (4-16-2017). Hill has been in the car since Las Vegas in March (4-9-2017). Cody Ware in the car at Atlanta (3-1-2017). The team failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 but Hill will be back in the car at Atlanta (2-25-2017). Spoonful of Music was the sponsor on the car for the Daytona 500, which failed to qualify for the race (2-23-2017). Bubba Burger will be the primary sponsor in a few races, 1st on at Auto Club in March (2-22-2017). Carlos Contreras is listed as the crew chief on the Daytona 500 entry list (2-18-2017). Rick Ware Racing announced the team’s intent to compete in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series as an “open non-chartered” team beginning with the Daytona 500. Timmy Hill will drive the #51 Chevy with a rotating list of drivers to follow including Stanton Barrett, Cody Ware and road course veteran Kevin O’Connell. The team acquired assets from Tommy Baldwin Racing (TBR) for use this season, including cars, pulldown rig and technology support. Joe Lax will serve as crew chief,. Pro-Motor engineering (PME) will supply engines. Mike Hillman Sr. joins RWR as team consultant. Sponsorship will be announced at a later date (1-20-2017) | ||||||
| 55* [NC] | Reed Sorenson (Daytona 500)Derrike Cope Tommy Regan Gray Gaulding |
Chevy
Toyota (restrictor) |
Wade Tractor and Equipment
Oscaro Parts / Capri Tools #CheckIt4Andretti |
Premium Motorsports Jay Robinson |
Pat Tryson | ? |
| Cope left the team in September to form his own. Only ran a few more races after that (11-10-20.17). Tommy Baldwin Jr. named the Competition Director of Premium Motorsports and Crew Chief of the #15 starting at Darlington. Scott Eggleston will remain as Team Manager, Pat Tryson will be moving to the crew chief position for the #55 (9-1-2017). Gray Gaulding makes his return to Cup after missing the last three races. Moving to Premium Motorsports for two races, Kentucky and New Hampshire in July (7-2-2017). Tommy Regan will make his Cup debut at Sonoma (6-19-2017). After running the first five races, the team skipped Martinsville in April and a few other races (6-18-2017). Derrike Cope scheduled to be running a limited schedule, with the possibility of a full schedule dependent on sponsorship beginning in Atlanta in March, also running at Phoenix and Auto Club in March (3-20-2017). Wayne Carroll Jr. is listed as the crew chief on the Daytona 500 entry list (2-18-2017). Robinson confirmed that Sorenson will pilot the #55 in the Daytona 500 with more races possible, dependent on sponsorship. Though Sorenson will be competing in the #55 car, it is the #15 car that has a guaranteed starting position into all 36 races after Premium Motorsports’ purchase of the charter from HScott Motorsports, which shut down over the off-season. The organization decided to keep the #15, getting rid of the #98, which attempted to qualify for 33 races in 2016. Lee Leslie be the crew chief for the #55 car. Having no ties with any manufacturer, the team will run Toyotas at the four superspeedway (Daytona / Talladega) races in 2017, moving to Chevy in the other 32 events. Robinson didn’t name a full-time driver for the #15 car, but revealed he has found a driver for the Daytona 500. In the off-season, Premium Motorsports moved its race shop to Mooresville, NC (1-23-2017). Hearing Derrike Cope could drive in 10 races for Premium Motorsports (1-19-2017). Michael Waltrip said he would drive a Toyota in the Daytona 500, indications are that it will be with Premium Motorsports, prpobably in tyhe #15 Toyota. Premium Motorsports will use the Charter it bought from HScott Motorsports on the #15 car (switching from #98)(1-6-2017). Harry Scott, Jr. announced in a team meeting that HScott Motorsports would not field a NASCAR entry during the 2017 season and that the #15 Charter, which was owned by HScott Motorsports, has been sold to Premium Motorsports (#55 & #98-now #15). The charter that was leased for the #46 HSM team was sold by Premium Motorsports to Furniture Row Racing and the new #77 team of Erik Jones (12-5-2016). In 2016 for the #55, Reed Sorenson was the primary driver, starting the most races. Other drivers were: Cole Whitt (primary driver of the #98 for Premium Motorsports), Alex Kennedy and Michael Waltrip (who ran the car at Talladega in May with PEAK as the sponsor). The team only had a few primary sponsors including Vydox Plus and World Record Striper Company (10-13-2016). | ||||||
| 66* [NC] | Carl Long(i) Timmy Hill David Starr |
Chevy Toyota |
? | MBM Motorsports | George Church | Race Engines Plus Joey Arrington |
| David Starr drove at Texas in November with Moore Freight Services sponsorship and is scheduled to drive at Phoenix and Homestead with Eureka sponsorship(11-8-2017). Timmy Hill ran the car at Dover in June, Kentucky in July and Indy in July (7-23-2017). The team was entered at Charlotte in May for the Coke 600 but withdrew (5-25-2017). MBM motorsports will field the #66 Chevy at Kansas. Carl Long, also part of the ownership group, is likely to drive. George Church will be the crew chief and Joey Arrington providing a Chevy engine. Long had been banned from competing in the NASCAR Cup Series since having an illegal engine during the All-Star race weekend in May 2009 and unable to pay the team’s $200,000 fine. NASCAR made me an agreement so Long can drive. Long has been working as a car owner and part-time driver in the Xfinity Series and will continue those efforts as well. The Cup car was purchased from HScott Motorsports (5-8-2017). | ||||||
| 75* [NC] | Brendan Gaughan(i) | Chevy | Beard Oil TSS Logistics |
Beard Motorsports Mark Beard |
Darren Shaw | ECR Engines |
| Gaughan has attempted and made all the restirctor plate races (Daytona/Talladega) in 2017. Gaughan will drive the Chevy Michael McDowell [was #59 Chevy] finished 15th in at last years race for Leavine Family Racing. The car owner is Mark Beard of Mount Pleasant, MI, a former driver and team owner in the Midwest-based ARCA series who had a couple of Xfinity starts during the 1980s. Motors will be by ECR Engines and a Richard Childress Racing pit crew (from his RCR Xfinity team). Beard Oil and TSS Logistics will be the sponsor but the team is looking for additional sponsors. The team doesn’t have a charter, so Gaughan will have to race into the 500 qualifying speed and twin 150-mile races (1-13-2017). | ||||||
| 83* [NC] | Corey LaJoie (ROTY)(14 races) Ryan Sieg(i) |
Toyota | Dustless Blasting
BK Graphics Bubba Burger JAS Expeditited Trucking E.J. Wade Construction RMC Events |
BK Racing Ron Devine Wayne Press |
Doug Richert | ? |
| Brett Moffitt will drive at Watkins Glen and Michigan(8-2-2017). Stephen Leicht ran the car at Pocono in July. The team skipped Indy in July. Sieg back in the car at Kentucky (7-7-2017). The team will skip the race in Sonoma, it’s first do not race of 2017 (6-19-2017). Randy Cox moves over from BK Racing’s #83 team to be the crew chief. Doug George moves to the #83 team (6-14-2017). #23 crew chief, Patrick Donahue parted ways with BK Racing after Pocono, Doug George will be the new crew chief (6-10-2017). Ryan Sieg to make his NASCAR Cup series debut at Dover in June (5-30-2017), Randy Cox named the full-time crew chief as of Texas in April (4-5-2017). Ryan Dubois listed as the crew chief as of Auto Club. LaJoie in all the races so far in 2017 (3-20-2017). The team was not initially entered in the race at Atlanta but then was added and LaJoie is listed as a rookie of the year candidate (3-1-2017). LaJoie raced into the Daytona 500 (3-23-2017). Front Row Motorsports purchased the Charter from BK Racing’s #83 team and will lease it to the #72 TriStar Motorsports team for 2017 as FRM prepares to expand to three chartered cars in 2018 (2-2-2017). Gray Gaulding will run the #83 at Kentucky in July and Bristol in August (2-1-2017). Corey LaJoie has signed on for a partial season with BK Racing and will drive the #83 Toyota in 14 races. A sponsor and crew chief remains to be determined (1-24-2017). Michael Waltrip said he would drive a Toyota in the Daytona 500, no word which team but looks like it’ll be for Premium Motorsports #15 team. Waltrip drove for this team in the 2016 Daytona 500 (12-24-2016). Former driver, Matt DiBenedetto, will drive the #32 Go Fas Racing Ford in 2017 (12-15-2016). Matt DiBenedetto and BK Racing parted ways, no word who will replace DiBenedetto (12-9-2016). | ||||||
| 96* [NC] | D.J. Kennington | Toyota | Lordco Auto Parts Castrol |
Gaunt Brothers Racing Marty Gaunt RAB Racing Robby Benton |
Keith Hinkein | Triad Racing Technologies |
| Kennington will run the #15 car for Premium Motorsports at Daytona in July, the #96 didn’t enter (6-19-2017). Kennington will run the car at Talladega in May (4-26-2017). Gaunt Brothers Racing plans on running the four restrictor plate races (Daytona, Talladega) with D.J. Kennington running the Daytona 500 in the team’s Toyota Camry. GBR is fielding the Toyota Camry in partnership RAB Racing, led by Robby Benton. RAB Racing will partner in supplying cars, shop space and technical support to the GBR effort. Castrol and Lordco Auto Parts will be the sponsors for the Daytona 500(1-18-2017). | ||||||
| Teams with unknown plans for 2017 or not planning to run |
||||||
| CAR# (click # for news) |
DRIVER (contract end year..if known) |
MANUFACTURER | PRIMARY SPONSORS (number of races…if known) |
LISTED OWNERS / TEAM | CREW CHIEF | ENGINE BUILDER / SUPPLIER |
| NOTES…………….. | ||||||
| 30* [NC] | ? | Chevy | ? | Curtis Key The Motorsports Group (TMG) |
?Wayne Carroll | TMG |
| Has not yet made any attempts (3-20-2017). Circle Sport and TMG merged and will have a Charter from #33 team which was leased to #95 Leavine Family Racing in 2016. Pat Tryson has been named the crew chief and the team will run Chevy. No word on a driver or sponsors. The team could run a second car, the #30 as an open team in some races (1-6-2017). Gray Gaulding announced he would run full-time in 2017 and run for rookie of the year. If so, it looks like it would be with TMG Motorsports, who could merge with a team with a Charter, but that is just rumor at this point (11-22-2016). The team attempted all the races in 2016 until skipping Talladega in October. Supposedly plans to run the full-time season in 2017. No word on the status of driver Josh Wise (10-18-2016) | ||||||
| 35* [NC] | ?David Gilliland | Ford | ?Shaw’s Southern Belle Seafood | Front Row Motorsports Bob Jenkins Brad Jenkins |
?Todd Anderson | Roush-Yates |
| Has not yet made any attempts (3-20-2017). Front Row Motorsports purchased the Charter from BK Racing’s #83 team and will lease it to the #72 TriStar Motorsports team for 2017 as FRM prepares to expand to three chartered cars in 2018, which could be the #35 in 2018, if it runs in 2017, it’ll be as an open team (2-2-2017). This is a part-time third Front Row Motorsports team, no word if it’ll run in 2017 or if Gilliland will race the car. Attempted to make the four 2016 restrictor plate races (Daytona / Talladega) with David Gilliland driving. No word on 2017 plans. The team has no charter, so has to run as an open team (10-11-2016). | ||||||
| 15* [NC] | suspended operations | ?Chevy | ? | HScott Motorsports Harry Scott Jr. |
X | ?Hendrick Motorsports |
| HScott Motorsports team owner Harry Scott in early 2017. Premium Motorsports will use the #15 in 2017 (1-23-2017). Harry Scott, Jr. announced in a team meeting that HScott Motorsports would not field a NASCAR entry during the 2017 season and that the #15 Charter, which was owned by HScott Motorsports, has been sold to Premium Motorsports (#55 & #98). The charter that was leased for the #46 HSM team was sold by Premium Motorsports to Furniture Row Racing. So that means the 2nd FRR #77 with Erik Jones has a Charter for 2017. Premium Motorsports still has one Charter left (from the #15) to use, sell or lease in 2017 (12-5-2016). Joint press release from Clint Bowyer Racing and HScott Motorsports: Harry Scott, Jr., owner of HScott Motorsports, and Clint Bowyer and his company Clint Bowyer Racing (“CBR”), jointly announced today they have settled the recent lawsuit filed by CBR (12-1-2016). Scott and Bowyter settled the suit out of court (Driver Clint Bowyer filed the lawsuit for breach of contract and fraud against team owner Harry Scott and HScott Motorsports on Nov. 21 in North Carolina Superior Court for at least $2.223 million, alleging it missed two monthly payments and a commission for bringing sponsorship to the team. Bowyer alleges in the lawsuit that Scott, who is expected to shut down the Cup team, is using money owed to Bowyer to pay other creditors and “repeatedly failed to make the scheduled payments” owed on the 20th of each month. “We are aware of the lawsuit,” HScott Motorsports spokesman Ramsey Poston said. “Obviously we won’t speak about the details of the suit, but I can say that overall it is frivolous and capricious” (11-28-2016). Hearing that Scott will leave the sport and sell the #15 charter to Furniture Row Racing for the new #77 team that Erick Jones will run for (10-20-2016). Many ‘IFs’ with this team. Team Owner Harry Scott says he is “considering several options” for the 2017 season. HSM owns one of NASCAR’s 36 charters, the #15, and has for this season leased another one, the #46 from Premium Motorsports. So HSM has one charter to sell and a few teams that would like to have it (including the #77 FRR team). Clint Bowyer raced one season for HScott Motorsports, waiting for Tony Stewart to retire and take over the #14 car in 2017. Five-Hour Energy did not move over with Bowyer and instead goes to the #77 Furniture Row Racing car of Erik Jones in 2017. HSM was not allowed to pursue renewals with Peak, Visine or 5-Hour due to the terms of its contract with Bowyer. No word if the team keeps the alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing and switched to Ford or changes it alliance and team up with Richard Childress Racing or Hendrick Motorsports or no alliance. If HSM teams up with RCR, Ty Dillon could drive this car with support from RCR. Alex Bowman could get the ride if the team forms an alliance with Hendrick Motorsports. The team could switch back to #51 from #15, which it carried a few years before Bowyer ran it as the #15 for one year. No word of plans for crew chief Steve Addington. The team moved from Spartanburg, SC to Mooresville, NC in early 2016 (10-12-2016) | ||||||
| 16* [NC] | X | Ford | X | Roush Fenway Racing Jack Roush John Henry |
X | Roush-Yates |
| RFR scales back to two-cars, with the #16 Charter being leased to JTG Daugherty Racing along with driver Chris Buescher, so this team will not run in 2017. Brian Pattie, who was the crew chief for the #16 Cup Series team last season, will transition to crew chief of the #17 team. Nick Sandler, who served as the #17 crew chief the last two seasons, has been named Director of Engineering. Kevin Kidd and Tommy Wheeler will lead Roush Fenway’s overall competition efforts going forward. Kidd will assume the role of Competition Director, and Wheeler will serve as the team’s Operations Director (11-29-2016). Robbie Reiser will no longer be the General Manager and will take a position within RFR (11-24-2016). Greg Biffle and RFR parted ways after the season was over. No word what the plan is and if RFR will field the #16 or just have a two-car team and lease the charter. Rumor has Biffle going to 1 2nd JTG Daugherty car but supposedly it fell thru (11-21-2016). Cheez-It / Kelloggs will leave as a sponsor at the end of the 2016 season, no word if they will leave the sport of go to another team (10-20-2016). Biffle, who is signed thru 2017, has been rumored to be leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the 2016 season. Biffle owns the HScott Motorsports shop, but says he has not talked to team owner Harry Scott about a ride there. Front Row Motorsports is another possible landing place, switching with Chris Buescher (10-18-2016). No word if KFC or Cheez-It/Kellogg’s return to sponsor the #16. Biffle is signed thru 2017. Brian Pattie came aboard as the crew chief for 2016 and no indications of any change there. Roush Fenway Racing formed an enhanced technical alliance with Front Row Motorsports in 2016, providing engineering, equipment and driver support to Front Row (10-10-2016). | ||||||
| 26* [NC] | ?Robert Richardson Jr. (Daytona 500) |
Toyota | ?Stalk It | BK Racing Ron Devine Wayne Press |
?Mike Ford | ?Race Engines Plus |
| Robert Richardson Jr. ran the #26 Toyota in the Daytona 500 for BK Racing, the only race run by Richardson and this team. No word on any 2017 plans (10-10-2016). | ||||||
| 40* [NC] | ? | Chevy | ? | Mike Hillman, Sr. Hillman Racing |
? | Pro Motors Engineering |
| This team looks like it has closed up shop. It didn’t attempt anymore races after the 2016 Daytona 500 and the owners are involved with other teams (10-11-2016). Doesn’t look like this team will run anymore races in 2016 as Mike Hillman Sr., the owner, took a job as the crew chief of the #46 HScott Motorsports team in July 2016 (7-25-2016). Mike Hillman Racing (#40 Chevy) has voluntary dismissed its lawsuit (indicating a settlement) against Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing (#95 Chevy) over the charter (7-1-2016). In March 2016 Mike Hillman Sr. and partners Doug Fuller and Matt Miller filed suit against former partner Joe Falk, Circle Sport, Leavine Family Racing and Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing. Hillman Racing and its partners seek a judgment in excess of $25,000, punitive damages, rights to ownership of the #33 team, its charter and all the profits and benefits that Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing’s #95 car enjoys (3-23-2016). Reed Sorenson has been running on Premium Motorsports 2nd car, the #55 in some races (4-18-2016). Will attempt to make the Daytona 500 on speed as it didn’t get a charter in the new NASCAR Charter system. Reed Sorenson will drive with Pat Tryson as the crew chief. Plans to run around 12 races in 2016. Is not part of Premium Motorsports (2-9-2016). Former #40 driver Landon Cassill headed to Front Row Motorsports #38 team for 2016 (1-20-2016). Premium Motorsports announced on Jan 5th that the they have hired Mike Hillman to head up its NASCAR SPRINT CUP operation for 2016. The deal also includes the hiring of Crew Chief, Mark Hillman. Team owner Jay Robinson also announced the purchase of additional cars and equipment from Mike Hillman Racing. Driver and sponsor announcements are expected soon. Supposedly, there will be one full-time team out of the four and one-part time team (1-5-2016). | ||||||
| 44 [NC] | ? | Ford | ? | Richard Petty Motorsports Richard Petty Andy Murstein Doug Bergeron |
?Chris Heroy | Roush-Yates |
| Twisted Tea moves from RPM to Germain Racing’s #13 Chevy (2-1-2017). RPM Statement on 2017 from Brian Moffitt, CEO: “At the conclusion of the 2016 season, we evaluated how to best improve our on-track product. We feel that it’s in the best interest of our partners and for Richard Petty Motorsports to focus our resources on the #43 Ford Fusion and Aric (Almirola) in 2017. A concentrated effort on one team will position us for improvement while giving us adequate time to reestablish our two-car team in 2018. For the interim, we will lease one of our two charters” (12-16-2016). RPM will lease the #44 Charter to #32 Go FAS Racing. RPM also sold six cars/chassis to GFR. No word if the team will still race in 2017. No driver has been named to this Open team which now must qualify on speed for all the races (12-15-2016). Driver Brian Scott retires after 2016 season to focus on his young and growing family and also the next phase of his career. Albertsons announced they were ending their NASCAR program after the 2016 season. Shore Lodge and Whitetail Inn doubtful to return as sponsor as Scott brought those sponsors. No word on the status of sponsors Twisted Tea, GoBowling.com or Goody’s. No word on the status of crew chief Chris Heroy (11-10-2016). Ford will be RPM’s Manufacturer in 2017 after signing a multi-year deal in 2016. RPM will continue to work on a services agreement with Roush Fenway Racing and field Roush-Yates engines (10-11-2016). | ||||||
| 46* [NC] | ? | ?Chevy | ? | ?HScott Motorsports ?Harry Scott |
?Mike Hillman, Sr. | ?Hendrick Motorsports |
| Harry Scott, Jr. announced in a team meeting that HScott Motorsports would not field a NASCAR entry during the 2017 season and that the #15 Charter, which was owned by HScott Motorsports, has been sold to Premium Motorsports (#55 & #98). The charter that was leased for the #46 HSM team was sold by Premium Motorsports to Furniture Row Racing. So that means the 2nd FRR #77 with Erik Jones has a Charter for 2017. Premium Motorsports still has one Charter left (from the #15) to use, sell or lease in 2017 (12-5-2016). Looks like this team will not run in 2017 as driver Michael Annett and sponsor Pilot Flying J signed a multi-year agreement with JR Motorsports to run the full 2017 season in the XFINITY Series in the #5 Chevy. With the charter lease up (leased from Premium Motorsports) after 2016, this team would be an open team. But word has HSM selling its one charter (for the #15/#51 team) possibly to the #77 Furniture Row team of a 2nd JTG Daughtery Racing team with Harry Scott having part owner ship (11-4-2016). No word on plans for this team and team Owner Harry Scott says he is “considering several options” for the 2017 season. Pilot Flying J’s future with the team is unclear; its contract with HSM is year-to-year. HSM owns one of NASCAR’s 36 charters, the #15, and has for this season leased another one, the #46 from Premium Motorsports. No word if that lease will continue in 2017. So HSM has one charter to sell and a few teams that would like to have it (including the #77 FRR team). Annett hasn’t said what his plans are for 2017 and he brings the Flying J sponsorship with him. No word if the team keeps the alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing and switched to Ford or changes it alliance and team up with Richard Childress Racing or Hendrick Motorsports or no alliance. No word of plans for crew chief Mike Hillman, Sr.. The team moved from Spartanburg, SC to Mooresville, NC in early 2016 (10-12-2016) | ||||||
| 59* [NC] | ? | Chevy | Bob Leavine Leavine Family Racing |
? | ECR Engines | |
| The was the 2nd car for Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing. The main team, #95 ran Ty Dillon in the Daytona 500 (using the Charter). The #59 team was a one-race deal, for Michael McDowell in the Daytona 500. It didn’t run or attempt any other races in 2016. If the team expands and fields a 2nd car, this could be it, but unlikely and have not heard that the team is planning a 2nd team (10-10-2016). | ||||||
| 93* [NC] | ?Ryan Ellis
?Dylan Lupton |
Toyota | ScienceLogic
Bell Brothers Plumbing Heating & Air |
BK Racing Ron Devine Wayne Press |
? | ?Race Engines Plus |
| Ellis ran the car in two 2016 races. Lupton ran it at Sonoma. Matt DiBenedetto ran the #93 car in the Daytona 500 and again Richmond in September. DiBenedetto ran the #83 BK Racing Toyota the rest of the season (10-10-2016). | ||||||
| 99* [NC] | Ryan Reed(i) | Ford | Lilly Diabetes American Diabetes Association |
Roush Fenway Racing Jack Roush John Henry |
?Phil Gould ?Robbie Reiser |
Roush-Yates |
| With Roush Fenway Racing suspending operations of the #16 team and leasing the #16 Charter to JTG Daugherty Racing, good chance neither the #16 nor #99 teams run in 2017. Could run a few one-off races with Ryan Reed or Darrell Wallace (12-1-2016). Robbie Reiser will no longer be the General Manager and was offered a position in the car production side of RFR, but no word if he will stay or go elsewhere (11-24-2016). Ryan Reed will attempt to make his Sprint Cup debut at Talladega in Oct. 2016 with Lilly Diabetes/American Diabetes Association featured on the #99 Ford. No word if the team will make any attempts in 2017 but Roush Fenway Racing has stated that they do NOT plan to run a 4th full time team in 2017, but could run Reed or Bubba Wallace in the car in a few 2017 Cup races (10-10-2016). | ||||||