The NASCAR Cup Series is officially halfway through the 2023 season and Stewart-Haas Racing is still searching for their first victory. In fact, the organization is simply trying to secure a spot in the NASCAR playoffs as Kevin Harvick represents the only realistic option right now.
Harvick sits seventh in the point standings and 151 points above the cut-line after the Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Course. Meanwhile, the next Stewart-Haas Racing driver in the point standings is Ryan Preece in 25th place, who sits 66 points below the playoff bubble.
It has not been a good season for the organization as Harvick’s win at Phoenix Raceway was stolen and Chase Briscoe was slammed with one of the biggest penalties in NASCAR history. With an eye toward 2024, there are several situations to monitor moving forward.
Related: Kevin Harvick’s high praise from Stewart-Haas Racing amid the team’s struggles
NASCAR insider provides update on Stewart-Haas Racing’s driver lineup for 2024
Harvick is set to retire from the NASCAR Cup Series at the conclusion of the 2023 season but Stewart-Haas Racing has already found a replacement. Josh Berry, a driver for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, will drive the No. 4 car in Harvick’s place starting in 2024.
Berry, 32, has experience in the Cup Series after being Hendrick Motorsports’ substitute driver for eight races this season. The 32-year-old driver competed in place of Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman as the two drivers recovered from their injuries.
Meanwhile, Aric Almirola is “widely expected” to retire at the conclusion of the 2023 season after coming back for another year. Almirola previously announced he would retire at the conclusion of the 2022 season but was persuaded to return for this season.
The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi hopped on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio to discuss the status of Almirola and the No. 10 car as silly season continues to move forward with his expected retirement. Bianchi linked two names in particular to the entry.
“The No. 10 at Stewart-Haas Racing is the one big ride that would be left to fill. It will be interesting to see what direction they head with that. The two names I’ve heard a lot about are Michael McDowell and Zane Smith. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be one of those two guys but those are the two names you hear a lot about.”
Jordan Bianchi on Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 10 car in 2024
As the process of finding a possible replacement for Almirola moves forward, both Zane Smith and Michael McDowell have consistently been named alongside the No. 10 car for the 2024 season. This is for a good reason.
Smith is the defending NASCAR Truck Series champion and represents the best Ford prospect in the organization’s pipeline. It seems likely that he will be in the NASCAR Cup Series soon but Front Row Motorsports has a multi-year deal with him.
McDowell is a veteran driver for Front Row Motorsports who is set to become a free agent. It would be a much easier situation for Stewart-Haas Racing to walk around moving forward but is the organization’s desire for Smith enough to fork up some money?
There are several questions to be answered involving the No. 10 car but even Bianchi said it doesn’t mean it will be Smith or McDowell. If not, who would be a good replacement? Continue reading to find out three ideal candidates for the organization in 2024!
Related: Stewart-Haas Racing linked to rising NASCAR star to replace Aric Almirola in 2024
3 ideal drivers Stewart-Haas Racing should consider for the 2024 NASCAR season
Stewart-Haas Racing will have plenty of options available to them if Almirola retires due to the rides that are possibly open in the NASCAR Cup Series. With many of the top organizations ready to move forward, who would be a good candidate for the No. 10 car?
Cole Custer drives for Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and has started to ramp up production with 10 straight top-9 finishes. Custer, 25, was previously with the organization’s Cup Series program for three years before being demoted for Ryan Preece.
The 25-year-old driver had a slow start to the 2023 season but now has two victories in the last four races after the Chicago Street Course. If Custer can continue to dominate in the Xfinity Series, he would be the ideal replacement for Almirola in terms of overall production.
Corey LaJoie drives the No. 7 car for Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series and has steadily improved over the years. LaJoie, 31, received a great opportunity when Hendrick Motorsports used him as a substitute driver after Chase Elliott’s suspension at World Wide Technology Raceway.
The 31-year-old driver didn’t impress but the overall work throughout the 2023 season is present. LaJoie would be another solid option but would he be better off staying with the improving Spire Motorsports instead?
Todd Gilliland is the current driver of the No. 38 car for Front Row Motorsports in the Cup Series and he has undoubtedly been impressive. Gilliland, 23, has already made incredible strides with more top-10 finishes in 2023 than last season.
The 23-year-old driver likely has the most raw talent out of these three drivers but the sponsorship factor is an issue. Gilliland would need to find funding to propel himself into an organization that would truly love to have his services.
Stewart-Haas Racing will have plenty of options if Almirola retires so it will be interesting to see how it all unfolds. If Almirola steps away, there could be plenty of reasons to be excited about a new and young driver lineup in 2024.