On Wednesday, Dec 19, the NBC Sports Group announced it had reached a multi-year agreement with AJ Allmendinger to join the network’s motorsports coverage. This came as news due to uncertainty of Allmendinger’s next career move after losing his full-time cup series No. 47 ride at JTG Daugherty Racing to Xfinity driver Ryan Preece for the 2019 season. He is expected in the booth as an analyst for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as well as NBCSN’s motorsports show NASCAR America. AJ Allmendinger is not quite finished racing yet either as he is set to compete once again in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
“AJ loves to race and is passionate about IMSA,” said Sam Flood, Executive Producer and President of Production, NBC Sports. “His career as a driver across IMSA, NASCAR and Open Wheel will bring a unique mix of experience and insight to the NBC Sports team.”
More news in NASCAR Silly Season, Thursday, Dec 20, Go Fas Racing announced Corey LaJoie will drive the No. 32 Ford full-time in the 2019 season. After driving 57 of the 108 Monster Energy Cup Series races over the past three years, LaJoie finished as high as 16th. His racing experience comes from family ties however as his father, Randy LaJoie, won the Xfinity Series championships in 1996 and 1997. Tanner Berryhill will also be making the transition from part-time cup series driver to full-time, in the No. 97 Camry. Reported Monday, Dec 3 – on the SIRIUS XM NASCAR show “Late Shift” – Obaika Racing will be running their first full-time cup series car after purchasing equipment from the bankrupt BK Racing last year.
With these NASCAR Silly Season announcements, here is the updated list of 2019 NASCAR driver changes, rumors and confirmations:
AJ Allmendinger | #47
- Current Team: JTG Daugherty Racing
- 2019 Plans: NBC Sports/Rolex 24
- Years in Cup: 13
- Cup Series Wins: 1
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 3rd in Coke Zero 400 at Daytona
- 2019 #47 Replacement: Ryan Preece
Ryan Preece | #18 Xfinity Series
- Current Team: Joe Gibbs Racing (Xfinity Series)
- 2019 Team/Car: JTG Daugherty Racing #47
- Cup Series Starts: 5 (2015)
- Cup Series Wins: 0
- Best Cup Finish: 32nd in 2015 Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire
Jamie McMurray | #1
- Current Team: Chip Ganassi Racing
- 2019 Plans: Fox Sports Pre-Race Broadcaster
- Years in Cup: 17
- Cup Series Wins: 7
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 2nd in Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Roval
- 2019 #1 Replacement: Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch | #41
- Current Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
- 2019 Car/Team: Chip Ganassi Racing #1
- Years in Cup: 19
- Cup Series Wins: 30 | 2004 Champion
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 1st in Bass Pro Shop NRA Night Race at Bristol
- 2019 #41 Replacement: TBD (Rumored: Daniel Suárez)
Daniel Suárez | #19
- Current Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
- 2019 Plans: TBD (Rumored: Stewart-Hass Racing #41)
- Years in Cup: 2
- Cup Series Wins: 0
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 2nd in Gander Outdoor 400 at Pocono
- 2019 #19 Replacement: Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr. | #78
- Current Team: Furniture Row Racing
- 2019 Team/Car: Joe Gibbs Racing #19
- Years in Cup: 15
- Cup Series Wins: 19 | 2017 Champion
- Best 2018 Cup Finishes: 1st in Auto Club 400, Pocono 400, Toyota/Save Mart 400 at Sonoma and Quaker State 400 at Kentucky
- 2019 #78 Replacement: FRR closing
Trevor Bayne | #6
- Current Team: Roush Fenway Racing
- 2019 Plans: TBD
- Years in Cup: 9
- Cup Series Wins: 1
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 11th in Bass Pro Shop NRA Night Race at Bristol
- 2019 #6 Replacement: Ryan Newman
Ryan Newman | #31
- Current Team: Richard Childress Racing
- 2019 Team/Car: Roush Fenway Racing #6
- Years in Cup: 19
- Cup Series Wins: 18
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 6th in Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire
- 2019 #31 Replacement: Daniel Hemric
Daniel Hemric | #8 (#21 Xfinity Series)
- Current Team: Richard Childress Racing (Part-time)
- 2019 Team/Car: Richard Childress Racing #8 (Formally #31)
- Cup Series Starts: 2
- Cup Series Wins: 0
- Best Cup Finish: 23rd in 2018 Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte
Kasey Kahne | #95
- Current Team: Leavine Family Racing
- 2019 Plans: Retiring from full-time Cup Racing
- Years in Cup: 15
- Cup Series Wins: 18
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 4th at Daytona 500
- 2019 #95 Replacement: Matt DiBenedetto
Matt DiBenedetto | #32
- Current Team: Go Fas Racing
- 2019 Team/Car: Leavine Family Racing #95
- Years in Cup: 4
- Cup Series Wins: 0
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 7th in Coke Zero 400 at Daytona
- 2019 #32 Replacement: Corey LaJoie
Corey LaJoie | #72
- Current Team: TriStar Motorsports (Part-Time)
- 2019 Team/Car: Go Fas Racing #32
- Years in Cup: 3
- Cup Series Wins: 0
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 16th in South Point 400 at Las Vegas
Matt Tifft | #2 Xfinity Series
- Current Team: Richard Childress Racing (NXS)
- 2019 Cat/Team: Front Row Motorsports #36
- Years in Cup: 0
- Xfinity Series Starts: 77
- Best Career Xfinity Finish: 2nd in NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Road America 2018
Tanner Berryhill | #32
- Current Team: Obaika Racing (Part-Time)
- 2019 Team/Car: Obaika Racing #97
- Years in Cup: 1 (2 Races)
- Cup Series Wins: 0
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 31st in Can-Am 500 at Phoenix
Updates on NASCAR Driver Changes
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