As of Tuesday, Dec 4, Kurt Busch has been confirmed as the new driver of the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet in 2019. This move has been rumored for months and it appears like most of the other silly season rumors, it was correct. Busch, 40, is one of the most experienced drivers still in NASCAR and has signed a 1-year contract.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to go out and win races, to have a shot at the championship and to use my experience that I’ve gained over all these years with a group like Chip Ganassi Racing,’’ Busch said. “I feel like it’s a good mesh with [fellow Ganassi driver] Kyle Larson. Something that Chip and I talked about as far as the driver lineup and the way that we wanted to go into 2019 and attack and go right out of the gate and go for wins and get this program where it needs to be and what Chip has for his championship dreams.”
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) December 3, 2018
With this big announcement, here is the updated list of 2019 NASCAR driver changes, rumors and confirmations.
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
AJ Allmendinger | #47
- Current Team: JTG Daugherty Racing
- 2019 Plans: TBD
- 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
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 #31 (possibly #8)
- 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: TBD
Jamie McMurray | #1
- Current Team: Chip Ganassi Racing
- 2019 Plans: TBD (Proposed: team leadership position)
- Years in Cup: 17
- Cup Series Wins: 7
- Best 2018 Cup Finish: 2nd in Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Roval
- 2019 #1 Replacement: TBD (Rumored: Kurt Busch)
Matt Tifft
- 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 (Road America)
