Silly Season Just Doesn’t Stop

You could say silly season started at the beginning of the season when it was announced Kevin Harvick would be going to Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2014 Season. Then everything was quiet for the first few months of racing. But the past two months have been crazy to say the least.

 

It was announced at the beginning of July that Ryan Newman would not be returning to SHR for the 2014 season and he would have to find a new team. Ryan Newman started with Stewart-Haas Racing back in 2009 in their inaugural season, two years later, teammate Tony Stewart won the championship. Newman has won four times in his five seasons with SHR, with his most recent win coming at Indianapolis this year. Current rumors put Ryan Newman in a 4^thRichard Childress Racing car for the 2014 season, but anything can happen.

 

At the beginning of August we found out that Juan Pablo Montoya won’t be returning to Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing next season. Montoya has managed to win two races in his 8 seasons with EGR, both wins coming at road courses. But many people are wondering, will Montoya go back to IndyCar? Andretti Autosport has supposedly offered Montoya a ride for 2014. Who will replace Montoya in the No. 42? Kyle Larson is on the top of that list, but many people are wondering if it is too early for him to come to the Sprint Cup series like Joey Logano. I guess only time will tell.

Then some crazy rumor came out that SHR formally offered Kurt Busch a ride for the 2014 season. Many people were baffled because Stewart said the only reason they were not keeping Ryan Newman was because they didn’t want to expand to a four-car operation. But it turns out the whole Kurt Busch deal at SHR was all Gene Haas’ making. Tony Stewart didn’t think they were quite ready for four cars. But now they have to expand their shop (which won’t be done until this time next year). Haas Automation is the main sponsor on that car, meaning all the money is coming out of Gene Haas’ pocket for this fourth team. And let’s not forget about Furniture Row Racing, with Kurt Busch leaving for SHR next season, they have an open seat as well.

Yesterday rumors broke that AJ Allmendinger signed with JTG Daugherty racing for the 2014 season, meaning Bobby Labonte will have to look for a ride. AJ Allmendinger had a ride with Penske Racing until a drug test sidelined him at the July Daytona race last season. AJ Allmendinger has been making a comeback and has won two NNS Races this season with Penske and has also raced with Phoenix Racing and JTG Daugherty Racing.

 

And another news headline also broke yesterday, Harry Scott, co-owner of Turner Scott Motorsports completed the purchase of Phoenix Racing. Justin Allgaier will race in three of the final ten races of the season with Phoenix Racing with sponsorship by Brandt. Some rumors put Kyle Larson in a few of those final ten races as well. And sources say that Harry Scott has sponsorship for next season. So who will be the driver of his car next season? Could he have more than one car? Bob Pockrass’ article on Sporting News reports that he has next seasons drivers and also reports that Scott wouldn’t comment on how many carshe hopes to put out on the track. Nobody’s name is being thrown around quite yet, but that just adds another part to this already crazy “silly season.”