The 2020 Cup Series rookie class ready for 'next chapter'
The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series rookie class is shaping up to be a stout one, featuring three drivers who combined to win 21 races this season.
Over the weekend, NASCAR celebrated the Xfinity Series championship of Tyler Reddick in Charlotte, N.C., as well as recognized the achievement of the three other drivers – Christopher Bell, Cole Custer and Justin Allgaier – who competed with him for the title at Homestead.
Three of the Xfinity Championship 4 will meet next season in the Cup Series, all competing for 2020 rookie of the year honors.
Reddick will drive Richard Childress Racing’s No. 8 Chevrolet, Bell will move to Leavine Family Racing’s No. 95 Toyota and Custer will drive the No. 41 Ford at Stewart-Haas Racing.
Together, they were dubbed the “Big 3” in the Xfinity Series this season and for good reason. The three won a combined 21 of the 33 races in 2019.
Much of the Homestead championship race featured the “Big 3” running together at the top of the leaderboard, much like how they dominated the top of the series standings during the season.
“It was perfect it came down to us three. At some point at the end of Stage 3, whether it was before the caution or whatever, we were battling, man, and that green-flag pit stop, we were just battling like we have all year long,” Reddick said.
“It’s just awesome we were able to come out on top on the deal, but a lot of times this year (bell) and (Custer) have bested us, too. Been a lot of fun racing them. I’m looking forward to racing them along with some really talented other drivers on Sundays.
“It’s just crazy that us three were able to win so many races and we were racing against each other so much. It was a blast.”
The Cup series is a big step up and whether any of them will compete for wins is an even bigger question mark. All are accustomed to winning on a regular basis, particularly Bell, who has amassed 15 victories over the past two seasons.
All three will be running with top organizations and should not lack for the resources required to compete at the highest level.
“It’ll be a lot of fun racing Cole and Tyler for rookie of the year next year. It’ll be interesting to see how each of us adapt to the next level,” Bell said.
“I guess Cole and Tyler have a little bit of a head start on me with a couple Cup starts, but yeah, it’ll be a lot of fun. I’m ready for the next chapter.”
Custer agreed.
“It’s definitely been a cool year,” he said. “I think we made each other probably all a little bit better.”
Who could join them?
Reddick, Bell and Custer aren’t likely to be the only drivers competing for rookie honors in the Cup series in 2020, but they will almost certainly be the most competitive.
Several fulltime Cup rides remain unfilled for next season and one or more could easily end up going to a rookie driver.
The most likely candidate is John Hunter Nemechek, who drove the final three Cup races of 2019 for Front Row Motorsports filling in for Matt Tifft. There’s a good chance Nemechek could move to the organization fulltime next year.
Johnson asserts "this is not retirement from racing"
StarCom Racing adds driver Quin Houff for 2020-21 Cup season
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
Saddled with uncompetitive Minardi machinery, Tarso Marques didn't manage to score points in his three partial seasons of Formula 1. But now the Brazilian has the chance to show what he can do in NASCAR, and explains the story of his comeback with new Cup Series entrant Team Stange
The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car
NASCAR’s new stock car generation is encouraging an influx of fresh blood into its top tier. But there are concerns that parts are in short supply as the entire paddock tries to build up stocks at the same time
How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style
After holding his nerve and hip-checking his teammate on the run to the line, Austin Cindric made a perfect start to life as a full-timer in the NASCAR Cup Series by winning the Daytona 500. Here's how the Penske Ford man emerged first across the line in the first points-scoring race for the much-anticipated Next Generation cars
Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season
There are plenty of uncertainties ahead of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season as an all-new fleet of cars take to the track for the first time. Ahead of this weekend's Daytona 500, our experts explain what you need to know
How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of Next Gen arrival
The NASCAR Cup kicks off with the Daytona 500 this weekend, but a major engine overhaul and a subsequent mountain of work has been required to be ready for the arrival of the Next Gen cars.
How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory
From villain to hero, Kyle Larson had to reach his lifelong goal the hard way and go through a very public shaming after a ban for using a racial slur, but his talents shone long before his name grabbed the headlines...
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
It’s not just Formula 1 that’s set for upheaval in 2022, as the NASCAR Cup series adopts its Next Gen cars that will cast any in-built advantages aside and require teams to adopt a totally new way of operating. Far more than just a change of machinery, the new cars amount to a shift in NASCAR's core philosophy
Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR
Bubba Wallace claimed his maiden NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega on Monday to become the first Black victor in the category since Wendell Scott in 1963. Both Wallace and Scott had faced obstacles and racism in their paths to their breakthrough wins, and NASCAR is trying to put it right with its range of diversity programmes