Ross Chastain & Jimmie Johnson’s NASCAR Driver Emerge as Favorites to Replace Kevin Harvick at SHR

Kevin Harvick turned 47 in December last year. The NASCAR veteran had left things purposely vague on questions of his retirement, but no one was fooled. Fans knew it was going to come sooner or later. The veteran finally announced it earlier this month. But the question now is—who will Stewart-Haas Racing replace him with?

Harvick’s age had absolutely no effect on what the driver could offer in the car, therefore, replacing him at Stewart-Haas Racing would be a tough task for Tony Stewart & Co.

Problems facing Tony Stewart & SHR

At the same time, Stewart-Haas Racing has set really high standards for itself. Being one of the few teams that can regularly challenge for wins and playoff berths, it would be an opportunity of a lifetime for any driver to get into the SHR garage. However, the real obstacle between SHR and its prospects is timing.

In the past year or so, most big names of NASCAR have signed multi-million deals. From Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Christopher Bell at Hendrick Motorsports, to Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney at Team Penske—each one of these drivers is now on long-term contracts with their respective teams.

Similarly, Kyle Busch and Tyler Reddick will be debuting for their new teams in 2023. They, too, are on multi-year deals and would be unlikely to switch teams once again.

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The timing of Harvick’s retirement, therefore, comes at a tricky time for the team. To get a driver out of a long-term deal would be next to impossible. Even if they do manage to convince them, it’ll be extremely expensive.

Reviewing the options available to replace Kevin Harvick

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The table does look incredibly scarce, with most A-listers out of contention. But there are still a few good options that could make the cut. With the experience of Stewart to back them up, a punt might work out in the long term.

The Athletic spoke to a number of insiders at NASCAR and came up with a few names that could make the switch. On the top of that list is Ross Chastain. The Trackhouse Racing driver is in his last year with the team. He also brings the added sponsorship marketability effect. That becomes a crucial factor given that Harvick’s long-time sponsors, Anheuser-Busch, haven’t yet made their decision about staying beyond 2023 and could jump ship too.

In close second would be Erik Jones, currently at Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club. He has talent—as his wins at the Southern 500 attest—and also has age on his side. At only 26 years old, he could become a long-term option for the team. But in his case as well, there are issues needing resolution. His long deal with Legacy would be the first obstacle. Also, his previous experience at Joe Gibbs Racing wasn’t the greatest, and joining another “big” team like SHR would pose similar problems.

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Harvick would be aiming to finish his last year in the best possible manner, but he will definitely be leaving behind a gaping hole as he leaves. Who do you think will replace him?