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Silly Season Scorecard: Erik Jones splits with Joe Gibbs Racing

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Erik Jones won't return to Joe Gibbs Racing after this season and says that he was "blindsided" by the decision and didn't expect things to shake out this way after what he characterized as positive talks with the team.

Joe Gibbs Racing announced Thursday night it would part ways with Erik Jones after this season.

It was the first confirmation of a non-retiring full-time driver Cup driver who wouldn’t return to the same ride next year.

Jones will exit the No. 20 Toyota after three full-time seasons.

Here’s how the Cup Silly Season scorecard looks as of Aug. 7.

ANNOUNCED CUP RIDES FOR 2021

No. 00: Quin Houff enters the second year of his two-year deal with StarCom Racing.

No. 1: Kurt Busch enters the second year of a multi-year contract that Chip Ganassi Racing announced last season.

No. 2: Brad Keselowski and Team Penske announced a contract extension earlier this week.

No. 4: Kevin Harvick signed a contract extension in February that will keep him at Stewart-Haas Racing through the 2023 season.

No. 8: Tyler Reddick said in a press conference Friday he will be back with Richard Childress Racing next season.

No. 9: Chase Elliott is under contract with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2022 season.

No. 11: Denny Hamlin is signed with Joe Gibbs Racing through at least next year.

No. 12: Ryan Blaney and Team Penske announced a multi-year extension earlier this season.

No. 18: Kyle Busch is signed with Joe Gibbs Racing through at least next year.

No. 19: Martin Truex Jr. is signed with Joe Gibbs Racing through at least next year.

No. 22: Joey Logano is tied to Team Penske “through the 2022 season and beyond.”

No. 24: William Byron is under contact with Hendrick Motorsports through at least 2021.

No. 47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. enters the second year of a multi-year deal with JTG Daugherty Racing.

No. 88: Alex Bowman will race for Hendrick Motorsports under a one-year contract extension announced earlier this year.

Available/possibly available rides

No. 10: Aric Almirola is in a contract year at Stewart-Haas Racing.

No. 13: Ty Dillon is in a contract year at Germain Racing.

No. 14: Clint Bowyer is in a contract year to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing.

No. 20: With Erik Jones’ announced departure, it’s expected that Leavine Family Racing’s Christopher Bell will take his place.

No. 21: Matt DiBenedetto is in a contract year at Wood Brothers Racing. He said after the second Michigan race: “I haven’t really talked about that stuff for next year yet, but we’ve just been so focused and head down on digging and trying to make the playoffs and run well. We haven’t even really talked about it, so, hopefully, I stay here for a very long time to come and that’s what they had expressed to me when I came over here.”

No. 32: Corey LaJoie is in a contract year at Go Fas Racing.

No. 42: Matt Kenseth is not confirmed to return to Chip Ganassi Racing after he was tapped to replaced the fired Kyle Larson earlier this season.

No. 43: Bubba Wallace is in a contract year with Richard Petty Motorsports.

No. 48: With Jimmie Johnson retiring from full-time competition, Hendrick Motorsports has this seat to fill.

No. 95: Leavine Family Racing announced it was selling its assets earlier this week. The buyer has not been announced.

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