Chase Briscoe fills in another piece of the Silly Season puzzle by moving up to Cup next year. He’ll take over the No. 14 ride at Stewart-Haas Racing with Clint Bowyer going to the TV booth in 2021.
Tuesday’s announcement is part of a monumental week for Briscoe. His victory last weekend at Kansas – his ninth Xfinity win of the season – qualifies him for the Nov. 7 championship race at Phoenix. He’s the first driver to lock in a spot in the Xfinity title race.
Briscoe’s promotion means that Stewart-Haas Racing will have a rookie driver for the second year in a row. Cole Custer, who made the playoffs, will be the Cup Rookie of the Year this season.
Here’s how the Cup Silly Season scorecard looks:
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 Aug. 3.
No. 3: Austin Dillon is signed with Richard Childress Racing through at least next year.
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 Aug. 7 that 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. 10: Aric Almirola extended his deal with Stewart-Haas Racing for 2021 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. 14: Chase Briscoe moves up to Cup to take over the ride Clint Bowyer will vacate.
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. 20: Christopher Bell moves from Leavine Family Racing to take over this ride in 2021.
No. 21: Wood Brothers Racing announced Oct. 9 Matt DiBenedetto would race for the team in 2021 before Austin Cindric takes over the car in 2022. Roger Penske said Oct. 20 on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that he has an option on DiBenedetto’s contract for 2022.
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 2022.
No. 41: Cole Custer, who will be the 2020 Cup Rookie of the Year, will be back in this ride.
No. 42: Ross Chastain was chosen by Chip Ganassi Racing to replace Matt Kenseth.
No. 47: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. enters the second year of a multi-year deal with JTG Daugherty Racing.
No. 48: Alex Bowman will drive the No. 48, moving over from the no. 88, Hendrick Motorsports announced Oct. 6.
No. 99: Daniel Suarez will compete for the new Trackhouse Racing team.
Denny Hamlin / Michael Jordan team: Bubba Wallace will drive for the new team in 2021.
Available/possibly available rides
No. 32: Ride is open with Corey LaJoie announcing he will not return to Go Fas Racing in 2021.
No. 43: Ride is open with Bubba Wallace moving to Denny Hamlin/Michael Jordan team for 2021.
No. 88: Ride is open with Alex Bowman moving to the No. 48 next season.
No. 95: Spire Motorsports purchased the charter and assets of Leavine Family Racing and will be a two-car operation in 2021. Christopher Bell will move to the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team for 2021. Spire has not named who will take over this ride for next season.
No. 96: Daniel Suarez and Gaunt Brothers Racing announced Sept. 15 that they would part ways after this season.
