NASCAR: Silly Season Makes Nationwide and Truck Series That Much Better

NASCAR’s silly season is heating up as drivers are signing contracts that are shaping the sport’s future. Yesterday Carl Edwards signed an extension with Roush-Fenway to stay with the team for the near future. That will lead to almost all the other free agents to re-sign with their respective teams.

If Edwards had left, it would have caused a huge domino effect with the rest of the teams. Now, look for Clint Bowyer to re-up his contract with RCR. 

With the recent success of David Ragan look for the youngster to resign with Roush-Fenway as well and keep sponsor UPS with him. The other big named free agent was Juan Pablo Montoya, but on a sports radio show last week Montoya admitted a deal is almost done to keep him in the No. 42 Target Chevrolet for next year.

Since all these rides look to be filled, that leaves a lot of young talent that’s going to have to stay put for another year or risk leaving their respective teams that have made it possible for them to be where they’re at today.

If Edwards would have left to JGR most likely Trevor Bayne or Ricky Stenhouse Jr. would have filled the void in the No. 99 Ford.  The other would have all but surely made a full-time switch to Cup in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford with backing from Roush. 

Now that Edward re-signed, look for Bayne to keep the Wood Brothers ride and Stenhouse take another shot at a Nationwide Series Championship next year.

There’s some major retirements looming and some young guys are getting tuned to take over. Let's face it: we don’t have much longer for Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton and Bobby Labonte.

Here’s some up and comers that already have Cup teams backing that will shake up the future of the Sprint Cup Series soon.

1. Danica Patrick

I know most people think she won’t be successful in NASCAR, but reality is she’s coming. 

With the amount of media attention she will bring and the strong backing of JR Motorsports and Stewart-Hass, she will have every reason to succeed. 

It’s almost a done deal that she will drive full time in Nationwide for JR Motorsports and part time for Stewart-Hass next year. Look for her to be full time in Cup for Stewart-Hass in 2013.

2. Austin Dillon

The grandson of Cup owner Richard Childress is on a fast track to success.

He’s in a heated battle with Johnny Sauter for the Camping World Truck Series title and has already made a couple of starts in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this season. 

My prediction is Austin will move to a full time Nationwide Series ride next season and replace Jeff Burton in 2013 in the Sprint Cup Series.

3. Ty Dillon

The other grandson of Richard Childress and brother to Austin, he has already accumulated great success and he’s only 18 years old. 

With an ARCA championship in his sights look for Ty to replace brother Austin in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series next year. 

If he has success in the Truck Series, look for Ty to replace Austin in the Nationwide Series in 2013 and make a move to Cup in 2014.

4. James Buescher

Buescher has run great this season in ARCA and has had limited starts with Turner Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. 

Buescher is also running great in the Camping World Truck Sereis. 

Look for Buescher to move up full time in a Nationwide Series ride next year and stay for a couple of years before a move to Cup.

5. Parker Kligerman

Parker is a Penske Development driver. He’s worked his way through the ranks of ARCA and currently drives the No. 29 Penske Truck in the Camping World Truck Series. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Parker share a ride next season in the No. 22 Discount Tire Dodge in the Nationwide Series and make a full-time switch to Nationwide Series in 2013.

6. Dakota Armstrong

Dakota is another Indiana driver that came through the ranks like Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon. Dakota had great success in the USAC Series and already has some ARCA wins under his belt. 

Like Parker Kligerman, Dakota is also a Penske Development Driver and has made two Camping World Truck Series starts this season. 

Look for Dakota to run full-time in the Camping World Truck Series next season and move up to the Nationwide Series in 2013. If the success is there, look for him and Parker Kligerman to compete for a third Sprint Cup ride for Penske Racing.

7. Cole Whitt

With the success the rookie is having in the Camping World Truck Series, look for him to move into a Nationwide Series or Sprint Cup Series ride quickly. 

With Red Bull’s backing, look for him to kind of take a Scott Speed approach and move into a Sprint Cup Ride soon with Kasey Kahne leaving and Brian Vickers possibly leaving. 

My prediction is Mark Martin will join forces and buy into the Red Bull team since he’s out of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports ride after this season and drive until Cole is ready to take over. 

The Red Bull-sponsored team would have two young redheads (Whitt and Vickers) behind the wheel of their cars.