Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Silly Season 2016-17
Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
No. 1 Chevrolet
Driver: Jamie McMurray
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
McMurray returns to the team's No. 1 entry with sponsorship from McDonald's, Cessna, and GearWrench tools for 2017. McMurray qualified for the Chase for the second time in 2016.
No. 42 Chevrolet
Driver: Kyle Larson
Crew Chief: Chad Johnston
Kyle Larson will once again pilot the No. 42 Target Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing. Larson won his first career race last season at Michigan en route to qualifying for the 2016 Chase.
Team Penske
No. 2 Ford
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Crew Chief: Paul Wolfe
The 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion returns to Team Penske's No. 2 machine with sponsorship from Miller Lite for 24 races next season. Keselowski will also have
No. 22 Ford
Driver: Joey Logano
Crew Chief: Todd Gordon
The 2016 Chase runner-up returns to the familiar seat of the No. 22 entry for Team Penske in 2017. Logano will again team up with crew chief Todd Gordon with sponsorship from Shell-Pennzoil and AAA.
Richard Childress Racing
No. 3 Chevrolet
Driver: Austin Dillon
Crew Chief: Slugger Labbe
Richard Childress Racing's lone Chase driver returns to the No. 3 Chevrolet next season with sponsorship from Dow Chemical, American Ethanol, and Bass Pro Shops.
No. 27 Chevrolet
Driver: Paul Menard
Crew Chief: Matt Borland
The team announced in October that Menard would return to the team's No. 27 entry with sponsorship from family-owned Menard's. Matt Borland was named
No. 31 Chevrolet
Driver: Ryan Newman
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert
The 2008 Daytona 500 winner signed a multi-year contract extension with RCR in October. Caterpillar will return as the team's primary sponsor, along with Grainger and Wix Filters.
Stewart-Haas Racing
No. 4 Ford
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Crew Chief: Rodney Childers
Stewart-Haas Racing announced in February that they would switch manufacturers from Chevrolet to Ford beginning in 2017, with engines being supplied by Roush-Yates Performance. Harvick announced an extension with the team at Charlotte in May. Sponsors Busch Beer, Jimmy John's and Outback Steakhouse will return to Harvick's No. 4 next season.
No. 10 Ford
Driver: Danica Patrick
Crew Chief: Billy Scott
Patrick returns to her familiar No. 10 entry for 2017 with primary sponsorship from Nature's Bakery, Aspen Dental, TaxACT, and Code3 Associates. Crew chief Billy Scott returns to his role atop the team's pit box.
No. 14 Ford
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Crew Chief: Mike Bugarewicz
Bowyer joins Stewart-Haas after a one-year experiment with the now-defunct HSCott Motorsports. He replaces team co-owner Tony Stewart, who retired following the 2016 season. Bowyer will partner with crew chief and have sponsorship from Mobil 1. The team has not announced any other sponsorship for 2017.
No. 41 Ford
Driver: Kurt Busch
Crew Chief: Tony Gibson
The winner of NASCAR's inaugural Chase will be back for his fourth season in the team's No. 41 entry. Crew chief "Old Man" Tony Gibson is back with the team, as well. Busch will have sponsorship from Monster Energy, Haas Automation, and Mobil 1 for 2017.
Hendrick Motorsports
No. 5 Chevrolet
Driver: Kasey Kahne
Crew Chief: Keith Rodden
After rumors swirled of Kahne's replacement, Hendrick Motorsports announced that he would return to the team's No. 5 entry. Farmers will return as
No. 24 Chevrolet
Driver: Chase Elliott
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
The defending Sunoco Rookie of the Year returns for his second season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Primary sponsor NAPA Auto Parts returns for 24 races, along with 3M, Kelley Blue Book, Mountain Dew, and SunEnergy1. Hooters will also return to NASCAR with the team in 2017, sponsoring Elliott in two races.
No. 48 Chevrolet
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Crew Chief: Chad Knaus
NASCAR's newest seven-time champion is back behind the wheel of the No. 48 Chevrolet with crew chief Chad Knaus. Johnson will again receive sponsorship from Lowe's and Kobalt Tools.
No. 88 Chevrolet
Driver: Alex Bowman (One race), Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Crew Chief: Greg Ives
Dale Earnhardt Jr. received medical clearance to return after missing half of last year with a concussion. Alex Bowman will pilot the No. 88 Nationwide Chevy in the Clash at Daytona before Earnhardt makes his return in the Daytona 500. Greg Ives will again be the team's crew chief. Sponsorship will come from Nationwide Insurance, Axalta, and Mountain Dew in 2017.
Roush Fenway Racing
No. 6 Ford
Driver: Trevor Bayne
Crew Chief: Matt Puccia
Roush Fenway announced in November that they would be scaling back to two full-time entries in 2017. Bayne will again drive the team's No. 6 Ford Fusion with sponsorship from Advocare and Liberty National Life Insurance.
No. 17 Ford
Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Crew Chief: Brian Pattie
Fastenal signed a multi-year extension to remain primary sponsor of Roush Fenway's No. 17 entry through at least 2018. Crew chief Brian Pattie, who led the No. 16 team of Greg Biffle in 2016, replaces Nick Sandler as crew chief for Stenhouse. Sandler was named Director of Engineering as part of an organizational shakeup at RFR.
As part of its changes for 2017, RFR announced it had leased a charter to JTG Daugherty Racing. The team also will loan driver Chris Buescher to JTG Daugherty.
Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 11 Toyota
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Crew Chief: Mike Wheeler
Defending Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin and primary sponsor FedEx are back with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017. Hamlin won three races in 2016 and reached the Round of Eight in the Chase.
No. 18 Toyota
Driver: Kyle Busch
Crew Chief: Adam Stevens
The 2015 NASCAR champion and primary sponsor M&M's are signed through at least the 2019 season. Crew chief Adam Stevens returns as part of one of NASCAR's most successful driver-crew chief duos. Busch will also have sponsorship from Interstate Batteries in multiple races.
No. 19 Toyota
Driver: Daniel Suarez
Crew Chief: Dave Rogers
Defending Xfinity Series champion Daniel Suarez will make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut at Daytona, replacing Carl Edwards in the No. 19 Toyota. Edwards announced in January that he was stepping away from NASCAR competition beginning in 2017 in a move that sent shockwaves through the sport.
No. 20 Toyota
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Crew Chief: Jason Ratcliff
DeWalt will take over as primary sponsor on Kenseth's No. 20 Toyota after Dollar General announced it would leave NASCAR. Ratcliff will return to the team that reached the Round of Eight in the 2016 Chase.
JTG Daugherty Racing
No. 37 Chevrolet
Driver: Chris Buescher
Crew Chief: Trent Owens
JTG Daugherty announced that it will expand to two cars in 2017. The team will lease a charter from Roush Fenway Racing and hire driver Chris Buescher. Veteran Cup Series crew chief Trent Owens has been tapped to lead the
No. 47 Chevrolet
Driver: A.J. Allmendinger
Crew Chief: Randall Burnett
Allmendinger is back for his fourth full season behind the wheel of JTG Daugherty's No. 47 Chevrolet. Crew chief Randall Burnett is also expected to return next year. The No. 47 team will again have sponsorship from Kroger, Scott Products, and Bush's Beans in 2017.
Furniture Row Racing
No. 77 Toyota
Driver: Erik Jones
Crew Chief: Chris Gayle
Furniture Row Racing announced in August that Jones would make the move to NASCAR's top series in 2017 with sponsorship from 5-Hour Energy. The team purchased a charter from Premium Motorsports for the No. 77 team in 2017. Chris Gayle will transition from Joe Gibbs Racing's Xfinity Series program to lead the newly formed team. Jones is only expected to stay with Barney Visser's team for one season.
No. 78 Toyota
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Crew Chief: Cole Pearn
Martin Truex Jr. returns as the team's leading driver after a successful 2016 campaign. Crew chief Cole Pearn will also return to the 78, along with sponsor Bass Pro Shops. Incoming partner 5-Hour Energy is expected to sponsor Truex in two races including the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Front Row Motorsports
No. 34 Ford
Driver: Landon Cassill
Crew Chief: Donnie Wingo
Cassill will switch from the team's No. 38 entry to the No. 34 machine for 2017. Crew chief Donnie Wingo, who served as Cassill's crew chief on the No. 38, will swap teams as well. The team announced that Love's Travel Stops will be the primary sponsor on Cassill's No. 34 for 18 races.
No. 38 Ford
Driver: David Ragan
Crew Chief: TBD
David Ragan returns to Front Row Motorsports after competing for BK Racing in 2016. The Unadilla, Georgia native won the team's first race in NASCAR's Cup Series at Talladega in 2013. Front Row Motorsports announced that it will continue its technical alliance with Roush Fenway Racing next year. A crew chief for Ragan has not been announced yet.
Germain Racing
Driver: Ty Dillon
Crew Chief: Bootie Barker
Ty Dillon will compete for Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the No. 13 Chevrolet for Germain Racing, replacing Casey Mears. Longtime Germain sponsor GEICO returns to the team again in 2017 as part of a multi-year extension through 2018. The team will continue its technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing.
Wood Brothers Racing
Driver: Ryan Blaney
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
After
Richard Petty Motorsports
Driver: Aric Almirola
Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer
Richard Petty Motorsports will downsize to just one full-time entry in 2017 following the retirement of Brian Scott. Almirola will again return to the No. 43 Ford Fusion with sponsorship from Smithfield Foods and the U.S. Air Force. Drew Blickensderfer will remain in place as the team's crew chief.
RPM announced that it would lease the charter used by the No. 44 team in 2016.
Leavine Family Racing
Driver: Michael McDowell
Crew Chief: Todd Parrott
Leavine Family Racing announced the purchase of a charter from Tommy Baldwin Racing in November 2015. As a result of the move, McDowell will compete full-time in the No. 95 Chevrolet. The team has a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. The team announced that championship-winning crew chief Todd Parrott would remain with the organization in 2017.
BK Racing
No. 23 Toyota
Driver: Joey Gase (At least 3 races)
Crew Chief: TBD
BK Racing announced that driver Joey Gase would drive for the team in at least three races in the 2017 season, including the season-opening Daytona 500 and night race at Bristol with sponsor Best Home Furnishings.
No. 83 Toyota
Driver: TBD
Crew Chief: TBD
Driver Matt DiBenedetto announced that he would not return to BK Racing in 2017. The team has not yet named his replacement.
Go FAS Racing
Driver: Matt DiBenedetto
Crew Chief: TBD
Go FAS Racing team owner Archie St. Hilaire announced that the team would lease a charter from Richard Petty Motorsports for 2017. The team announced that Matt DiBenedetto would compete in all 36 races next year. As part of its charter agreement with RPM, GFR said it has purchased multiple cars from the team during the offseason. A crew chief has not been named for the team.