By Jerry Jordan, Editor
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – As the 2018 NASCAR season comes to a close with the final race this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway there are still few loose ends that have not been cleaned up – one being that Stewart-Haas Racing’s Gene Hass confirmed to Kickin’ the Tires he does not have a driver signed to the No. 41 for 2019.
Haas, who partially funds the car currently held by Kurt Busch through his company, Haas Automation, said he is waiting for contracts to be signed and didn’t offer insight on whether Busch would return to the seat or if it would go to another driver, possibly Daniel Suarez. Monster Energy is the co-sponsor of the car and reports are the company has not made a final decision on its funding for 2019. There has been much speculation that Busch would go to Chip Ganassi Racing in the No. 1 car and replace Jamie McMurray but, again, no deals have been finalized on that front either.
“We haven’t signed anybody to the 41, so all things are possible,” Haas said, five days ago in Phoenix. “There’s a lot of rumors so until we hear different, or something changes, for right now there is nobody in the 41 car next year. But we have time.”
Two weeks ago, Suarez told Kickin’ the Tires that he still didn’t have a ride as he knows his future at Joe Gibbs Racing essentially ends when the checkered flag drops Sunday night.
“Yeah, there are just a lot of parts and pieces moving around,” Suarez said. “And honestly, we are more than that (SHR) but, you know, everything as the time goes on the pieces and parts start getting less and you have a better direction of where you go. But, you know, fortunately, I am with a great race team with Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota and I feel like that helps me to go to another great place.”
When asked about his future, Busch said he was still waiting on decisions to be finalized.