Next season, abundance of young drivers will rise up
HOMESTEAD, FLA. — As Kyle Busch walked off the stage following the final race of the year, a NASCAR official told the driver he would see him next season.
“If I don’t retire,” Busch said.
Ummm, what?
“Wouldn’t be the first guy,” Busch quipped.
Busch was probably just making a joke about Carl Edwards, who lost last year’s championship then abruptly retired right before the start of this season. His decision sparked a radical makeover in which NASCAR’s longtime stars are being replaced by fresh-faced newcomers.
The season finale on Sunday brought an end to the full-time racing careers of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Matt Kenseth. Tony Stewart retired right before Edwards did. Jeff Gordon walked away after 2015.
The changing of the guard has raised red flags through NASCAR all season long, though championship weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway briefly calmed any concerns. NASCAR crowned three new champions across its national series and cele- brated a pair of first-time race winners.
Christopher Bell opened the weekend by winning the Truck Series championship, while Chase Briscoe went to victory lane for the first time in his career. Both drivers are 22 and headed to the Xfinit y Series next year, Bell for Joe Gibbs Racing and Briscoe in a shared ride announced by Roush Fenway Racing. Briscoe will share the seat with 18-yearold Austin Cindric and Ty Majeski, who is 23.
William Byron won the X f i n i t y c h a m p i o n s h i p while Cole Custer won his first series race. Both are 19. Byron is going Cup racing next year for Hendrick Motorsports and Custer has a long future in the Stewart-Haas Racing organization.
Martin Truex Jr., a journeyman in NASCAR, closed the weekend with his first Cup championship. Although he is 37, he beat three former champions, Busch included.
Chairman Brian France wasn’t concerned about not having proper replacements during this exodus of stars.
“Go down the list, we’ve got a loaded group,” France said before Sunday’s finale. “We’re in a transition. But that happens from time to time. Not usually in the concentrated manner that we have now, but it happens. But we’re excited — we’ve got a great, great bunch of (young drivers) and they’re talented, so we’re in good shape.”
The sentiment was echoed by Roger Penske, who has primed himself for the future with a stout lineup.
Although Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski are considered series veterans, Logano is only 27 and Keselowski is 33. Added to the mix next year will be 23-year-old Ryan Blaney, rapidly establishing himself.
His buddies are in the Cup Series, too. Chase Elliott drives for Hendrick Motorsports and narrowly missed a spot in the championship finale, while Darrell Wallace Jr. will drive for Richard Petty Motorsports next season.
Kyle Larson is 24 and the star at Chip Ganassi Racing, while Richard Childress has both of his grandsons to carry the family race team far into the future.
Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and an assist to extend his career-best point streak to 10 games, and Mike Smith made 29 saves.
Sergei Bobrovsky made three of his 30 saves against a power play in the final two minutes to help Columbus win its fourth straight. Buffalo dropped its sixth in a row.
Antti Raanta made 26 saves and Arizona ended Toronto’s winning streak at six games.
Kyle Turris, Kevin Fiala and Ryan Johansen each had a goal and an assist for Nashville.
John Moore scored 52 seconds into overtime and New Jersey overcame two third-period goals by Minnesota’s Mikael Granlund. Cory Schneider stopped 33 shots for the Devils.
Late
Defenseman Radko Gudas was suspended for 10 games without pay by the league for slashing Jets forward Mathieu Perreault. Gudas was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for slashing in Philadelphia’s 3-2 loss at Winnipeg on Thursday. Gudas will forfeit $408,537.