Thanks to Netflix the organizing methods of Marie Kondo are all the rage. Thankfully her third-cousin Spadie Kondo is a racing fan and has her OWN method of organizing…race car drivers!
Drivers/teams listed in their categories in projected order of finish for the season.
KEY: Car # Team Name—Driver (Biggest Announced Sponsor)
TPR—TEAM PROBABILITY RATINGS:
3—Confirmed; definitely running
2—Most-likely running but situation COULD change
1—Team is assumed to be running based on information available
0—Status is unknown, may not run in 2019
NOTE—all picks made after “greeting the track” earlier today. In an unrelated note, I’ve been banned from Dover International Speedway.
DEVELOPMENTAL DRIVERS
20 JGR—Christopher Bell (Rheem)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Several wins and the 2019 championship
When will you see him in Cup?: 2020 assuming Denny Hamlin’s back doesn’t give out before this season is over
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| The Toyota Supra will be run in the Xfinity Series in 2019. Oh, and BLAH BLAH BLAH BMW BLAH BLAH BLAH UGLY BLAH BLAH BLAH |
00 SHR—Cole Custer (Haas)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: 2-3 wins and making the final round of the playoffs
When will you see him in Cup?: 2020 although it would likely be with a satellite team like Front Row Motorsports, Pinnacle Pro Racing, Spire Motorsports, or Victory Circle Racing (see if you can figure out the two I just made up)
22 Penske—Austin Cindric (MoneyLion)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Better consistency, much fewer wrecks, and hopefully a win or two
When will you see him in Cup?: 2021, aka When He Changes His Name to Austin Menard
23 GMS—John Hunter Nemechek (FAS)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: A win (maybe more?), a deep Playoff run, and establishment as the top developmental driver unattached to a Cup team
When will you see him in Cup?: 2021 but with a crappy team, 2022 with a mid-level team, 2023 with an alien-owned team, 2024 with a cyborg-owned team
2 RCR—Tyler Reddick (???)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Making the Playoffs while scoring a win or two
When will you see him in Cup?: 2021, finally bringing back the #30 Cup car (sadly, no Jeff Green)
98 SHR/BDB—Chase Briscoe (Nutri Chomps)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Making the Playoffs and holding onto this ride for 2020
When will you see him in Cup?: 2021 in the Roush-Fenway 6 car (NOTE: if you’re actually going to bet on this, seek professional help immediately)
19 JGR—Brandon Jones (Menards)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Making the Playoffs and attracting some Cup ride attention
When will you see him in Cup? 2021, but sooner if Kyle Busch decides to get suspended again
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| Gragson. Noah Gargson. What kind of fans like Noah Gragson? |
9 JRM—Noah Gragson (Armour)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Win Rookie of the Year
When will you see him in Cup? 2022, but not with JRM (they’re staying in Xfinity, people!)
11 Kaulig—Justin Haley (LeafFilter)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Win Rookie of the Year
When will you see him in Cup? 2022, hopefully having stayed with a team for more than a season by that point
XFINITY VETERANS
7 JRM—Justin Allgaier (Brandt)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Multiple wins and the 2019 championship
Does he spark joy?: Considering he’s one of the few drivers who looks, acts, and lives like a normal human being, yes
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| New number for Michael A and Flying J |
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: A race win and/or a solid Playoff berth
Does he spark joy?: No, but then again you shouldn’t have ANY sparks near a gas station
4 JDM—Ross Chastain...mostly (FilterTime)
TPR—2
Realistic 2019 goal: Contending for a Playoff berth and attracting more sponsorship
Does he spark joy?: Yeah, until you realize how he lost his Ganassi ride
35 MBM—Joey Gase (Eternal Fan)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Top-10s in plate and standalone races
Does he spark joy?: As much as anyone with such a goulish-sounding sponsor can
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| "No, Phil, NO!!!" |
0, 01, 15 JDM—The JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Trio (Flex Seal)
TPR—1
Realistic 2019 goal: Putting at least one car in the Playoffs
Do they spark joy?: Not until Phil Swift saws a car in half, puts it back together, then races it to the pole
61 Fury—Kaz Grala (???)
TPR—0
Realistic 2019 goal: (for Kaz) Running close to the full schedule
Does he spark joy: As long as you don’t think too long about how to pronounce his last name
51 JCR—Jeremy Clements (RepairableVehicles)
TPR—3
Realistic 2019 goal: Contending for top-20s and a Playoff spot
Does he spark joy?: As long as he keeps his mouth shut
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| Still The Official Underdog |
39 RSS—Ryan Sieg (???)
TPR—2
Realistic 2019 goal: Continuing to make races and contend for top-20s when able
Does he spark joy?: Well, as The Official Underdog of the Xfinity Series, I think he’s required to
? BJM—Matt Mills (???)
TPR—2
Realistic 2019 goal: Make every race, contend when the funding is there, come back for more next year
Does he spark joy?: Once you realize he’s not the guy from REM, I guess so
07 SS-GLR—Ray Black Jr. (???)
TPR—2
Realistic 2019 goal: Hold onto this ride for the entire year
Does he spark joy?: Can you make sparks underwater?
08 SS-GLR—Gray Gaulding (???)
TPR—1
Realistic 2019 goal: Make it through the entire season without any sponsorship/payment issues
Does he spark joy?: When was the last time a guy named “Gray” sparked anything?
78 BJM—Vinnie Miller (???)
TPR—2
Realistic 2019 goal: See Matt Mills
Does he spark joy?: Yeah, until you realize that “Vinnie” is somehow short for “Vance”
COMING UP NEXT: PART 2