Chip Ganassi is a name that is well known in the motorsports world. With 16 total championships in IndyCar, Grand-Am, and Champ Car…as well as 220 victories in multiples series’…CGR has a “well-oiled machine” at their disposal. In the NASCAR Cup series, a championship has not been had…yet. Felix Sabates was the original owner of the CGR operation (then called SABCO) and had drivers like Kyle Petty, Sterling Marlin, and Joe Nemechek to name a few. Through many mergers with DEI, Gillett-Evernham, and with the help of investor Rob Kauffman, the tradition continues through Kyle Larson and Kurt Busch. It will be interesting to see how the two drivers complement each other, as both have completely different demeanors. Bringing Kurt Busch into the fold should aid Kyle Larson in getting to the “next level”. Both cars have pretty solid financial backing with Monster Energy, McDonalds, and Credit One. CGR is shutting down their Xfinity program in order to focus solely on the Cup team, which may produce better results for the upcoming season.

#42 Kyle Larson

The 25-year-old racer from Elk Grove, California is a 5-time race winner in the Cup series. Last year was a disappointment in terms of his points position. Larson made the chase, but finished 9th in the standings. With 12 top-5’s and 19 top-10’s, the year was confusing for Larson. It seemed he would always have an issue that prevented him from winning races, so he went winless. In 2017, he won 4 times and had an average finish of 13th. There is no doubt that Larson is one of the most talented drivers in the field and with the disappointing season in 2018, I would not be surprised if Larson takes the next step. Larson is known for racing on the dirt, and was so good that it attracted asphalt teams. His driving style is dangerous and aggressive, but he is in total control of the race-car. You will typically see him riding the high-line at certain tracks…inches from the wall, just to gain a competitive edge against his opponents. If Larson makes the final-four at Homestead, it sure will be tough to dethrone him, as that is arguably his best track. For 2019, I have Larson getting an impressive 6 wins, 17 top-5’s and 24 top-10’s.

#1 Kurt Busch

“The Outlaw” has competed in 18 full-time seasons at the Cup level. Everyone knows the roller-coaster career Kurt has had, but it has only made him stronger in terms of a driver. In 3 of the last 4 seasons, Busch has recorded 20+ top-10’s making him one of the most consistent drivers in the sport. 2013 was the last season that Kurt did not record a victory as well. The veteran driver was brought in to CGR to mentor Kyle Larson, not only that, but he brought his Monster Energy sponsorship with him. The 40-year-old “wiley” veteran will undoubtedly improve CGR, as he is a former 2004 Nextel Cup Champion, and knows what it takes to produce a win here and there. Even though Kurt is the veteran on this team, I consider him as the secondary driver to Larson, but I do think that this team will be more relevant than they ever have been. Busch is great at every track, and will bring it week in and week out. The matte black #1 car will get 1 win 7 top-5’s and 17 top-10’s in 2019.

AustYn

References: racing reference, Jayski

2019 NASCAR Preview: Chip Ganassi Racing