2014 Contract Year: NASCAR Drivers

By Richard Tix

As in normal NASCAR fashion, the 2014 season will start and many drivers will not know where, or if, they will be driving in the Cup Series in 2015. NASCAR Behind the Wall will take a look at the top drivers that are not under contract for the 2015 season.

Clint Bowyer

Bowyer had a controversial 2013 season with Michael Waltrip Racing, in fact 2012 ended with the Gordon controversy too. With all of that said, Bowyer is also in the last year of his contract with MWR with no plans announced yet (rumors have been out there they're working on a deal). Bowyer has been a great fit with MWR in a marketing sense but he has also made the Chase the past two years. In 2014 Clint will be the lead dog at MWR with Martin Truex Jr out after NAPA left town. So, can MWR really afford to ship Bowyer out and look for a new top driver in the same season?

 **Update 5/5: Clint Bowyer and MWR reach a new 3 year extension. Also Clint, MWR and 5 Hour energy reach a 3 year extension. **

Carl Edwards

Carl enters the 2014 season with no idea where he will be in 2015. He and our next driver, Biffle, have both been with RFR their entire careers. Both have not had contract renewals yet for any season past 2014. So will Roush bring back Edwards if he has another stretch run where he struggles like in 2013? It will be interesting to see if one, none, or both drivers are brought back in 2015. **Update 4/16: NBC Sports link on contract talks**

**Update 7/28: On Sunday it was officially announced that Carl Edwards would not be coming back to RFR. There had been speculation, but this was the first official word to come from anyone. No word on the official landing point of Edwards, but most believe (I thought he would possible stay put back in RFR Contract Talks) it will be Joe Gibbs Racing where his fellow teammate Matt Kenseth left for a short time ago**


Greg Biffle

During the 2012 season Roush Fenway Racing announced it was parting ways with Matt Kenseth and he was heading to Joe Gibbs Racing leaving Greg Biffle the long standing team member. Could the same thing happen in 2014 with the Biff? Greg Biffles contract will be up after 2014, and while he has been consistent, he doesn't seem to win as much as some would hope. So, is the Biff on his way out at Roush? If so, where will he land? He is on the back half of his career so will he land another major ride before its all said and done? **Update 4/16: ESPN link on contract talks.**

Jamie McMurray

McMurray always seems to the guy that gets the boot off a team. Maybe this mary-go-round ride will have him back at Roush after this season? What is known, is that McMurray's contract is up after the 2014 season. He could be brought back, but with so many young guys on the rise and the fact that McMurray has been hovering around the top 20, I can imagine Ganassi Racing looking for new talent to fill his spot.



Marcus Ambrose

2014 is Ambrose's last season under Richard Petty Motorsports contract. I also believe that RPM will not bring him back in 2015. Marcus is a great guy, but he has not proven that he can win at any place but a road course. I can see them maybe working a deal to run the two road courses on the year but one has to think that RPM wants to put a guy who can win week after week out there. But, maybe Ambrose can find an early season win at an oval and change everything?


Aric Almirola **

Another RPM guy in the last year of his contract, Almirola has shown some promise in his young career. Is that promise going to be enough for RPM to bring him back for another shot, or will they look to start over with even younger guys? RPM has a few young guys in development that they could bring up (Ryan Truex and Corey Lajoie). With two guys having expiring contracts will RPM make the move towards youth now or hold over for a year or two?

 **Since originally writing this article Aric and Smithfield inked a 3 year deal. So it looks like some of the in season pressure will be off of him and the #43 team. I still included him in this article not only because he started the offseason under pressure but also so fans don't miss that he was resigned.**

Danica Patrick

Stewart-Haas Racing just brought in two new drivers so I can not see them making another big splash after the 2014 season, but the fact remains that Danica's contract is up after the season. Danica may not have proven anything yet on the track, but she is a cash cow off of it. Even when she isn't winning, the car is still bringing in money. Maybe with Smoke, Kurt, and Harvick bringing in the top 10's and Win's SHR will take the loss (or win) with Danica and all the money she can bring in and resign her. Who knows maybe Danica will want to jump ship? (All speculation because her contract isn't out in the media. Sounds like GoDaddy isn't resigned yet past 2014. Seems like they would want to bring back a cash cow even if she doesn't win)

Well that's it for 2014, these are the drivers on the line. Let me know what you think on Twitter! Who will be back with there same teams? Who will find a new team? Who will be out of NASCAR? Who will win a race in 2014?