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What’s new in NASCAR 2018: New drivers, teams, numbers and more

By Nick Tylwalk

LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 31: William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet during testing for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 31, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for NASCAR)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 31: William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet during testing for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on January 31, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for NASCAR) /
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From familiar faces in different places to drivers attempting to fill the shoes of legends, here’s our refresher on everything that’s changed in the Cup Series since November.

Most sports have an offseason, but only NASCAR has a Silly Season. Due in part to the fact that there isn’t all that much time between the championship trophy getting awarded at Homestead and engines firing up again for Speedweeks in Daytona, change happens fast at the top level of stock car racing.

This year is no exception. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth are gone, though at least Junior will be in the broadcast booth for NBC. We’ll see Danica Patrick one last time in the Daytona 500, then she’ll be walking away as well.

As for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series itself, it welcomes the new Chevrolet Camaro, a second Las Vegas race and shuffles the deck for the playoffs, changing the order of some races and hitting the “Roval” at Charlotte. The Brickyard has been moved back and will now serve as the cutoff race for the postseason.

And of course, there are drivers switching teams, others stepping up from the XFINITY Series and much more. In alphabetical order, here are all the Cup Series competitors who have something new going on in 2018.

CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 23: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This image has been converted to black and white.) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola poses for a portrait during the NASCAR Media Tour at Charlotte Convention Center on January 23, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 23: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This image has been converted to black and white.) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola poses for a portrait during the NASCAR Media Tour at Charlotte Convention Center on January 23, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

Aric Almirola

What’s new: Switching from Richard Petty Motorsports to Stewart-Haas Racing; taking over for Danica Patrick.

Even though his results could rightfully be called modest at RPM, Stewart-Haas believes in Almirola. As evidence, he’s getting most of Kurt Busch’s 41 crew from last season, while Danica’s support team goes to work for Busch.

That’s notable because at least on paper, Almirola doesn’t represent that much of an upgrade from Patrick in terms of year-end finishes, though he was driving well last fall and has actually won a Cup Series race (the summer Daytona race in 2014). The thought here is that his equipment will be better at SHR and his results will improve as well, so lots of eyes will be on the 33-year-old to see if that is indeed the case.

It doesn’t hurt that he arrives with his own sponsor in tow, as Smithfield is following him over to the No. 10 Ford as well.

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