INDIANAPOLIS — The NASCAR Silly Season for the 2021 campaign was set to be a wild one. Top rides were going to come open with some young talented drivers available. Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, Stewart-Haas Racing, Chip Ganassi Racing and Hendrick Motorsports were set to have seats open. They are the top teams in NASCAR. That’s why this offseason and the potential movement was to reshape NASCAR’s premiere series for the foreseeable future.

Among the names as notable free agents — Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Erik Jones, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer and others. Mix in the retirement of Jimmie Johnson and you get a seat that has produced 83 wins and seven championships opening up.

But, Bowman went out and won the third race (Fontana) of the season followed by Blaney agreeing to a multi-year contract extension a few short days later to remain at Team Penske has turned this thing on its head. Then, with COVID-19 putting the 2020 season on a hiatus, the status of Johnson for 2021 is now back in the air.

Johnson, doesn’t want to run four races in 2020 and call it quits. He doesn’t want to go out that way and doesn’t want this to be the last his fans see of him. Depending on how long this 2020 season ends up being will dictate whether Johnson comes back for 2021 and makes that his swan song season or not.

I mean, there’s a real chance that we don’t get going for a while still. That means there’s also a real chance that Johnson is back in the 48 next year. With Bowman being off to a career best start, there’s a real chance he’s back in the 88 next year too.

Then, with Larson’s racial slur made on Easter night, you can pretty much eliminate him from any list for any open ride as well with him eventually being fired early by Ganassi on Tuesday. That would leave Keselowski as the top free agent but wouldn’t Penske now be wise to bring him back being the top suitor? If not, they would bring up Austin Cindric leaving Keselowski out of a top ride for a moment.

Odds are JGR would bring Christopher Bell over to replace Jones unless Jones somehow can get on a terror and win a race shortly after getting back going again. Jones, is currently 21st in the standings right now and if you were paying attention before the coronavirus forced NASCAR to take a break, the Toyota’s weren’t exactly running like they were in 2019. I don’t trust Jones can just instantly find his groove. If that does lead Bell to JGR, then Jones could slide over to Leavine Family Racing as a ride swap virtually or Penske and SHR may show some interest too.

CGR’s best option for them is to bring Ross Chastain, who’s also currently still under contract, up to replace Larson. Expect that move to happen here soon anyways.

That then pretty much puts Silly Season in the hands of Stewart-Haas Racing. If Jones and Keselowski are available, Ford/SHR would be wise to scoop both up and put them in the 10 and 14. That would then make Almirola and Bowyer as the last two of the big names standing in free agency with Bowyer heading towards a broadcasting career anyways and maybe Almirola to GoFas Racing to speed them up.

That’s why the 2021 silly season may be over before it really ever began.