Earlier this season rumours and speculations about what Team Penske driver Brad Keselowski would do once the 2021 NASCAR racing season was over.

That future has become a bit more clear with the news that Keselowski is looking for some ownership duties along with a new driver’s contract. Team Penske owner Roger Penske noted that his team is not structured for Keselowski to assume some ownership share of the team; as a result, the two parties could not come to terms for a new contract.

Team Penske has announced that the reigning Xfinity Series champion and current driver of the Xfinity Series number 22 car Austin Cindric will be taking over the driving duties for the number two Team Penske car.

Cindric joins Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney on Team Penske.

Previously it was announced that Cindric was the driver in waiting for the number 21 Wood Brothers car for the 2022 season. Matt DiBenedetto currently drives the number 21 car; but has no contract past the 2021 season.

The Wood Brothers team has not won a race since 2017 and has been stuck on a total of 99 wins since then.

Noting that the introduction of the “Next Gen car” next season provides a “clean slate”, Eddie Wood announced that Xfinity Series driver Harrison Burton will be taking over the driving duties o the number 21 car. Burton is the son of former Cup Series driver and current NBC Sports broadcaster Jeff Burton.

Burton will be the latest in a long line driving legends who sat behind the wheel of the number 21 Wood Brothers car including David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett, Dan Gurney, AJ Foyt and Buddy Baker.

As the NASCAR “silly season” continues to evolve, the fate of Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Kurt Busch and Ross Chastain is still unknown. 23XL Racing has announced that they will be expanding to a two car team.