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Lee Spencer

Lee Spencer is the senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com. She has provided award-winning coverage of auto racing over the last 15 years. Spencer has lent her expertise to both television and radio and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM Radio and the Performance Racing Network.

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Updated Nov 7, 2009 9:53 AM ET
     
 

FORT WORTH, Texas

With three weeks remaining before this season is in the record books, the pieces of the 2010 roster puzzle are coming together.
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There will be plenty of displaced drivers after Homestead and not many vacant seats. The musical chairs have already started, but who will have rides when the transporters roll into Daytona in February? Let's take a look at who is out after the 2009 season and what their prospects are for next year.

Sprint Cup

David Stremme — As FOXSports.com first reported, the affable Stremme, 32, has been replaced by Brad Keselowski to give the newcomer a head start on 2010 with the No. 12 Penske team. In an ironic twist, Stremme will drive the No. 09 Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing at Homestead — a race Keselowski had signed on to do. Stremme, who was 31st in points at the time of his departure, has two options to consider. One, return to the Nationwide Series and drive for Rusty Wallace (who Stremme accompanied to Las Vegas earlier this week) and/or drive for the Bob Jenkins' owned Front Row Motorsports. Reed Sorenson — Through process of elimination, Sorenson is the odd man out in the Richard Petty Motorsports/Yates Racing merger. Sorenson, 23, has been offered the No. 32 Nationwide Series Braun Racing car. However, he will have to share the ride for nine races with Brian Vickers. Sorenson will pilot the No. 10 car in order to run the full season. Sorenson, who is currently 28th in the point standings, is also on the short list for Phoenix Racing. Casey Mears — With Jack Daniels' decision to discontinue its sponsorship, Richard Childress Racing is weighing its options for the No. 07 car in 2010, including shinking to three cars. That leaves Mears' status in limbo. Mears, 31, showed improvement under the direction of crew chief Todd Berrier, who has since been reassigned to the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet with Jeff Burton. He was as high as 18th in points before settling into 20th. Although Mears has enjoyed opportunities with Rick Hendrick, Chip Ganassi and Childress, his best season to date was 2006 in the No. 42 car when he finished 14th in points. Mears is also a top candidate for Phoenix Racing. Travis Kvapil — The former truck champ saw little seat time in 2009. He competed in just five races for Doug Yates at the start of the season and then found himself on an unsolicited 26-race sabbatical. Enter Front Row Motorsports. Although Kvapil failed to qualify the No. 37 FRM Dodge at Charlotte, he started and parked at Martinsville the following week. Kvapil, 33, is expected to turn the No. 37 car into a full-time ride as Stremme's teammate next season. Bobby Labonte — The 2000 Cup champ enjoyed moonlighting in the No. 71 TRG Chevrolet, and moved into that ride after he was booted from the No. 96 team in favor of rookie Eric Darnell. While Darnell's best finish with Yates Racing was 29th at Kansas, Labonte has outraced him each week. Labonte posted his first top 10 since Las Vegas behind the wheel of the TRG Chevrolet and is expected to remain with the team next year.

Nationwide Series

James Buescher — Buescher will run for the rookie title with Phoenix Racing in the No. 1 car. In six starts, the 19-year-old Plano, Tex.-native averaged a 16.7-place finish with a season-best seventh at Gateway. In his last NNS start — at Memphis — Buescher won the pole. On Monday, he tested with his future crew at Talladega. John Wes Townley — After his first full season in the NNS, Townley will drive the No. 29 Zaxby's Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing next season. Townley, 19, qualified for 23 events in 2009. His best finish was 16th at Bristol in the spring. Trevor Bayne — Bayne made 13 starts in 2009, including 10 races for Michael Waltrip Racing, where he is expected to drive next year. The 19-year-old Knoxville, Tenn.-native's best finish was seventh on two occasions. Once at O'Reilly Raceway Park and again at Richmond. Bayne also won the pole at ORP.

Camping World Truck Series

Austin Dillon — Dillon, the 19-year-old grandson of Richard Childress, will revive the No. 3 Chevrolet truck that Mike Skinner won the first series title with in 1995. Dillon has six NNS starts, including a fourth-place finish at Memphis last year. In his two truck starts, Dillon's average qualifying effort was a strong 6.5 and he scored top 15 finishes. Dillon will also have a soon-to-be named teammate in the CWTS at RCR.
Tagged: Michael Waltrip, Jeff Burton, Mike Skinner, Brian Vickers, Brad Keselowski

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