Bubba Wallace’s exit from Richard Petty Motorsports laid a part of the recent speculation about his future in the team to rest. However, the move brought a series of questions as the Silly Season in NASCAR continues.

As Chip Ganassi Racing’s initial offer to Bubba Wallace now gains more weight, another big question is who will replace Wallace at Richard Petty Motorsports?

And now, Andrew Murstein, Co-Owner of Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), has revealed who the team will target to replace Wallace. Both his options are interesting and could make things very interesting in the Cup Series.

“I’m looking at drivers like Hailie Deegan, coming up through the ranks. I would have a heart to heart with Kyle Larson to see if he’s worthy of a second chance,” Murstein said in a recent interview.

Will Murstein’s options work for RPM?

Deegan is currently in the midst of an impressive season in the ARCA Menards Series. She has two Top-5 finishes and 12 Top-10 finishes and stands third in the overall standings.

However, making the leap to the Cup Series might just be asking for too much from the talented 18-year-old.

Deegan might not even be thinking of a leap into the Cup Series. She is still hoping for an opportunity in the Truck Series at some stage this season, as she admitted recently.

The other option, that of Kyle Larson, could make things very interesting. With Bubba Wallace behind the wheel of the No. 43 car at RPM, the team was still searching for a win. Larson’s introduction could thrust them into the contention for wins soon enough.

But as Murstein said, he wants to have a chat with Larson months after he was suspended by NASCAR for using a racial slur. However, Tony Stewart himself has vouched for Larson’s return to NASCAR.

Another option for RPM is Erik Jones, and so is Clint Bowyer. Both drivers are serial winners already and could very well replace Wallace.

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Wallace’s departure brings with it a huge issue for RPM, as he will undoubtedly carry the range of sponsors that he recently brought in to his next team. RPM will need sponsors on board who will pump in the money, which Murstein feels is absolutely quintessential.

“The nice thing about this sport is that you can do better quickly if you spend the money. Here, the technology on the car is part of the talent,” Murstein said.

Despite the challenges, the names of Deegan and Larson surfacing for a move to RPM makes things much more interesting as far as the 2021 season is concerned.