The high-speed world of NASCAR nothing is ever static, including who is behind the wheel of each car.
While most of the attention is currently on the track in the final four races leading up to the Chase for the Sprint Cup, there's also plenty of action in the paddock as teams and drivers sort out who will be where in 2014.
This week alone Brian Vickers inked a deal that will give him is first full-season ride in stock car racing's top circuit since 2009 and word leaked out through an Associated Press report that Juan Pablo Montoya's days with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing could come to an end this year.
If Montoya is indeed done with Earnhardt Ganassi the former Indy 500 winner and Formula One driver could find himself looking for a ride in another series. After seven years as a Sprint Cup driver the Colombian has yet to win on an oval and has just one Chase appearance to his name.
It seems farfetched that another big outfit would give Montoya a shot and he doesn't appear to be a good fit with a lower-profile team, unless Montoya is desperate to stay in the United States.
There should be plenty of opportunities for a driver of his pedigree in Europe.
Montoya's impending departure could open up another possible landing spot for Ryan Newman, currently the highest profile free-agent. Newman is looking for work after losing his seat at Stewart Haas Racing when the team lured Kevin Harvick away from Richard Childress Racing.
Newman now has the ability to play Earnhardt Ganassi and Richard Childress off against each other if both teams are looking for an experienced driver to fill the void. However, the teams could elect to promote one of their developmental drivers into the empty seats leaving Newman to scramble for a ride with one of the sport's lesser lights.
Vickers, meanwhile, returns to NASCAR's top tier after a health scare disrupted his 2010 season and his Red Bull Racing team closed up shop a year later making him a free agent. Vickers spent the last two seasons driving a partial schedule, but strong results coupled with a win this year earned him the full time spot behind the wheel of the No. 55.
Vickers' signing displaces Mark Martin and the veteran driver has no intention of going quietly into retirement.
Ideally Martin would like to find a situation where he can continue to run a partial schedule in the Cup series. One way he could do that would be joining a big team looking for a mentor for a young driver - both Richard Childress Racing and Earnhardt Ganassi could fit that bill. More likely, he could sign with a smaller team as part of a driver-by-committee.
There's potential for further shuffling with the likes of Jeff Burton on the hot seat at Richard Childress despite being under contract for at least one more season or Kurt Busch itching to get back with one of the big teams after his successful run with Furniture Row Racing.
The only way for drivers to ensure they won't get pushed out is to win regularly, which is why no changes are expected at the top. Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have dominated the sport in recent years, combing for 13 wins in 22 starts in 2013. Neither of NASCAR's two power teams are expected to make any changes any time soon.
