Earnhardt's surprise decision to retire from the NASCAR Cup series at the end of the season will make his seat the hottest ride in racing. [...] more than talent is needed to take the wheel of the No. 88 Chevy for team owner Rick Hendrick. The next driver will face added scrutiny that comes with replacing NASCAR's most popular driver, the sport's public face and a peerless pitchman who has done it all with few complaints over 18 years. Earnhardt might never have won a NASCAR championship, but he did win the Daytona 500 twice, along with 24 other Cup victories, and plenty will be, yes, riding on the decision. Hendrick has the checkbook to buy out anyone he wants, though he has to keep his sponsors happy and, he hopes, paying the same top dollar that Earnhardt commanded. Byron is considered one of the future top drivers in the Cup series and Hendrick has never shied away from plucking young prospects and plopping them in a Cup ride. Some believe the hit he took in a late accident in the season finale, coupled with Earnhardt's health scares, pushed Edwards into a hasty decision. — Matt Kenseth. If Hendrick wanted to give Byron at least another year at Xfinity, a stopgap veteran driver like either of these two could keep the 88 seat warm until 2019.