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Since Michael Waltrip Racing bowed out of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, there were a lot of employees, not just drivers, looking for a place with other teams. For two drivers, Clint Bowyer and David Ragan, they were able to get rides for 2016 and beyond securing their future. It’s always a roller coaster when drivers and other crew members are left to find work elsewhere when their company closes due to lack of ownership or funding.

For Bowyer, now a NASCAR veteran, his future was already set in stone long before the season ended. For this season only, he will race for HScott Motorsports racing the no. 15, while serving as the driver-in-waiting, replacing Tony Stewart at Stewart-Haas Racing in 2017. Stewart will retire after this season and take on the role of owner more than Sprint Cup driver. Stewart will however continue to race in other events outside the Sprint Cup Series. Bowyer will race along side Michael Annett, who is driving the number 46 car at HScott Motorsports.

David Ragan was in a trickier situation. He subbed for Kyle Busch in the no. 18 for Joe Gibbs Racing after Busch sustained injuries in Daytona. Ragan then filled in for Brian Vickers in the no. 55 Aaron’s car when Vickers took a medical leave with blood clots. Just last week, Ragan signed a deal with BK Racing for the 2016 season and will drive no. 23 car along with Matt DiBenedetto, in the no. 83. Ragan is replacing Jeb Burton, who failed to score a top-ten finish and failed to qualify nine times in 2015.

As for Vickers, there is still no known plan for his immediate future as he may still be sidelined for medical reasons. Whether he continues the role of analyst for NBC Sports Network once again is still uncertain. But for the Bowyer and Ragan, their futures are firmly in place with new teams.

It’s wishful thinking that these employees and drivers will never see another team close, but for now, there’s comfort in knowing their 2016 season is in place.