After two seasons, Stremme was released from CGR due to sponsorship issues. He returned to the Nationwide series driving for RWI. Earlier this year, Stremme was hired as a test driver for Penske.

When Ryan Newman announced he was leaving the No. 12 at the end of the season, Stremme was rumored to be on the list of candidates, which also included Casey Mears and Martin Truex Jr. Following the announcement that Truex Jr. would stay at Dale Earnhardt Inc., and that Mears was headed to Richard Childress Racing, Stremme became the lead candidate for the No. 12.

Newman later announced that he would drive for Stewart Haas Racing next season.

Stremme said:

It’s a great opportunity to get to drive for Roger Penske. I mean just look at what the organization has done in motorsports — the Daytona 500, Indy 500, championship drivers — I’m just so excited I barely have the words to explain how I feel.