There is already one NASCAR event in the books for 2022, as the Clash took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, debuting the new Cup car. Joey Logano won the exhibition race and the 2018 Cup Series champion heads to Daytona with the momentum.
Like every Cup season since 2001, 36 races are scheduled, but there have been a few changes and a new track awaiting the Cup Series.
Daytona is again the season opener, and the western swing of Fontana, Las Vegas and Phoenix follows. The first Atlanta race on the reconfigured circuit with an increase to 28º banking in the turn will take place on March 20. Austin moves up to the end of March after being on a wet mid-May day last year. Richmond kicks off the month of April and consecutive Virginia races ahead of Martinsville on Saturday April 9.
The Bristol dirt race will be eight days later, Easter night. Talladega closes the month of April before Dover, Darlington and Kansas. The All-Star Race returns to the weekend before Memorial Day weekend, and it remains at Texas Motor Speedway for the second consecutive year.
The Coca-Cola 600 remains Memorial Day weekend. Gateway hosts its first NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday June 5. Sonoma will be the following Sunday. After Sonoma, the Cup Series gets an off week, the only off weekend scheduled during this season.
On June 26, Nashville restarts the season with the Cup Series hitting the halfway point of the season at Road America on July 3. NASCAR makes it first return to a track on July 10 at Atlanta before four consecutive one-visit tracks: Loudon, Pocono, which doesn't have two races for the first time since 1981, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in another combination weekend with IndyCar, and Michigan.
Watkins Glen is the penultimate regular season race on August 21 ahead of the Daytona regular season finale on August 27.
Darlington opens the playoffs, but Kansas is the second race of round one after being in the semifinal round for the previous two seasons. Round one closes at Bristol on September 17.
Texas opens round two after being a semifinal race every year of this championship format. Talladega opens the month of October ahead of the Charlotte roval race.
Las Vegas moves back to the semifinal round and Homestead moves back to the playoffs, occupying the antepenultimate spot in the calendar ahead of Martinsville. For the third consecutive year, Phoenix will host the season finale on November 6.
Practice and qualifying will return to every race weekend this season. Daytona, the first Atlanta race, Bristol dirt race, Gateway, Nashville and Phoenix finale will all get extended practice. At the other oval races, the field will be split into two groups and each group will get 15 minutes of practice. At road courses, each group will get 20 minutes of practice.
For qualifying, the teams will remain in their groups and the top five from each group will advance to a final round to decide pole position at most ovals. At Daytona and Talladega, the cars will all run one lap with the top ten runners advancing to the second round for pole position. On road courses, the final round of qualifying will be a ten-minute session to decide pole position. The Bristol dirt race will set the grid via four qualifying heat races.
With the schedule and practice/qualifying format off the table, it is time to look over the teams and drivers, see how the field is shaping up, and flesh out the expectations for these organizations.
Chartered Teams
Ross Chastain - #1 AdventHealth Chevrolet
Team: Trackhouse
2021 Championship Finish: 20th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 7th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Chastain is technically joining a new team as Trackhouse purchased Chip Ganassi Racing's assets, but he will be in familiar surroundings. Trackhouse had a good debut season with Daniel Suárez but left a lot of room for improvement. Chastain finished in the top fifteen in half the races with his best results coming on shorter ovals and road courses, but he wasn't really on the bubble for a playoff spot on points. He will be in the same spot as last year.
2021 Championship Finish: 20th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 7th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Chastain is technically joining a new team as Trackhouse purchased Chip Ganassi Racing's assets, but he will be in familiar surroundings. Trackhouse had a good debut season with Daniel Suárez but left a lot of room for improvement. Chastain finished in the top fifteen in half the races with his best results coming on shorter ovals and road courses, but he wasn't really on the bubble for a playoff spot on points. He will be in the same spot as last year.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: He has finished in the top ten in two of his three Daytona 500 starts and this all be Chastain's fourth different team in four Daytona 500 starts. It is more likely Chastain gets a victory at a shorter track. He was second at Nashville, third in the Southern 500, seventh at Richmond and eighth at Loudon.
Austin Cindric - #2 Menards/Discount TiresFord
Team: Team Penske
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible (Second in the NASCAR Grand National Series)
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 15th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: With the new car better designed for road courses and Cindric's road course ability, he should win at least one of the six road course races, five of which are in the regular season, which makes it more likely he makes the playoffs. Though pigeonholed as a road course specialist, Cindric has been fine on ovals. Nine of his 13 victories in NASCAR's second division were on ovals including two at Daytona, two at Phoenix, three on 1.5-mile ovals, Dover and Pocono. All he is missing is a short track.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible (Second in the NASCAR Grand National Series)
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 15th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: With the new car better designed for road courses and Cindric's road course ability, he should win at least one of the six road course races, five of which are in the regular season, which makes it more likely he makes the playoffs. Though pigeonholed as a road course specialist, Cindric has been fine on ovals. Nine of his 13 victories in NASCAR's second division were on ovals including two at Daytona, two at Phoenix, three on 1.5-mile ovals, Dover and Pocono. All he is missing is a short track.
Outside of Cole Custer's fluke Kentucky victory in 2020, rookies have not really been playoff contenders. Cindric should at least be in the conversation on points, and one victory in the first 26 races is probable for him.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Really, anywhere, though we are all expecting a road course. Unlike previous seasons when rookies are stepping into a new scenario with veterans who are experienced with the machinery, this is a new car for everyone. The learning curve is lesser for Cindric and other rookies this year.
Austin Dillon - #3 Bass Pro Shops/DOW/Chevrolet
Team: Richard Childress Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 17th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2018)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Pretty good. If it wasn't for Michael McDowell winning last year's Daytona 500 and Aric Almirola winning at Loudon, Dillon would have been in the playoffs. He was 13th in points after 26 races, but four drivers behind him had victories. Kurt Busch and Christopher Bell were both in the top 16, but it was McDowell and Almirola that knocked Dillon out.
2021 Championship Finish: 17th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2018)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Pretty good. If it wasn't for Michael McDowell winning last year's Daytona 500 and Aric Almirola winning at Loudon, Dillon would have been in the playoffs. He was 13th in points after 26 races, but four drivers behind him had victories. Kurt Busch and Christopher Bell were both in the top 16, but it was McDowell and Almirola that knocked Dillon out.
Dillon was good but not great in 2021. His only top five was third in the Daytona 500 and he had only eight top ten finishes. He was in the top fifteen of the final ten races, but his best result was tenth. One advantage many are pointing toward for Dillon is he spend a lot of time as a test driver of the new car. That extra time could play into his favor.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Half of Dillon's top ten finishes last year came on 1.5-mile ovals.
Kevin Harvick - #4 Busch/Jimmy John's/Mobil 1/GearWrench/Rheem Ford
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 5th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2007)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Though Harvick was far off his 2020 output, he was one of the better drivers in 2021. Twenty-four top ten finishes were behind only Kyle Larson's 26 and Denny Hamlin's 25. But Harvick had only ten top five finishes and zero victories. The most concerning thing is Harvick really was in contention for one victory, the September Bristol race. His consistency alone had him score the sixth most points in 2021.
2021 Championship Finish: 5th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2007)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Though Harvick was far off his 2020 output, he was one of the better drivers in 2021. Twenty-four top ten finishes were behind only Kyle Larson's 26 and Denny Hamlin's 25. But Harvick had only ten top five finishes and zero victories. The most concerning thing is Harvick really was in contention for one victory, the September Bristol race. His consistency alone had him score the sixth most points in 2021.
If last year was the worst-case scenario than that means Harvick is a borderline top five driver at this worst. Based on recent seasons, he will improve, win a few races and be a threat for a deep playoff run. There is still a lingering worry that it could get worse, and we will not know until he start seeing results from the #4 team.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Anywhere. It feels like if Harvick is going to win a race it will come early. He has great history at Atlanta, though that track has undergone a reconfiguration. The Richmond, Martinsville, Bristol dirt race triplet of races in April could also be favorable for him.
Kyle Larson - #5 HendrickCars.com/Cincinnati/Freightliner/ValvolineChevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: 1st
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 7th (2016, 2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Larson will be back, and he will push for a second consecutive championship. Will he win ten races and lead over 2,500 laps again? Unlikely, but five victories and 1,800 laps led is still a great season and one worthy of a championship. Larson is not going to fall off. He will win on short tracks. He will win on intermediate tracks. He could win on a road course. We will be hearing from Larson all the time in 2022.
2021 Championship Finish: 1st
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 7th (2016, 2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Larson will be back, and he will push for a second consecutive championship. Will he win ten races and lead over 2,500 laps again? Unlikely, but five victories and 1,800 laps led is still a great season and one worthy of a championship. Larson is not going to fall off. He will win on short tracks. He will win on intermediate tracks. He could win on a road course. We will be hearing from Larson all the time in 2022.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: It is more of a case of how long does it take for Larson to get his first victory of the season? Could he win the Daytona 500? Yes. Fontana? Definitely? Vegas? That is where he scored his first victory last year. We are all wondering how he does at the Bristol dirt race. He was quick last year but was caught in an early accident. If he can get through the first 50 laps, he will likely be a contender at the finish.
Brad Keselowski - #6 Fastenal/Violet Defense/Kohler Generators Ford
Team: Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 6th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 3rd (2014)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Changing teams and becoming a part owner adds another level to Keselowski's responsibilities in 2022. Roush Fenway Racing had three top five finishes and 13 top ten finishes total in 2021. Keselowski had ten top five finishes and 17 top ten finishes on his own last year. The 2012 champion is a talented driver, but this is a giant step backward from Team Penske.
2021 Championship Finish: 6th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 3rd (2014)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Changing teams and becoming a part owner adds another level to Keselowski's responsibilities in 2022. Roush Fenway Racing had three top five finishes and 13 top ten finishes total in 2021. Keselowski had ten top five finishes and 17 top ten finishes on his own last year. The 2012 champion is a talented driver, but this is a giant step backward from Team Penske.
Keselowski should be on the fringe on points alone, and he is great at Talladega, but his playoff spot is far from certain after being the case since the introduction of this championship format.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: With this new team, I think Keselowski is in the Daytona/Talladega group. I am not sure he will be the same Keselowski we have seen at Atlanta, Richmond, Michigan and other tracks he has succeeded at.
Corey LaJoie - #7 Built/Schluter Sytems/Nations GuardChevrolet
Team: Spire Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: 29th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 8th (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: The new car brings the smaller teams like Spire Motorsports close to the top. LaJoie had one top ten finish last year, ninth in the Daytona 500. He had only two other top fifteen finishes all season, 15th at Nashville and 15th at Darlington. He was outside the top twenty in 26 of 35 starts last year. He might be closer to the top, but he is still far from being a playoff contender on speed alone.
2021 Championship Finish: 29th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 8th (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: The new car brings the smaller teams like Spire Motorsports close to the top. LaJoie had one top ten finish last year, ninth in the Daytona 500. He had only two other top fifteen finishes all season, 15th at Nashville and 15th at Darlington. He was outside the top twenty in 26 of 35 starts last year. He might be closer to the top, but he is still far from being a playoff contender on speed alone.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Make him driver #2 in the Daytona/Talladega group.
Tyler Reddick - #8 3CHI/Guaranteed Rate Chevrolet
Team: Richard Childress Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 13th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 27th (2019, 2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Excellent. Reddick had 16 top ten finishes and was 11th in points at the end of the regular season last year. He scored the 11th most points last year. Reddick could be ready for a breakout season, and it feels like he could potentially win a race purely on speed in 2021. He did have only three top five finishes last year, second at Homestead, fifth in the August Daytona race and second at the Charlotte roval. He also led only 43 laps. It might be tough, but Reddick should be set on points and a victory is not crazy.
2021 Championship Finish: 13th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 27th (2019, 2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Excellent. Reddick had 16 top ten finishes and was 11th in points at the end of the regular season last year. He scored the 11th most points last year. Reddick could be ready for a breakout season, and it feels like he could potentially win a race purely on speed in 2021. He did have only three top five finishes last year, second at Homestead, fifth in the August Daytona race and second at the Charlotte roval. He also led only 43 laps. It might be tough, but Reddick should be set on points and a victory is not crazy.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Short track or road course.
Chase Elliott - #9 NAPA Auto Parts/Hooters/Llumar/Kelley Blue Book/UniFirst Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: 4th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Elliott will be there. He made it back to the Championship Four, defending his title until the final lap, but Elliott's only two victories were Austin and Road America, road courses and he was fortunate Austin was called early due to rain. It was a solid season, 15 top fives and 21 top tens. He also led 289 laps at Martinsville and 129 laps at Bristol in the playoffs, two races where contact knocked him out of contention. It was surprising he didn't win an oval race at all in 2021, but I doubt that happens again, and if the results go his way, he could be back in the Championship Four and fighting for a title.
2021 Championship Finish: 4th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Elliott will be there. He made it back to the Championship Four, defending his title until the final lap, but Elliott's only two victories were Austin and Road America, road courses and he was fortunate Austin was called early due to rain. It was a solid season, 15 top fives and 21 top tens. He also led 289 laps at Martinsville and 129 laps at Bristol in the playoffs, two races where contact knocked him out of contention. It was surprising he didn't win an oval race at all in 2021, but I doubt that happens again, and if the results go his way, he could be back in the Championship Four and fighting for a title.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: The expectation is Elliott will win on a road course. I think he will have good runs on short tracks. We should see Elliott win on a variety of circuits.
Aric Almirola - #10 Smithfield Ford
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 15th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 15th (2017)
2022 Playoff Prospects: If it wasn't for a fluky day in Loudon, Almirola wouldn't have made the playoffs in 2021. He has had good years, but there was a swift regression from his first three seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing. The entire team struggled in 2021, but for Almirola to go from 18 top ten finishes to five is startling. The team could rebound, and Almirola could be back to ten to 15 top ten finishes and in the playoff mix, but seeing how good the Cup Series is, I think he will be fighting for one of those final spots on points at best, and I am not sure another overcast day in New Hampshire will save him.
2021 Championship Finish: 15th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 15th (2017)
2022 Playoff Prospects: If it wasn't for a fluky day in Loudon, Almirola wouldn't have made the playoffs in 2021. He has had good years, but there was a swift regression from his first three seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing. The entire team struggled in 2021, but for Almirola to go from 18 top ten finishes to five is startling. The team could rebound, and Almirola could be back to ten to 15 top ten finishes and in the playoff mix, but seeing how good the Cup Series is, I think he will be fighting for one of those final spots on points at best, and I am not sure another overcast day in New Hampshire will save him.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: All five of Almirola's top ten finishes in 2021 came at tracks shorter than 1.5 miles in length. His last ten top ten finishes dating back to 2020 came on tracks shorter than 1.5 miles in length, which is interesting because in his ten top ten finishes before this stretch, only one was on a track shorter than 1.5 miles. A place like Richmond or the concrete of Dover or Nashville will be Almirola's best shot at victory in his final full Cup season.
Denny Hamlin - #11 FedEx Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 3rd
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2016, 2019, 2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Hamlin will be there. It is a matter of does he make it with eight victories and look like the best driver in the series or no victories but consistent as Swiss rail service? Hamlin had a few regular season races slip from his hands. His season was better than his victory total suggested. He is going to win more than he did in 2021 and more than he did in the regular season.
2021 Championship Finish: 3rd
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2016, 2019, 2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Hamlin will be there. It is a matter of does he make it with eight victories and look like the best driver in the series or no victories but consistent as Swiss rail service? Hamlin had a few regular season races slip from his hands. His season was better than his victory total suggested. He is going to win more than he did in 2021 and more than he did in the regular season.
Hamlin knows he is one of the most successful drivers without a championship, and he has been knocking on that door for the last three seasons. The ability is there for him to do it and he will take it deep into the playoffs.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Hamlin led 1,502 laps in 2021; 1,036 of those laps were on tracks shorter than 1.5 miles in length. He is going to have multiple short track victories this year.
Ryan Blaney - #12 Menards/Advance Auto Parts/BodyArmor/DEX Imaging/Wurth/Discount Tire Ford
Team: Team Penske
2021 Championship Finish: 7th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2017, 2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Blaney will be there and after taking a step forward in 2021, he should be a challenger for a final four spot. He was a semifinal driver last year and an accident in Kansas was a setback he couldn't overcome. He won three races but in those three races he led a combined 40 laps and led fewer than ten laps in two of them. But he had 11 top five finishes for the third consecutive season and a personal best 20 top ten finishes. He is going to win races and take another step forward.
2021 Championship Finish: 7th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2017, 2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Blaney will be there and after taking a step forward in 2021, he should be a challenger for a final four spot. He was a semifinal driver last year and an accident in Kansas was a setback he couldn't overcome. He won three races but in those three races he led a combined 40 laps and led fewer than ten laps in two of them. But he had 11 top five finishes for the third consecutive season and a personal best 20 top ten finishes. He is going to win races and take another step forward.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Blaney has been stellar on restrictor plate tracks, so a Daytona 500 victory right off the crack of the bat would not be surprising. Only twice did he lead over 50 laps last year, 157 laps in the spring Martinsville race and 64 laps at Loudon. A victory at Martinsville in October to lock up a final four spot and fight for the title at Phoenix is something realistic I see happening in 2022.
Chase Briscoe - #14 Mahindra Ag North America/High Point Ford
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 23rd
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 19th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Briscoe's rookie season was a little disappointing, but he might have joined Stewart-Haas Racing at the wrong time. He still had some good results, but three top ten finishes, all on road courses, was less than we expected after a sensational run in NASCAR's second division. Briscoe should be closer to a playoff spot this year. He should get some top ten finishes on ovals. Can he make the leap to race victory contender? It is hard to imagine on ovals based on 2021 results, but road courses he has a prayer, and if the season starts well, he could be a greater contender on ovals.
2021 Championship Finish: 23rd
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 19th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Briscoe's rookie season was a little disappointing, but he might have joined Stewart-Haas Racing at the wrong time. He still had some good results, but three top ten finishes, all on road courses, was less than we expected after a sensational run in NASCAR's second division. Briscoe should be closer to a playoff spot this year. He should get some top ten finishes on ovals. Can he make the leap to race victory contender? It is hard to imagine on ovals based on 2021 results, but road courses he has a prayer, and if the season starts well, he could be a greater contender on ovals.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: For now road courses. He looked good in the wet last year at Austin. He was one of the better cars at Indianapolis.
David Ragan - #15 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Team: Rick Ware Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 38th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 4th (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Zilch, because Ragan will be one of at least four drivers to drive the #15 Ford in 2022. Joey Hand will run on road courses, Ryan Preece will run a few races in partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing, and Garrett Smithley will also be in the car at some point. Ragan will also run a few more times after the Daytona 500.
2021 Championship Finish: 38th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 4th (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Zilch, because Ragan will be one of at least four drivers to drive the #15 Ford in 2022. Joey Hand will run on road courses, Ryan Preece will run a few races in partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing, and Garrett Smithley will also be in the car at some point. Ragan will also run a few more times after the Daytona 500.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: For the team, Hand could pull out a road course result. It is unlikely but the most likely option for this team.
Daniel Hemric - #16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Team: Kaulig Racing
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible (2021 NASCAR Grand National Series champion)
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 34th (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Hemric will run eight races in the #16 Chevrolet, splitting it with A.J. Allmendinger and Noah Gragson, who will each run 14 races in this car. Hemric will drive for Kaulig in the Grand National Series to defend his title.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible (2021 NASCAR Grand National Series champion)
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 34th (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Hemric will run eight races in the #16 Chevrolet, splitting it with A.J. Allmendinger and Noah Gragson, who will each run 14 races in this car. Hemric will drive for Kaulig in the Grand National Series to defend his title.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Other than the Daytona 500, Hemric will start the other Daytona race in August, Fontana, Las Vegas, both Talladega races and both Darlington races. We should mention that Allmendinger could win in any of his 14 starts.
Chris Buescher - #17 Fastenal/Fifth Third Bank/Castrol/Violet Defense Ford
Team: Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 19th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 3rd (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Buescher has been just outside the playoff picture for basically his entire Cup career. I really don't see that changing. Adding Keselowski isn't going to turn the team into one of the top three teams. Buescher has been around 20th, and he will likely stick around 20th.
2021 Championship Finish: 19th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 3rd (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Buescher has been just outside the playoff picture for basically his entire Cup career. I really don't see that changing. Adding Keselowski isn't going to turn the team into one of the top three teams. Buescher has been around 20th, and he will likely stick around 20th.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Five of his 28 top ten finishes have come at Daytona. The only other tracks where he has more than two top ten finishes are Charlotte and Kansas, each with three top ten results.
Kyle Busch - #18 M&Ms/Interstate Batteries/Sports Clips/Rheem Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 9th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Lock for the playoffs, but can he get back to his 2015-19 form where he made the final four in each of those five seasons? He has been eighth and ninth in the championship each of the last two seasons, but that ninth last year is a little misleading as he was in the semifinal round. There are higher expectations for Busch with the new car than any other driver, but I am not sure anyone has a good reason other than he won the first race with the Car of Tomorrow.
2021 Championship Finish: 9th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Lock for the playoffs, but can he get back to his 2015-19 form where he made the final four in each of those five seasons? He has been eighth and ninth in the championship each of the last two seasons, but that ninth last year is a little misleading as he was in the semifinal round. There are higher expectations for Busch with the new car than any other driver, but I am not sure anyone has a good reason other than he won the first race with the Car of Tomorrow.
The last two seasons saw basically an absence of practice and qualifying. Practice will return but in a much more truncated form than prior to the pandemic. I don't know if it will be enough to return Busch to where he was for those five previous seasons.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Busch's last five victories have either been on a 1.5-mile oval or Pocono.
Martin Truex, Jr. - #19 Bass Pro Shops/Auto Owners Insurance Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 2nd
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2016)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Another lock. Truex has won at least four races in five of the last six seasons. He has had at least 20 top ten finishes in six of the last seven seasons. He has had over a dozen top five finishes in the last five seasons. He has been in the final four in five of the last seven seasons and he has been first or second in the championship in four of the last five seasons. He is going to be there.
2021 Championship Finish: 2nd
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2016)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Another lock. Truex has won at least four races in five of the last six seasons. He has had at least 20 top ten finishes in six of the last seven seasons. He has had over a dozen top five finishes in the last five seasons. He has been in the final four in five of the last seven seasons and he has been first or second in the championship in four of the last five seasons. He is going to be there.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: After being chastised for not having a short track victory, five of his last seven victories have been on tracks shorter than a mile and his other two victories were at Phoenix and Darlington. It would be nice if he could win at Daytona or Talladega just to get people to shut up about that.
Christopher Bell - #20 Stanley/DeWalt/Irwin/Craftsman/Rheem/SiriusXM Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 12th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 16th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Unlike his previous two teammates, it is hard to call Bell a lock, but he should be there. He had great spells, but he was streaky last season. He won the Daytona road course race and then didn't have a top five finish until Richmond in May. After Richmond, he wouldn't finish in the top five again until Road America, which led a string of second, eighth, second and seventh-place finishes, but then he only had one top ten finish in the next seven races. However, Bell would follow that with five top ten finishes in the final six races.
2021 Championship Finish: 12th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 16th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Unlike his previous two teammates, it is hard to call Bell a lock, but he should be there. He had great spells, but he was streaky last season. He won the Daytona road course race and then didn't have a top five finish until Richmond in May. After Richmond, he wouldn't finish in the top five again until Road America, which led a string of second, eighth, second and seventh-place finishes, but then he only had one top ten finish in the next seven races. However, Bell would follow that with five top ten finishes in the final six races.
Looking at how he finished the season, the highs were impressive for Bell and if he does that on a regular basis there is a good chance Gibbs could have all four drivers make the semifinal round.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Bell isn't close to "he can win anywhere" territory. He only has one victory to his name, but he is impressively talented, and one standout season could put him in that category. For now, road courses and short tracks, and of course, the Bristol dirt race.
Harrison Burton - #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane/Menards Ford
Team: Wood Brothers Racing
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: This will be his Daytona 500 debut.
2022 Playoff Prospects: Moving up from the Grand National Series, Burton moves over to Ford after spending years in the Toyota development program. Burton was a highly touted driver, but he has been average, in the lower divisions. He never won a Truck race, and he was eighth in the championship each year in the second division. He didn't win a race last year but was a regular top five finisher. I am not sure that is enough to transfer to one of the top sixteen drivers in the Cup Series with a single-car team.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: This will be his Daytona 500 debut.
2022 Playoff Prospects: Moving up from the Grand National Series, Burton moves over to Ford after spending years in the Toyota development program. Burton was a highly touted driver, but he has been average, in the lower divisions. He never won a Truck race, and he was eighth in the championship each year in the second division. He didn't win a race last year but was a regular top five finisher. I am not sure that is enough to transfer to one of the top sixteen drivers in the Cup Series with a single-car team.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: His NASCAR national series victories have come at Fontana, Homestead, Texas and Martinsville. He was also consistent on the road courses last year with five top ten finishes in seven starts.
Joey Logano - #22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford
Team: Team Penske
2021 Championship Finish: 8th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2015)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Logano's problem is not whether he will make the playoffs, rather what can he do in the playoffs. In the last three seasons, he has one playoff race victory. In the first five seasons of this championship format, he won nine playoff races. He has had double-figure top five totals in nine consecutive seasons and at least 20 top ten finishes in six of those years. He is plenty wise enough to make the playoffs and make a deep run, but it doesn't always play out for him.
2021 Championship Finish: 8th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2015)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Logano's problem is not whether he will make the playoffs, rather what can he do in the playoffs. In the last three seasons, he has one playoff race victory. In the first five seasons of this championship format, he won nine playoff races. He has had double-figure top five totals in nine consecutive seasons and at least 20 top ten finishes in six of those years. He is plenty wise enough to make the playoffs and make a deep run, but it doesn't always play out for him.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Logano is an anywhere guy. Strangely, he has never won at a track more than three times. Those tracks are Talladega, Michigan and Kansas. He has won at 16 tracks in his career.
Bubba Wallace - #23 Door Dash/McDonald's/Columbia/Leidos Toyota
Team: 23XI Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 21st
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2018)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Wallace took a historic victory last year, but it was another flash in the pan season. Three top five finishes, but those were his only top ten results. Half of his 12 career top ten finishes have been top five results. The most laps he has ever led in a race is 23. On only two other occasions has he led more than ten laps, both at Talladega. While not being a top ten regular, he was in the top twenty in 20 races last year, 11 of which were top fifteen finishes. On points alone, he was 19th. If he can score more top ten results, he could get one of the final positions on points, but most likely he will need a victory to make it.
2021 Championship Finish: 21st
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 2nd (2018)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Wallace took a historic victory last year, but it was another flash in the pan season. Three top five finishes, but those were his only top ten results. Half of his 12 career top ten finishes have been top five results. The most laps he has ever led in a race is 23. On only two other occasions has he led more than ten laps, both at Talladega. While not being a top ten regular, he was in the top twenty in 20 races last year, 11 of which were top fifteen finishes. On points alone, he was 19th. If he can score more top ten results, he could get one of the final positions on points, but most likely he will need a victory to make it.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: He has already won at Talladega and all six of his top five finishes have been on ovals 2.5 miles in length or larger.
William Byron - #24 Axalta/Valvoline/Liberty Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: 10th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 21st (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Byron opened 2021 with 11 top ten finishes in the first 13 races, including a victory at Homestead. He also had eight top five finishes in the first 18 races. He only had four top five finishes in the final 18 races. If he can prevent that second half dip, he could be a championship threat. His biggest issue is outside of his Homestead victory there really wasn't a race he controlled. He will need to do that more this year.
2021 Championship Finish: 10th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 21st (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Byron opened 2021 with 11 top ten finishes in the first 13 races, including a victory at Homestead. He also had eight top five finishes in the first 18 races. He only had four top five finishes in the final 18 races. If he can prevent that second half dip, he could be a championship threat. His biggest issue is outside of his Homestead victory there really wasn't a race he controlled. He will need to do that more this year.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Though he has yet to win there, Byron had an average finish of 9.1 at Pocono with five top ten finishes in eight starts. He also had three top five finishes and four top ten finishes in eight Martinsville starts.
Justin Haley - #31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet
Team: Kaulig Racing
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 13th (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: After three seasons, four victories and at least 20 top ten finishes in each of those three years in NASCAR's second division, Haley moves up to the Cup Series. He did start 31 races last year driving for Spire Motorsports in a learning season. He did pick up two top finishes in Cup with an eighth on the IMS road course and sixth in the August Daytona race.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 13th (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: After three seasons, four victories and at least 20 top ten finishes in each of those three years in NASCAR's second division, Haley moves up to the Cup Series. He did start 31 races last year driving for Spire Motorsports in a learning season. He did pick up two top finishes in Cup with an eighth on the IMS road course and sixth in the August Daytona race.
Kaulig had a respectable year running part-time in 2021. Based on all its Grand National Series success, it wouldn't be surprising if it put Haley in the playoff discussion. If Haley is in the top twenty of the championship this will have been a successful year.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: For Haley's consistency, it is surprising his only victories in the Grand National Series were at Daytona and Talladega. He was second and third in his two IMS road course starts, and he won at Mosport in Trucks. He also averaged a finish of 5.3 at Kansas, 5.8 at Atlanta and 7.4 at Richmond. His first career Truck victory was also at Gateway. In 11 starts between NASCAR's lower two divisions at Texas, he has ten top ten finishes with one Truck victory.
Michael McDowell - #34 Love's Travel Stops Ford
Team: Front Row Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: 16th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Well, he made it last year with a Daytona 500 victory, so I guess it is possible. McDowell did have a crazy start to the 2021 season with an eighth on the Daytona road course and a sixth at Homestead afterward. He would also finish third at Talladega in April and seventh at Austin in May. After that, he didn't have a finish in the top fifteen. I doubt lightning strikes twice.
2021 Championship Finish: 16th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Well, he made it last year with a Daytona 500 victory, so I guess it is possible. McDowell did have a crazy start to the 2021 season with an eighth on the Daytona road course and a sixth at Homestead afterward. He would also finish third at Talladega in April and seventh at Austin in May. After that, he didn't have a finish in the top fifteen. I doubt lightning strikes twice.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Make him the third driver in the Daytona/Talladega group.
Todd Gilliland - #38 First Phase Credit Card Ford
Team: Front Row Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: This will be his Daytona 500 debut.
2022 Playoff Prospects: Gilliland makes the leap from Trucks to Cup. After four underwhelming Truck seasons compare to the hype, it feels rushed, but Gilliland moves after his best Truck season, seventh in the championship. He has been good on road courses, but I am not sure he can jump right in and win a race after only two Truck victories in 93 starts.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: This will be his Daytona 500 debut.
2022 Playoff Prospects: Gilliland makes the leap from Trucks to Cup. After four underwhelming Truck seasons compare to the hype, it feels rushed, but Gilliland moves after his best Truck season, seventh in the championship. He has been good on road courses, but I am not sure he can jump right in and win a race after only two Truck victories in 93 starts.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: He is not in the Daytona/Talladega crowd because he could have a stellar day on a road course and pull one out.
Cole Custer - #41 Haas Automation Ford
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 26th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 11th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Custer had two top ten finishes last year, both tenth-place finishes, at Talladega and Dover. His average finish dropped from 19.2 to 21.3. While he finished 33 races, he was off the lead lap 19 times in 2021. I don't think he can make it back. He shouldn't have been there in 2020. He should improve from 2021 but only because two top ten finishes is a low bar to clear.
2021 Championship Finish: 26th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 11th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Custer had two top ten finishes last year, both tenth-place finishes, at Talladega and Dover. His average finish dropped from 19.2 to 21.3. While he finished 33 races, he was off the lead lap 19 times in 2021. I don't think he can make it back. He shouldn't have been there in 2020. He should improve from 2021 but only because two top ten finishes is a low bar to clear.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: It is still 1.5-mile ovals.
Ty Dillon - #42 Black Rifle Coffee Company Chevrolet
Team: Petty GMS Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 6th (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: After spending most of 2021 sidelined splitting time between part-time programs in Cup and the Grand National Series, Dillon is back in Cup after GMS Racing purchased the Richard Petty Motorsports assets and kept the Petty name on the door. This is Petty meets a new team. Dillon's track record is woeful. In 166 Cup starts, he has two top five finishes and six top ten finishes. He has only one victory in 157 Grand National Series starts and three victories in 58 Truck starts. I cannot see Dillon making the playoffs.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 6th (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: After spending most of 2021 sidelined splitting time between part-time programs in Cup and the Grand National Series, Dillon is back in Cup after GMS Racing purchased the Richard Petty Motorsports assets and kept the Petty name on the door. This is Petty meets a new team. Dillon's track record is woeful. In 166 Cup starts, he has two top five finishes and six top ten finishes. He has only one victory in 157 Grand National Series starts and three victories in 58 Truck starts. I cannot see Dillon making the playoffs.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Daytona/Talladega guy #4.
Erik Jones - #43 FOCUSfactor/Air Force Chevrolet
Team: Petty GMS Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: 24th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 3rd (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Jones is going to struggle to get in on points. He did a good job last year just to get six top ten finishes, half of which came in the final ten races, but I am not sure he can do better than that. He is going to need about a dozen top ten finishes in the regular season to be a playoff hopeful. Maybe he clicks with the new car and is the sleeper of 2022, he has the ability to be that guy, but we need to see it before it can be fully believed.
2021 Championship Finish: 24th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 3rd (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Jones is going to struggle to get in on points. He did a good job last year just to get six top ten finishes, half of which came in the final ten races, but I am not sure he can do better than that. He is going to need about a dozen top ten finishes in the regular season to be a playoff hopeful. Maybe he clicks with the new car and is the sleeper of 2022, he has the ability to be that guy, but we need to see it before it can be fully believed.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Darlington is still his best track on the schedule, and he was eighth at both Bristol and Martinsville in the playoffs last year.
Kurt Busch - #45 Monster Energy/McDonald's Toyota
Team: 23XI Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 11th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2017)
2022 Playoff Prospects: The 2004 champion has won a race in eight consecutive seasons. This is a big challenge for Busch. 23XI did a good job last year with Wallace. Expanding to two cars is a risk, but the increase in resources should help the team develop. But for the 42-year-old Busch, this is a big change. He is no longer in established organizations such as Stewart-Haas Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. Busch does find a way into the playoffs. I think he will do it again, but it could be his toughest year yet and that victory could elude him.
2021 Championship Finish: 11th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 1st (2017)
2022 Playoff Prospects: The 2004 champion has won a race in eight consecutive seasons. This is a big challenge for Busch. 23XI did a good job last year with Wallace. Expanding to two cars is a risk, but the increase in resources should help the team develop. But for the 42-year-old Busch, this is a big change. He is no longer in established organizations such as Stewart-Haas Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. Busch does find a way into the playoffs. I think he will do it again, but it could be his toughest year yet and that victory could elude him.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Busch's last 12 victories have come at 12 different tracks. You must go back to Atlanta 2010 to find a repeat track for Busch. If that does not fulfill the definition of anywhere then I don't know what does.
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. - #47 Kroger Chevrolet
Team: JTG Daugherty Racing
2021 Championship Finish: 22nd
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 7th (2014)
2022 Playoff Prospects: JTG Daugherty is down to one car with Stenhouse. His only top five finish last year was second at the Bristol dirt race. His only other top ten finish was sixth at Nashville. He has been outside the top 20 in the championships the last three years and in six of his nine full Cup seasons. He will need a fortunate victory to make it.
2021 Championship Finish: 22nd
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 7th (2014)
2022 Playoff Prospects: JTG Daugherty is down to one car with Stenhouse. His only top five finish last year was second at the Bristol dirt race. His only other top ten finish was sixth at Nashville. He has been outside the top 20 in the championships the last three years and in six of his nine full Cup seasons. He will need a fortunate victory to make it.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: The Bristol dirt race is the only thing preventing him from joining the Daytona/Talladega crowd.
Alex Bowman - #48 Ally Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: 14th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 11th (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Bowman won four races last year. He never spent a day in the top ten of the championship except for the resets at the start of the playoffs and after round one. He still had 16 top ten finishes. Bowman should be better this year. The only Hendrick Motorsports driver with more victories was Larson. Victories mean something. Bowman should be solidly in on points alone. We know he can pull out victories. He was a semifinal driver in 2020. If he can figure out who he is and find more consistency he could get back there.
2021 Championship Finish: 14th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 11th (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Bowman won four races last year. He never spent a day in the top ten of the championship except for the resets at the start of the playoffs and after round one. He still had 16 top ten finishes. Bowman should be better this year. The only Hendrick Motorsports driver with more victories was Larson. Victories mean something. Bowman should be solidly in on points alone. We know he can pull out victories. He was a semifinal driver in 2020. If he can figure out who he is and find more consistency he could get back there.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: It is baffling Bowman has yet to win on a road course yet. Four top ten finishes in four Charlotte roval races with two of those results in the top five. He was eighth at Austin, ninth at Sonoma and he was running well at Road America before a late spin last year.
Cody Ware - #51 Nurtec ODT Ford
Team: Rick Ware Racing
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 21st (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: In 32 Cup starts last year, Ware's average finish was 31.1. It is not going to happen, but Rick Ware Racing now has a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing. Anything is possible.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 21st (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: In 32 Cup starts last year, Ware's average finish was 31.1. It is not going to happen, but Rick Ware Racing now has a technical alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing. Anything is possible.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: I guess road courses, but we all know it would require a lot of rain and the most fortunate circumstances for Ware to win one of those. It would have to be rain-shortened.
Landon Cassill - #77 Fox Nation Chevrolet
Team: Spire Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 12th (2014)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Cassill will split the #77 Chevrolet with Josh Bilicki in 2022. Cassill is also ineligible for the Cup championship, as he will be full-time with Kaulig Racing in the Grand National Series.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 12th (2014)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Cassill will split the #77 Chevrolet with Josh Bilicki in 2022. Cassill is also ineligible for the Cup championship, as he will be full-time with Kaulig Racing in the Grand National Series.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Honestly, NASCAR's second division and if he cannot win there with Kaulig Racing then I think we will have a full picture of who he is as a driver.
B.J. McLeod - #78 Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Team: Live Fast Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 19th (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: McLeod was ninth at Daytona last August, but he finished outside the top twenty in his other 27 starts and was outside the top 25 in 24 starts.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 19th (2019)
2022 Playoff Prospects: McLeod was ninth at Daytona last August, but he finished outside the top twenty in his other 27 starts and was outside the top 25 in 24 starts.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Daytona/Talladega group member #5.
Daniel Suárez - #99 CommScope/Tootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet
Team: Trackhouse
2021 Championship Finish: 25th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 29th
2022 Playoff Prospects: While he had some good races in 2021, Suárez could not replicate those strong performances on a regular basis. However, with Trackhouse now a two-car team and with greater resources, Suárez should be better than he was last year. He will have to do better than four top ten finishes, and he should. Fighting for a playoff spot on points would require a massive improvement.
2021 Championship Finish: 25th
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 29th
2022 Playoff Prospects: While he had some good races in 2021, Suárez could not replicate those strong performances on a regular basis. However, with Trackhouse now a two-car team and with greater resources, Suárez should be better than he was last year. He will have to do better than four top ten finishes, and he should. Fighting for a playoff spot on points would require a massive improvement.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Suárez best race was the Bristol dirt race last year. We all want to see if he can replicate that form in 2022. He also does well at Texas, Pocono and Dover.
Non-Chartered Teams
Jacques Villeneuve - #27 Team Hezeberg Ford
Team: Team Hezeberg
2021 Championship Finish: N/A
Best Daytona 500 Finish: This could be his Daytona 500 debut.
2022 Playoff Prospects: Team Hezeberg will be part-time in 2022. Villeneuve will share the car with Loris Hezemans, the 2021 NASCAR Euro Series champion. Outside of Daytona, the team plans on running all the road courses and potential a few other events.
2021 Championship Finish: N/A
Best Daytona 500 Finish: This could be his Daytona 500 debut.
2022 Playoff Prospects: Team Hezeberg will be part-time in 2022. Villeneuve will share the car with Loris Hezemans, the 2021 NASCAR Euro Series champion. Outside of Daytona, the team plans on running all the road courses and potential a few other events.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: For the team, a road course. For Villeneuve... most likely a road course, but if he makes the Daytona 500 then he at least has a shot there, though oh so slim. It is hard to imagine a new team that predominantly runs in the NASCAR Euro Series and partnering with a Truck Series team that has one top five finish and three top ten finishes in 157 starts will even get the car into the Daytona 500, but stranger things have happened. It is an underdog story the Daytona 500 has not seen in a long time, and small teams have overcome the odds before. It will be difficult just for this team to make the race.
Greg Biffle - #44 Grambling State University Chevrolet
Team: NY Racing Team
2021 Championship Finish: N/A
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 3rd (2010)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Biffle returns to the Cup Series for the first time since 2016 with this open entry. NY Racing Team is making its first Cup appearance since it ran J.J. Yeley in the 2018 Coca-Cola 600. Prior to that, the team had not made an appearance since it failed to qualify for the Fontana race on March 22, 2015. The team's only Daytona 500 appearance was in 2015 with Reed Sorenson, and the team finished 32nd.
2021 Championship Finish: N/A
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 3rd (2010)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Biffle returns to the Cup Series for the first time since 2016 with this open entry. NY Racing Team is making its first Cup appearance since it ran J.J. Yeley in the 2018 Coca-Cola 600. Prior to that, the team had not made an appearance since it failed to qualify for the Fontana race on March 22, 2015. The team's only Daytona 500 appearance was in 2015 with Reed Sorenson, and the team finished 32nd.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: It is highly unlikely Biffle wins this race. With this team being thrown together last minute, there is a good chance it will not make the race. Two teams do have to miss after all. But Biffle has won at Daytona before, his first career Cup victory to be specific in the July race. That victory was unexpected. He could have one more unexpected triumph in him.
Kaz Grala - #50 Pit Viper Sunglasses Chevrolet
Team: The Money Team Racing
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 28th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Seeing as how Grala's only announced race is Daytona, I would say zero percent.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 28th (2021)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Seeing as how Grala's only announced race is Daytona, I would say zero percent.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Depending on how many races Grala does with this team, he could sneak out a road course victory. The chances are slim, but with the new car it cannot entirely be ruled out.
J.J. Yeley - #55 Hex.com Toyota
Team: MBM Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 10th (2013)
2022 Playoff Prospects: At the moment, this is Yeley's only scheduled Cup race, and Yeley has declared himself ineligible for Cup Series points.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 10th (2013)
2022 Playoff Prospects: At the moment, this is Yeley's only scheduled Cup race, and Yeley has declared himself ineligible for Cup Series points.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Daytona, because it is his only race, but it is slim. MBM Motorsports has had at least one car fail to qualify for the last three Daytona 500s.
Noah Gragson - #62 Beard Oil Chevrolet
Team: Beard Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: This could be his Daytona 500 debut.
2022 Playoff Prospects: Gragson will be full-time in the NASCAR Grand National Series with JR Motorsports and he will make 14 Cup starts with Kaulig Racing. This is his only scheduled start with Beard Motorsports. After missing out on the Daytona 500 last year, Gragson is one of the top open teams on paper and should be one of the four cars to make the Daytona 500.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: This could be his Daytona 500 debut.
2022 Playoff Prospects: Gragson will be full-time in the NASCAR Grand National Series with JR Motorsports and he will make 14 Cup starts with Kaulig Racing. This is his only scheduled start with Beard Motorsports. After missing out on the Daytona 500 last year, Gragson is one of the top open teams on paper and should be one of the four cars to make the Daytona 500.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: He will be making 15 Cup starts, so a Cup victory has greater odds than zero. Three of his five Grand National Series victories have come on short tracks, and his first of two Truck Series victories was at Martinsville. However, he will be starting only two short track races, Richmond in August and Martinsville in October, plus the Bristol dirt race. He did finish in the top ten of both his Eldora truck starts. He will win races in NASCAR's second division, possibly even the championship, but it is unlikely he will win in the Cup Series.
Timmy Hill - #66 Bumper.com Ford
Team: MBM Motorsports
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 27th (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Hill will not be full-time in Cup this season and he has already declared himself ineligible for Cup points. Boris Said is planning on driving a few races for this team and it will be a rotating seat depending on who brings sponsorship.
2021 Championship Finish: Ineligible
Best Daytona 500 Finish: 27th (2020)
2022 Playoff Prospects: Hill will not be full-time in Cup this season and he has already declared himself ineligible for Cup points. Boris Said is planning on driving a few races for this team and it will be a rotating seat depending on who brings sponsorship.
Most Likely Place for a Victory: Like last year, iRacing. As mentioned above, MBM Motorsports had at least one car fail to qualify for the last three Daytona 500s, including Hill in last year's race.
Playoff Driver Predictions
1. Kyle Busch
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Kyle Larson
4. Ryan Blaney
5. Martin Truex, Jr.
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Chase Elliott
8. Joey Logano
9. Christopher Bell
10. Tyler Reddick
11. Alex Bowman
12. William Byron
13. Austin Cindric
14. Kurt Busch
15. Brad Keselowski
16. Austin Dillon
Daytona 500 qualifying will be tonight, Wednesday February 16, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Daytona 500 qualifying races will be at 7:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. on Thursday February 17. There will be a 50-minute practice session on Friday February 18 before another 50-minute session on Saturday February 19.
The 64th Daytona 500 will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday February 20.
