The month of July 2022 offered up five races for the NASCAR Cup Series. From Road America on Independence Day weekend to Sunday’s race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course (July 31), fans were treated to five hard-fought events, several of which ended with surprising results. Additionally, the last few weeks offered up plenty of storylines that will have a significant impact on the futures of several drivers. The past month has felt like a major inflection point for not just 2022 in NASCAR, but 2023 and beyond.
The first story to explore is the continuing rise of Tyler Reddick. Reddick’s first two Cup Series victories bookended the past month, and both came on road courses. At Road America, he prevailed after a long, methodical battle with Chase Elliott. The victory was a major moment of triumph for both Reddick and Richard Childress Racing, who seemed to be laying the groundwork for a very bright future together.
Less than two weeks later came a bombshell announcement: Reddick had signed a contract to drive for 23XI Racing, starting in 2024. It’s a move that could pay big dividends for Reddick in the future, but leaves him in an awkward situation with RCR in the present. Still slated to drive the No. 8 for nearly a year and a half, it was fair to wonder if Reddick could still be competitive given his lame duck status.
Sunday’s race suggests Reddick and the No. 8 team are going to be just fine. The second Cup Series event at the IMS road course was a tough and often chaotic race. A hot and slick track proved to be a serious challenge for even some of the best road racers in the field, leading to spins and several mistakes you don’t often see from the sport’s best.
Yet Reddick had seemingly little trouble working his way through the pack, and he was able to gap the field almost every time he took the lead. Lame duck or not, it’s likely Reddick will continue to win races with RCR, maybe even several more this season.
As for where Reddick fits into 23XI’s plans, that remains to be seen. But the last few weeks have brought Kurt Busch’s future into serious question. After crashing during qualifying at Pocono Raceway, Busch was not medically cleared to race after experiencing concussion-like symptoms. Busch’s absence allowed Ty Gibbs to get his first taste of Cup Series racing, posting two top-20 finishes in Busch’s absence. With no definite date set for the 43-year-old’s return, Gibbs will likely continue to pilot the…
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