1. That was the wildest Cup Series season in recent memory
In team sports, particularly the NFL, it’s become comical how often about midway through a season, the pundits bust out the “oh my goodness, can you believe how crazy this season is?” gimmick. In truth, it usually isn’t all that wild, but merely a combination of some teams underperforming, some surprising contenders rising up, and some unforgettable plays. Fun, yes, but something that actually happens annually.
The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season was not like that.
Or to be more precise, it did include some of those same facets. Drivers like Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski didn’t win, while Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez did, turning Trackhouse Racing Team into an immediate contender. Chastain also pulled off the “Hail Melon” at Martinsville, a move destined to be discussed in and outside of motorsports fandom for years to come.
But there was so much more. The Next Gen car made its debut, and it flipped the top level of stock car racing on its head. Intermediate tracks were now … fun? And with short tracks and road course circuits correspondingly and nearly universally duller, it made for a bit of a Bizarro Cup season in many ways.
The new car also became the center of attention in a more decidedly negative way as the year went on, raising questions about whether it was less safe in certain kinds of crashes than what preceded it (not to mention disturbingly prone to burst into flames). Though it’s unclear whether it was the Next Gen’s fault, Kurt Busch qualified for the playoffs but could not race in them after suffering a concussion in a hard crash this summer, then called it quits from full time competition.
A series rookie, Austin Cindric, won the Daytona 500. The Texas race in September turned into a debacle. A successful appeal of a NASCAR penalty changed the course of the playoffs for Hendrick Motorsports.
That’s a lot for one calendar year. So much so that the 2023 season is almost certain to look tamer in comparison. Then again, Jimmie Johnson already announced that he’s returning to NASCAR as a part-owner and occasional driver, so …
Anyway, with respect to all the sportswriters out there who keep the “craziest season ever” trope alive, this was one where it actually applied.
2. Joey Logano, all-time great?
Once the Cup Series Championship 4 was set, it just felt like Joey Logano was going to win. Sure, you could make a case for…
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