The 2023 NASCAR season probably seems deceptively set in stone. With all the announcements both during the 2022 season and in the weeks since, surely there isn’t much still to be decided, right?
Well … yes and no.
Despite a rash of lineup reveals in the NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck series ranks especially in November and December, and even with the NASCAR Cup Series roster for 2023 having been solidified for the most part, the sport approaches the new year with a few arrangements waiting to be penciled in — some big, others small.
Here’s a quick rundown of what still remains to be announced or at least confirmed, as of Friday, Dec. 9.
NASCAR Cup Series
-Rick Ware Racing is returning to the Cup Series — that much is known based on its recent announcement that it’ll move to a technical alliance with RFK Racing for 2023. But who will drive the Nos. 15 and 51? One wouldn’t necessarily expect Cody Ware, who’s raced the No. 51 full time the last two years, to depart, especially after a 2022 season that saw him make marked improvement and score his first top 10. The No. 15? Harder to say; the car was home to multiple drivers in 2022, and 2023 could include a similar rotating cast (save for Ryan Preece, who’s moved to Stewart-Haas Racing full time).
-Team Hezeberg debuted in the Cup Series in 2022 with a pair of entries; the No. 27, driven by Jacques Villeneuve in the Daytona 500 and Loris Hezemans elsewhere, competed in six events, while the No. 26 showed up later in the season with Daniil Kvyat for three starts. It seems unlikely that a team would put resources into starting a Cup organization only to jump ship after a season, so chances are Hezeberg will return in 2023. But it’s remained mum on the subject so far.
-Initially intended as a late-season debut in 2022 with more races on its schedule in 2023, 3F Racing eventually pushed the No. 30’s premiere to next year. All that’s known at this point is that the Germany-based organization hopes to run five to 10 races, with a proposed start at either Daytona International Speedway or Atlanta Motor Speedway, but a driver has not yet been announced.
-Characteristically, Front Row Motorsports has been quiet on its driver plans for 2023. The team will certainly be back in Cup, having announced its crew chief assignments to the Nos. 34 and 38. After a career year, Michael McDowell seems likely to return, too. As for Todd Gilliland in the No. 38? Could be, but it hasn’t yet…
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