It’s February, which means the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season is finally upon us. Cars will take to the track later this week at Daytona International Speedway for the 65th running of the Great American Race.
With a wide array of driver and team changes from Silly Season alongside more minor personnel tweaks — or even a few lineups that stayed exactly the same — there’s a lot to discuss as the Cup Series moves into the sophomore season of the Next Gen era.
For 2023, the Frontstretch staff each voted on a top-30 ranking, taking into account each driver’s 2022 season as well as their outlook for 2023.
Below is where we landed. Check Monday’s (Feb. 13) article for positions Nos. 30-21 and Tuesday’s (Feb. 14) for Nos. 20-11.
10. Kevin Harvick
In a career that felt like it could go as long as possible, 2023 will be the last time Kevin Harvick competes as a full-time driver. It will be a surreal moment throughout the NASCAR garage, as Harvick is one of the last dominoes from the early 2000s to call it a career.
2022 saw “The Closer” re-emerge to live up to that moniker, snapping a 65-year winless streak at Michigan International Speedway. He then became the first driver to win back-to-back races in the Next Gen car at Richmond Raceway.
With seemingly all of the momentum in the world, Harvick’s playoffs took a sharp, downward spiral. He was eliminated in the Round of 16 after two finishes outside the top 30. While he did get back in the win column, the 47-year-old did not reach 20 top 10s for the first time since 2012 with 17.
With Harvick set to join the FOX Sports in 2024 and nothing to lose in his swan song season, expect Happy to go out swinging. Stewart-Haas Racing has taken a dip in performance over the past couple of seasons, but is still strong enough to compete for a title.
2023 will be a season of reflection and the cementing of a legacy for the shoe-in Hall of Famer. However, anyone who is familiar with Harvick knows that he will not be satisfied until the checkered flag drops on his career. Expect the No. 4 driver to compete for several wins and maybe even a championship. -Luken Glover
9. William Byron
William Byron had a his best year to date in 2022, winning twice and establishing himself as a dark horse championship threat. It was the first time since Jeff Gordon was last behind the wheel that the No. 24…
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