Six drivers of intrigue in the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series

The 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season will see three of the 2021 Championship 4 back in pursuit of the series championship. One new track has been added with Portland International Raceway hosting a race on its road course. Before the series kicks off its season on Feb. 19 at Daytona International Speedway, let’s take a look at six players of intrigue for the 2022 campaign.

Title favorite: AJ Allmendinger

You might read the pick and wonder what about the reigning champion Daniel Hemric (he’ll be covered in another category) or how about JR Motorsports teammates Noah Gragson and Justin Allgaier? Those are all good thoughts, but let’s go with last year’s regular-season champion. Allmendinger scored five wins last season and was first or second in the point standings for the basically the final two-thirds of the 2021 season (and the driver he was battling — Austin Cindric — is now a Cup regular). The 40-year-old driver of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet is all about trophy hunting and should collect plenty of hardware in the coming season.

Honorable mentions: Daniel Hemric, Justin Allgaier and Noah Gragson

Familiar face in new place: Daniel Hemric

The 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion is now with Kaulig Racing, having taken over the No. 11 Chevrolet from Justin Haley, who has graduated to the Cup ranks. I believe now that Hemric has grabbed that first elusive win (and for a championship no less), he is going to grab multiple of them in the 2022 season. He is looking to repeat what Tyler Reddick did in 2018-19 when he won back-to-back Xfinity Series titles for two different organizations.

Honorable mentions: Jeb Burton, Anthony Alfredo, Myatt Snider and Josh Williams

Breakout candidate: Josh Berry

If you want to argue Berry broke out last season with two wins, including an emotional first win at Martinsville Speedway, that’s a fair point. However, he wasn’t running for a championship last year, and this year he is as the full-time pilot of the No. 8 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. has long had the belief Berry could be a solid driver if given the chance, and Berry has certainly proved that in recent years. Some of his teammates (Justin Allgaier, Noah Gragson) will get more title contender buzz, but don’t sleep on the 31-year-old Tennessee native being the one left standing among the JRM quartet when its all said and done.

Honorable mentions: Sam Mayer and Landon Cassill (see next slide)

Dark-horse pick: Landon Cassill

Cassill’s move to the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet marks what is his most competitive ride to date. The 32-year-old series veteran has a chance to make some real noise in this car — a ride Ross Chastain and Jeb Burton have reached the postseason in. Burton also nabbed a win at Talladega Superspeedway in 2021. Cassill’s best Xfinity standings finish was 12th in 2015, and it seems extremely reasonable that he can do better than that in 2022 and perhaps even more.

Honorable mentions: Jeb Burton and Brett Moffitt

Rookie to keep an eye on: Sheldon Creed

Richard Childress Racing will actually be running two Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidates in Creed and Austin Hill. The 24-year-old Creed has made just four Xfinity Series starts in his career thus far with the last resulting in a top-10 finish. His Truck Series tenure saw him take some time to assimilate, but he is in a ride that is capable of winning (see Tyler Reddick in 2019, Myatt Snider in 2021). It should be an interesting battle for rookie honors between teammates this season.

Honorable mention: Austin Hill

Look out for: Ty Gibbs

The now 19-year-old burst on the scene last year, winning his first Xfinity and national series start at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. He would nab four wins in 18 Xfinity Series starts — seemingly a threat to win every time he was entered — and he also won the 2021 ARCA Menards Series championship. His 2022 plans have not yet been announced, but it’s hard to imagine him not spending at least a significant amount of time in the Xfinity Series if not running full-time. Of note, two of JGR’s three driver championship cars from last season remained unfilled. If he’s full-time, bump Gibbs into the title conversation — he may even be the favorite.

Honorable mentions: Rajah Caruth and Nick Sanchez. Both Rev Racing and Drive for Diversity products are set for handful of starts with Alpha Prime Racing and BJ McLeod Motorsports, respectively.