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2022 NASCAR.com staff predictions: Best race, sleepers, champions, more
By | Published: February 16, 2022 8
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
With just a few more days to go until the green flag drops on the 2022 NASCAR season, NASCAR.com's staff voted on several categories to make predictions for what is sure to be a memorable year.
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Best race: Martinsville playoffs (2)
Analysis: No surprises here — Martinsville's championship-setter provided one of the most memorable images of the 2021 season after Alex Bowman's win, and the track just always seems to deliver the drama. Miami is another fan favorite and makes a reappearance in the playoffs this year, Cup finally heads to Gateway, Daytona is Daytona and Bristol Dirt: The Sequel should deliver. There's a lot to look forward to.
Others receiving votes: Homestead-Miami, World Wide Technology Raceway, Daytona 500, Bristol Dirt Race
Analysis: No surprises here — Martinsville's championship-setter provided one of the most memorable images of the 2021 season after Alex Bowman's win, and the track just always seems to deliver the drama. Miami is another fan favorite and makes a reappearance in the playoffs this year, Cup finally heads to Gateway, Daytona is Daytona and Bristol Dirt: The Sequel should deliver. There's a lot to look forward to.
Others receiving votes: Homestead-Miami, World Wide Technology Raceway, Daytona 500, Bristol Dirt Race
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Best candidate for first win: Austin Cindric (2)/Tyler Reddick (2)
Analysis: All four drivers mentioned here should have a shot at breaking through in '22, it's mostly just a matter of which one strikes first. Reddick was close last year and is probably best positioned as the one who will make a Victory Lane appearance, but the rookie Cindric was a trophy collector at the Xfinity Series level and steps into a championship-capable ride. It's really a toss-up.
Others receiving votes: Chase Briscoe, Daniel Suárez
Analysis: All four drivers mentioned here should have a shot at breaking through in '22, it's mostly just a matter of which one strikes first. Reddick was close last year and is probably best positioned as the one who will make a Victory Lane appearance, but the rookie Cindric was a trophy collector at the Xfinity Series level and steps into a championship-capable ride. It's really a toss-up.
Others receiving votes: Chase Briscoe, Daniel Suárez
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Sleeper pick: Justin Haley (2); Tyler Reddick (2)
Analysis: Haley may not have even received a vote had it not been for his performance at the LA Coliseum earlier this month, which was quite impressive. Kaulig Racing's first full-time driver already has a Cup win under his belt despite this being his first full campaign, and Kaulig is set to surprise some people in 2022 despite being a young Cup team. Reddick, in addition to being a strong candidate for his first win, could even potentially prove to be a dark horse title candidate. The ceiling is certainly there for him, it's really a question of when, not if.
Others receiving votes: Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric
Analysis: Haley may not have even received a vote had it not been for his performance at the LA Coliseum earlier this month, which was quite impressive. Kaulig Racing's first full-time driver already has a Cup win under his belt despite this being his first full campaign, and Kaulig is set to surprise some people in 2022 despite being a young Cup team. Reddick, in addition to being a strong candidate for his first win, could even potentially prove to be a dark horse title candidate. The ceiling is certainly there for him, it's really a question of when, not if.
Others receiving votes: Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric
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Camping World Truck Series champ: John Hunter Nemechek (5)
Analysis: One thing's for sure: we're expecting big things from JHN in Year Two of his Kyle Busch Motorsports tenure. His first campaign was a successful one, with five wins and a Championship 4 appearance. No reason to think he'll fall off at all. Nemechek's biggest obstacle in 2022 might just be outpacing his teammate.
Others receiving votes: Chandler Smith
Analysis: One thing's for sure: we're expecting big things from JHN in Year Two of his Kyle Busch Motorsports tenure. His first campaign was a successful one, with five wins and a Championship 4 appearance. No reason to think he'll fall off at all. Nemechek's biggest obstacle in 2022 might just be outpacing his teammate.
Others receiving votes: Chandler Smith
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Xfinity Series champ: AJ Allmendinger (2)
Analysis: After one of the most interesting careers of any current driver, "AJ Allmendinger: NASCAR champion" sure would be something. Like Nemechek, Allmendinger was a five-time 2021 winner with a Championship 4 appearance, and our staff thinks they both close the deal this year. With another season at Kaulig under his belt and a slew of Cup starts to keep his sword sharp on his horizon, it's hard to bet against 'Dinger here.
Others receiving votes: Josh Berry, Ty Gibbs, Noah Gragson, Daniel Hemric
Analysis: After one of the most interesting careers of any current driver, "AJ Allmendinger: NASCAR champion" sure would be something. Like Nemechek, Allmendinger was a five-time 2021 winner with a Championship 4 appearance, and our staff thinks they both close the deal this year. With another season at Kaulig under his belt and a slew of Cup starts to keep his sword sharp on his horizon, it's hard to bet against 'Dinger here.
Others receiving votes: Josh Berry, Ty Gibbs, Noah Gragson, Daniel Hemric
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Cup Series Championship 4: Kyle Larson (5), Kyle Busch (5), Ryan Blaney (4); William Byron (2)/Chase Elliott (2)/Denny Hamlin (2)/Joey Logano(2)
Analysis: This one got interesting. Our writers seem to think 2021 champ Kyle Larson will be defending his title at Phoenix — but so will near-unanimous pick Kyle Busch, making his return to the Championship 4 for the first time since his 2019 title. Beyond that, Blaney looks like a strong choice to make his first Champ 4 appearance, while the last spot is a tossup between three familiar faces (Elliott/Hamlin/Logano) and one potential newcomer (Byron).
Others receiving votes: Kurt Busch, Alex Bowman
Analysis: This one got interesting. Our writers seem to think 2021 champ Kyle Larson will be defending his title at Phoenix — but so will near-unanimous pick Kyle Busch, making his return to the Championship 4 for the first time since his 2019 title. Beyond that, Blaney looks like a strong choice to make his first Champ 4 appearance, while the last spot is a tossup between three familiar faces (Elliott/Hamlin/Logano) and one potential newcomer (Byron).
Others receiving votes: Kurt Busch, Alex Bowman
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Cup champion: Ryan Blaney (2)/Chase Elliott (2)
Analysis: When all is said and done, however, neither of the favorites to make the Championship 4 are projected to hold the trophy at the end of the day — including no votes for a Larson repeat. Instead, it could be a battle between good friends Blaney and Elliott. One of them is going for No. 2, while Blaney is looking to strike gold in his first Champ 4 appearance. Either way, you can't go wrong with two of the most talented, young stars of the sport.
Others receiving votes: Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano
Analysis: When all is said and done, however, neither of the favorites to make the Championship 4 are projected to hold the trophy at the end of the day — including no votes for a Larson repeat. Instead, it could be a battle between good friends Blaney and Elliott. One of them is going for No. 2, while Blaney is looking to strike gold in his first Champ 4 appearance. Either way, you can't go wrong with two of the most talented, young stars of the sport.
Others receiving votes: Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano