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Key players in 2021-22 Silly Season
By Staff Report | Published: 18 Nov, 2021 50
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
NASCAR Silly Season doesn't take a holiday. As drivers and teams announce plans for next year, we're keeping tabs on those who are key players. Former champions Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski are at the center of the action this go-round, both moving to new teams in 2022.
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Tyler Ankrum
Current ride: No. 26 GMS Racing Chevrolet
The scoop: Ankrum steps away from a short stint at GMS Racing in a move that lands him a new contract with Hattori Racing Enterprises for the 2022 Camping World Truck Series season in the No. 16 Toyota.
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Logan Riely | Getty Images
Joey Gase
Current ride: Assorted part-time Cup and Xfinity Series rides.
The scoop: Gase has formed his own team -- Joey Gase Racing. He will drive the car -- No. 35 -- for most of the season, but other drivers will be involved in the full-time effort.
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Zack Albert | NASCAR Digital Media
RFK Racing
The scoop: The organization formerly known as Roush Fenway Racing is now Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing or RFK Racing for short. Keselowski will be a driver-owner of the team and this rebranding comes ahead of his first season with the team.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Josh Williams
Current ride: No. 92 DGM Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: After five seasons with DGM, Williams and the team have parted ways. The 28-year-old's best season to date came in 2020 with six top 10s.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Riley Herbst
Current ride: No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: Herbst will return to SHR for a second season with the team. His first season with SHR saw him reach the playoffs.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Anthony Alfredo
Current ride: No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: After one season with Front Row,
Alfredo is pursuing other opportunities. His rookie season saw him nab one top 10 in the Cup Series. Front Row plans to field two cars in the Cup ranks for the 2022 season, while analyzing its Camping World Truck Series operation.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Current ride: No. 0 JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: Earnhardt took to social media to reveal he will not be back in the No. 0 in 2022. He plans to race next season, though, he acknowledged he may take a part-time ride if its a winning situation.
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Niece Motorsports
Lawless Alan
Current ride: Multiple part-time rides in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The scoop: Alan will run a full season for Niece in 2022 in the No. 45 Chevrolet and compete for Sunoco Rookie honors. He made a handful of starts for the team in 2021.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Myatt Snider
Current ride: No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
The scoop: Snider is moving to Jordan Anderson Racing to run a full season for the upstart organization that has affiliations with RCR. Snider scored his first NASCAR national series win in 2021.
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Niece Motorsports
Dean Thompson
Current ride: No. 51 Sunrise Ford Racing in the ARCA Menards Series West.
The scoop: Thompson will run a full season and compete for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in Camping World Truck Series with Niece Motorsports in 2022. He ran the bulk of the ARCA West schedule in 2021.
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Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
Austin Hill
Current ride: No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The scoop: After three seasons and eight wins with Hattori, Hill will move up to the Xfinity Series with Richard Childress Racing for the 2022 season.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Brandon Jones
Current ride: No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: Jones will be returning to JGR for a fifth season. Jeff Meendering will return as the team's crew chief. By season's end, the 24-year-old will have made over 200 Xfinity Series starts and has four wins to date.
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Allison Farrand | ARCA Racing
Nick Sanchez
Current ride: No. 2 Chevrolet for owner Max Siegel and Rev Racing in the ARCA Menards Series.
The scoop: Sanchez, who is a driver in NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program, will make his Xfinity Series debut in 2022 as a part-timer for BJ McLeod Racing.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
John Hunter Nemechek
Current ride: No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The scoop: Nemechek, the regular-season champion in the Truck Series, will be back for more at KBM in 2022 . He will be driving the No. 4 truck for a second straight season as a championship favorite.
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Steph Chambers | Getty Images
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
The scoop: The Camping World Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series organization is aligning with Chevrolet after fielding Toyotas in recent seasons. The team also has formed an alliance with GMS Racing and will operate out of a building at GMS’ Statesville, North Carolina facility.
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Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
GMS Racing
The scoop: Ty Dillon will be their first-ever Cup driver in the 2022 season. After running partial schedules for Gaunt Brothers Racing (in the Cup Series) as well as Joe Gibbs Racing, Our Motorsports and Jordan Anderson Racing (in the Xfinity Series), Dillon is back in the Cup ranks. He ran four full-time Cup seasons with Germain Racing from 2017-20 with two top fives and six top 10s.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Rick Ware Racing
The scoop: Rick Ware Racing will join the Ford Performance family at the start of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. In addition to a new manufacturer, RWR has formed an alliance with Stewart-Haas Racing and Roush Yates Engines.
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Dontre Graves | NASCAR Digital Media
Team Hezeberg
The scoop: Team Hezeberg Powered by Reaume Brothers will be running a part-time schedule in the No. 27 Ford starting in 2022. The team will feature NASCAR Whelen Euro Champion Loris Hezemans and former Formula One Champion Jacques Villeneuve behind the wheel. In its initial season, the team plans to run all the road course races and potentially some short-track races as well.
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Jeff Curry | Getty Images
Sheldon Creed
Current ride: No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The scoop: Creed, the reigning 2020 Camping World Truck Series champion and winner of the first two playoff races in the 2021 postseason, is moving up to the Xfinity Series with Richard Childress Racing in a full-time effort. He will pilot the team's No. 2 Chevrolet in 2022.
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Logan Riely | Getty Images
Big Machine Racing
The scoop: For its second season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Big Machine will enter into an enhanced partnership with Richard Childress Racing . RCR will provide chassis and engineering support and the team will relocate to RCR's campus.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Michael Annett
Current ride: No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: Annett is retiring from full-time driving duties at the end of the 2021 season. He has spent the last five seasons with JRM and scored his lone national series win there at Daytona International Speedway in 2019.
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James Armas | GMS Racing
Grant Enfinger
Current ride: No. 98 ThorSport Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (part time).
The scoop: After spending the bulk of five seasons with ThorSport and winning five races there, Enfinger is moving to GMS Racing – the place where he got his first Camping World Truck Series win in 2016 at Talladega. He has a two-year deal with GMS and should be among the drivers to score a win and contend for the 2022 championship.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Current ride: No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: Stenhouse confirmed to reporters at the end of September he will return to JTG Daugherty Racing for the 2022 season. He also mentioned he will be the team's only driver, confirming what team co-owner Brad Daugherty had said about the organization moving back to one car.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Daniel Hemric
Current ride: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: Hemric will move to Kaulig Racing to drive the No. 11 Chevrolet, replacing Justin Haley who will move up to the Cup Series next season. In his new ride, Hemric should remain a title contender.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Stefan Parsons
Current ride: Part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with BJ McLeod Motorsports.
The scoop: Parsons will run a full season with McLeod's team after running partial slates for the past three seasons.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Justin Allgaier
Current ride: No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: Allgaier will be returning to the Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned organization for a seventh straight season. To date, he has notched 13 of his 16 Xfinity Series wins with JRM and has reached the Xfinity Series Championship 4 in four of the past five seasons (2016, ’17, ’19, ’20).
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Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
Colby Howard
Current ride: No. 15 JD Motorsports with Gary Keller Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: Howard is moving to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series ranks for 2022 with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing expanding its operation to two teams for next season. He has spent the 2021 season with JD Motorsports in the Xfinity Series.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Noah Gragson
Current ride: No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: JR Motorsports announced Aug. 31 that Gragson would return to the No. 9 Chevrolet for the 2022 Xfinity season. It will be his fourth year with the team, and all of his major sponsors will remain on board.
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Logan Riely | Getty Images
Alpha Prime Racing
The scoop: In late August, Caesar Bacarella and Tommy Joe Martins announced they have partnered to form a new Xfinity Series team in 2022. Beginning next season, Martins Motorsports will become Alpha Prime Racing. Both co-owners will pilot the No. 44 entry part time, along with ARCA driver Rajah Caruth, Ryan Ellis and Andy Lally will drive for the team on road courses.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Kurt Busch
Current ride: No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: The 2004 champion is joining 23XI Racing as the organization expands to two cars in 2022. He will pilot the No. 45 Toyota — his first time behind the wheel of a Toyota in Cup competition. He qualified for the playoffs for the ninth straight season in 2021 and has at least one win in the last eight seasons.
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Jeff Curry | Getty Images
Jack Wood
Current ride: No. 24 GMS Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The scoop: Wood will return to the No 24 Chevrolet in the Truck ranks for the 2022 season. The 21-year-old got his feet wet in the series this season with his first top 10 coming at Gateway in August.
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Erik Jones
Current ride: No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: Back home at Michigan International Speedway, Jones announced he will return to Richard Petty Motorsports to race in 2022. Jones has three top-10 finishes in 2021, including a season-best seventh-place run at the Indianapolis Road Course.
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Courtesy of Jesse Iwuji
Jesse Iwuji Motorsports
The scoop: NASCAR is adding another Hall of Fame owner to the stable with the addition of Dallas Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith. Smith and driver Jesse Iwuji recently announced the formation of a new, full-time Xfinity Series team that will begin competing in the 2022 season.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Carson Hocevar
Current ride: No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The scoop: Fresh off a rookie season that saw him qualify for the Truck Playoffs, Hocevar will be back for a second season with Niece Motorsports.
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James Gilbert | Getty Images
Josh Berry
Current ride: Part-time in No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and No. 25 Rackley W.A.R Chevrolet in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The scoop: Berry made the most of his part-time opportunity in 2021 and was able to land a full-time ride with JR Motorsports for 2022 in the No. 8 Chevrolet. The Late Model racer nabbed a win in April at Martinsville and team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. had made no secret about trying to find a bigger opportunity for the driver.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Ross Chastain
Current ride: No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: Chastain has landed as the second driver for Trackhouse — a spot he was heavily rumored for every since the sale of Ganassi to Trackhouse. He has had a strong summer showing in his first full-time Cup season with Ganassi and will look to carry that over to his new organization in 2022.
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Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
Brad Keselowski
Current ride: No. 2 Team Penske Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: On July 20, 2021, Roush Fenway Racing announced Keselowski will drive the No. 6 Ford Mustang , beginning with the 2022 Cup Series season, which includes a minority ownership stake with the organization. Keselowski will leave Team Penske after 12 seasons once the 2021 season concludes. Matt McCall will be the team's crew chief.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Ryan Newman
Current ride: No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: After it was announced Brad Keselowski will shift to Roush Fenway Racing in 2022 , Newman will not return to the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang after the 2021 season. His future plans have yet to be announced. Roush Fenway Racing team president Steve Newmark indicated a part-time role with the organization was a possibility.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Austin Cindric
Current ride: No. 22 Team Penske Ford in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: The reigning Xfinity Series champion actually already had a Cup Series ride secured for 2022 as it had been announced last year Cindric would pilot the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. With Brad Keselowski now departing Team Penske at the end of the 2021 season, Cindric is taking over the helm of the No. 2 Ford instead, where he will be a favorite for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Harrison Burton
Current ride: No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: In the midst of his second full-time Xfinity Series season, Burtonhas been tabbed to take over the iconic No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford in the Cup Series beginning next season. Burton made his first-ever Cup Series start at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this year, finishing 20th.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Matt DiBenedetto
Current ride: No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: DiBenedetto is out of the ride after the 2021 season with Harrison Burton now set to fill his seat. He will likely be a candidate for any seat that might come open moving into 2022 but has recently said he has no plans solidified for next season.
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Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
Kyle Larson
Current ride: No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: Larson is locked in to staying with Hendrick Motorsports through the 2023 season. His No. 5 Chevrolet will feature majority sponsorship of 35 races a year from HendrickCars.com, and it will also have branding for Larson's non-NASCAR events. Through 22 races in his first season with Hendrick, he had four wins, making him a title contender.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Trackhouse Racing Team
The scoop: Trackhouse has purchased the NASCAR operations of Chip Ganassi Racing -- including two charters -- and will take control of those operations at the end of the 2021 season. At the announcement of the purchase, Trackhouse said Daniel Suarez will be back next season and announced in August that Ross Chastain will field a second car for the team in 2022.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Chip Ganassi Racing
The scoop: Chip Ganassi Racing announced June 30 it sold its NASCAR operations to Trackhouse Racing Team. Trackhouse will take control of the assets -- including the shop and two charters -- at the end of the 2021 season.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Justin Haley
Current ride: No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: Haley is moving up to a full-time Cup Series ride for 2022 as he will be Kaulig Racing’s first full-time Cup driver. He has spent the past three seasons running a full-time car for Kaulig’s Xfinity Series program and reached the Championship 4 in 2020. He has made a number of Cup Series starts for Spire Motorsports — including a surprise win in just his third Cup start in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
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Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
AJ Allmendinger
Current ride: No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The scoop: Allmendinger has inked a multi-year agreement with Kaulig Racing that will see him compete full-time in the Xfinity Series while running part-time in the Cup Series in select 2022 events. The 2021 season marked Allmendinger’s return to full-time NASCAR racing and also has seen him make a handful of Cup Series starts in Kaulig’s part-time car.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Kaulig Racing
The scoop: Team owner Matt Kaulig has secured two charters for the 2022 Cup Series season . He will field a full-time team with driver Justin Haley, and AJ Allmendinger will run a partial schedule. Kaulig has fielded a part-time car in 2021 with Allmendinger and Kaz Grala piloting the ride.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Alex Bowman
Current ride: No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The scoop: Bowman isn't going anywhere. After his victory at Dover International Speedway -- his second win of 2021 -- team owner Rick Hendrick said regarding an extension, "we've already started. It should be done any time. We want Alex there. He wants to be there. It's kind of at this point just a formality." Bowman's two-year extension with Hendrick through 2023 was officially announced June 18 .
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Maddie Meyer | Getty Images
23XI Racing
The scoop: The Michael Jordan-Denny Hamlin co-owned organization is expanding to two cars for its second season in the Cup Series with Kurt Busch brought in to be the driver of the No. 45 alongside Bubba Wallace in the No. 23.