BACK TO GALLERIES
Eight exciting things to watch for in the early part of 2022
By RJ Kraft | Published: January 4, 2022 9
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
1 of 9
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
With the calendar turning to 2022, there's plenty to look ahead to in the NASCAR world. While most are of the on-track variety, there is one off-the-track event that helps to kick off the year. Here's a look at eight exciting things to watch for in the first three months of 2022.
2 of 9
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
NASCAR Hall of Fame induction
The delayed Class of 2021 Induction Ceremony will take place Jan. 21. Dale Earnhardt Jr. headlines the Hall's 12th class, which also includes Red Farmer and Mike Stefanik. In addition, Ralph Seagraves will be honored as the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.
MORE: Learn about the Class of 2021
The delayed Class of 2021 Induction Ceremony will take place Jan. 21. Dale Earnhardt Jr. headlines the Hall's 12th class, which also includes Red Farmer and Mike Stefanik. In addition, Ralph Seagraves will be honored as the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.
MORE: Learn about the Class of 2021
3 of 9
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Next Gen testing continues, debut coming
After a Goodyear tire test at Atlanta Motor Speedway this week, two more Next Gen tests are on the books for Daytona International Speedway (Jan. 11-12) and Phoenix Raceway (Jan. 25-26) before the car's competitive debut in the exhibition Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 6.
The base rules package for the Next Gen car has been set with 670 target horsepower and a centered four-inch spoiler for reduced rear downforce. This package, which was heavily supported by the drivers, will be used at road courses, short tracks and intermediate-sized circuits. The superspeedway package for Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona and potentially Atlanta will be determined this month.
MORE: Next Gen timeline of development
After a Goodyear tire test at Atlanta Motor Speedway this week, two more Next Gen tests are on the books for Daytona International Speedway (Jan. 11-12) and Phoenix Raceway (Jan. 25-26) before the car's competitive debut in the exhibition Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on Feb. 6.
The base rules package for the Next Gen car has been set with 670 target horsepower and a centered four-inch spoiler for reduced rear downforce. This package, which was heavily supported by the drivers, will be used at road courses, short tracks and intermediate-sized circuits. The superspeedway package for Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona and potentially Atlanta will be determined this month.
MORE: Next Gen timeline of development
4 of 9
Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
Clash in LA
The season-opening exhibition event will take place Feb. 6 at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Crews broke ground on the temporary quarter-mile asphalt track last month.
The event will include four 25-lap qualifying heats with 10 cars in each heat. The top four finishers in each heat advance. Two 50-lap Last Chance Qualifying races will follow with the top three finishers in each of those advancing. The final spot in the 23-car main-event field belongs to the driver who finished highest in the 2021 point standings but did not transfer through. That means as of now, reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson is the only driver locked into the field. The 23 advancing cars will take part in a 150-lap main event after a pre-race concert by Pitbull.
The February calendar is bookended by California trips -- Auto Club Speedway will be the second points-paying race of the season after the Daytona 500. Auto Club's 2021 race was realigned to the Daytona Road Course due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MORE: Busch Light Clash format explained
The season-opening exhibition event will take place Feb. 6 at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Crews broke ground on the temporary quarter-mile asphalt track last month.
The event will include four 25-lap qualifying heats with 10 cars in each heat. The top four finishers in each heat advance. Two 50-lap Last Chance Qualifying races will follow with the top three finishers in each of those advancing. The final spot in the 23-car main-event field belongs to the driver who finished highest in the 2021 point standings but did not transfer through. That means as of now, reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson is the only driver locked into the field. The 23 advancing cars will take part in a 150-lap main event after a pre-race concert by Pitbull.
The February calendar is bookended by California trips -- Auto Club Speedway will be the second points-paying race of the season after the Daytona 500. Auto Club's 2021 race was realigned to the Daytona Road Course due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MORE: Busch Light Clash format explained
5 of 9
Grant Halverson | Getty Images
Familiar faces in new places, new teams and exploding expansion
Silly Season saw plenty of movement before the 2022 season. Brad Keselowski is now an owner-driver for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. Kurt Busch joined 23XI Racing in a second car for the Denny Hamlin-Michael Jordan-owned organization. Trackhouse Racing Team also expanded to two cars with Ross Chastain joining the fold. Kaulig Racing grew to two full-time Cup teams with Justin Haley running a full slate and a trio of Xfinity title contenders filling out the second car. GMS Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports merged into a two-car team. The rookie class features Austin Cindric (Team Penske), Harrison Burton (Wood Brothers Racing) and Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports). It will be interesting to see how these drivers perform in new places and rides.
MORE: Changes to know for 2022
Silly Season saw plenty of movement before the 2022 season. Brad Keselowski is now an owner-driver for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. Kurt Busch joined 23XI Racing in a second car for the Denny Hamlin-Michael Jordan-owned organization. Trackhouse Racing Team also expanded to two cars with Ross Chastain joining the fold. Kaulig Racing grew to two full-time Cup teams with Justin Haley running a full slate and a trio of Xfinity title contenders filling out the second car. GMS Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports merged into a two-car team. The rookie class features Austin Cindric (Team Penske), Harrison Burton (Wood Brothers Racing) and Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports). It will be interesting to see how these drivers perform in new places and rides.
MORE: Changes to know for 2022
6 of 9
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Daytona 500
The 64th running of the Great American Race is the big event of the season, the race every driver dreams of winning. Win this race and your ticket is theoretically punched to the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs. Last year's race saw Michael McDowell score his first career Cup win in a dramatic finish.
MORE: Complete Daytona 500 winner history
The 64th running of the Great American Race is the big event of the season, the race every driver dreams of winning. Win this race and your ticket is theoretically punched to the 2022 NASCAR Playoffs. Last year's race saw Michael McDowell score his first career Cup win in a dramatic finish.
MORE: Complete Daytona 500 winner history
7 of 9
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Practice and qualifying return
On-track qualifying is scheduled for every event this season. A majority of Cup Series races will see the field split into two groups and participate in a two-hour practice and qualifying event. Six Cup weekends have also been classified as expanded weekends which will see one stand-alone, 50-minute practice session separate from qualifying.
MORE: Full breakdown of knockout-style format, schedule
On-track qualifying is scheduled for every event this season. A majority of Cup Series races will see the field split into two groups and participate in a two-hour practice and qualifying event. Six Cup weekends have also been classified as expanded weekends which will see one stand-alone, 50-minute practice session separate from qualifying.
MORE: Full breakdown of knockout-style format, schedule
8 of 9
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Reconfiguration, repave of Atlanta makes its mark
The Atlanta tripleheader set for March 19-20 will mark the first national series races on the repaved and reconfigured race track. Atlanta officials increased the banking through the track’s sweeping turns from 24 to 28 degrees, all while narrowing the racing surface and improving the drainage systems. It's the first major reconfiguration of the track since 1997. The project began right after the track hosted its second race weekend of 2021 -- its first two-weekend year since 2010.
MORE: Tire test set this week at Atlanta
The Atlanta tripleheader set for March 19-20 will mark the first national series races on the repaved and reconfigured race track. Atlanta officials increased the banking through the track’s sweeping turns from 24 to 28 degrees, all while narrowing the racing surface and improving the drainage systems. It's the first major reconfiguration of the track since 1997. The project began right after the track hosted its second race weekend of 2021 -- its first two-weekend year since 2010.
MORE: Tire test set this week at Atlanta
9 of 9
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
So close to 60 wins
Eight drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history have 60 wins in the sport's top series. They are: Richard Petty, David Pearson, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Jimmie Johnson, Cale Yarborough and Dale Earnhardt. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are each closing in on adding to that list. Busch is one win away at 59, while Harvick is two away at 58. It wouldn't be a surprise at all if one or both hit the mark early in the new season.
MORE: All-time NASCAR Cup Series winners
Eight drivers in NASCAR Cup Series history have 60 wins in the sport's top series. They are: Richard Petty, David Pearson, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Jimmie Johnson, Cale Yarborough and Dale Earnhardt. Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick are each closing in on adding to that list. Busch is one win away at 59, while Harvick is two away at 58. It wouldn't be a surprise at all if one or both hit the mark early in the new season.
MORE: All-time NASCAR Cup Series winners