Power Rankings: Potential free agents for 2022 Cup Series rides

12. Brandon Jones
Age: 24
Current ride: No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (Xfinity)
Experience: 189 Xfinity starts (4 wins, 26 top 5s, 79 top 10s); 49 Camping World Truck Series starts (1 win, 14 top 5s, 24 top 10s)
Current points standing: 9th
2021 stats: 17.9 avg. finish, 7 top 5s, 10 top 10s

Note: There's a lot to like about Jones' resume at just 24 years old, with wins at both lower levels and nearly 250 starts combined. Given how long he's been around -- he's been racing at the national series level since 2013 -- it's surprising he's yet to make a Cup start. Perhaps that will come with a smaller-scale team next year, though the fact his numbers this year have dipped significantly in his fourth season with powerhouse JGR is somewhat of a cause for concern. Cup is a possibility, but the most likely scenario is another year of Xfinity racing.

11. Ryan Newman
Age: 43
Current ride: No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Experience: 711 Cup starts (18 wins, 2014 runner-up); 64 Xfinity starts (7 wins); 7 Camping World Truck Series starts (1 win)
Current points standing: 27th
2021 stats: 21.8 avg. finish, 1 top 5, 3 top 10s

Note: This could be it for Newman, who wants to keep racing but might be forced to settle for a part-time role somewhere or hang it up entirely. Personally, if he were to go that route I feel he could clean up in the Truck Series, but he could still contribute at the Cup level in the right scenario. Who knows, he could stay with a Brad Keselowski-revitalized Roush in a third, part-time car and find a way to Victory Lane that way. If he's in a competitive car, he'll be competitive.

10. Noah Gragson
Age: 23
Current ride: No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (Xfinity)
Experience: 88 Xfinity starts (2 wins, 34 top 5s); 47 Camping World Truck Series starts (2 wins, 2018 runner-up)
Current points standing: 8th
2021 stats: 16.6 avg. finish, 6 top 5s, 10 top 10s

Note: After a two-win, near-Championship 4 2020 campaign in his age-21 season, Gragson appeared destined for a breakout this year. It hasn't materialized and in some ways has been a drastic step backward, but he's proven capable of winning and still has a bright future ahead. He could probably still use some seasoning, but could conceivably find his way into some Cup starts next year, especially if JR Motorsports begins dipping its toe in the premier series waters as long rumored.

9. Daniel Hemric
Age: 30
Current ride: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (Xfinity)
Experience: 38 Cup starts (1 top 5, 2 top 10s); 106 Xfinity starts (38 top 5s, 63 top 10s); 50 Camping World Truck Series starts (15 top 5s, 30 top 10s)
Current points standing: 3rd
2021 stats: 10.8 avg. finish, 8 top 5s, 12 top 10s

Note: You already know the knock on Hemric -- he's yet to win at the national series level across nearly 200 starts. That said, he's currently third in Xfinity Series points and has the best average finish by far among the JGR full-timers this year -- including the driver we recently learned will be piloting the. No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford next year. The 2019 Cup Series Rookie of the Year is almost certain to make it back there at some point, it's just a matter of when and where.

8. Ryan Preece
Age: 30
Current ride: No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Experience: 99 Cup starts (1 top five, 8 top 10s); 59 Xfinity starts (2 wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s); 2 Camping World Truck Series starts (1 win)
Current points standing: 26th
2021 stats: 22.1 avg. finish, 3 top 10s

Note: Perhaps the most underrated driver in the Cup garage, Preece has almost always delivered when in top-tier equipment; it just hasn't happened for him often enough to allow a strong Cup opportunity to arise yet. With no charter, the future of his team -- and thus, him -- are up in the air, and a return to a more competitive ride in the Xfinity Series could be in order. Still, if he were to find his way into a step up from JTG, he would likely find success.

7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Age: 33
Current ride: No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Experience: 314 Cup starts (2 wins, 19 top 5s); 108 Xfinity starts (8 wins, 2011-12 champion)
Current points standing: 21st
2021 stats: 19.0 avg. finish, 1 top 5, 2 top 10s

Note: Stenhouse is enjoying his best season with JTG to date, but still a drop-off from his best season with Roush (2017) and not quite where a two-time Xfinity champ approaching his mid-30s wants to be. He's shown himself to be capable of winning and it's hard to see him dropping out of Cup any time soon, but there hasn't been any clear indication of where he could be racing in 2022. It could be JTG, or it could be elsewhere.

6. Matt DiBenedetto
Age: 30
Current ride: No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Experience: 234 Cup starts (8 top fives, 27 top 10s); 69 Xfinity starts (2 top 10s)
Current points standing: 17th
2021 stats: 17.9 avg. finish, 2 top fives, 5 top 10s

Note: DiBenedetto finds himself at a significant career crossroads. He's got plenty of experience at this point, some of which came in one of the sport's most historic rides in a situation tons of drivers would pine for. He's had his moments but just hasn't gotten it done, even taking a step back this year statistically. There is likely still plenty left to write in the Matty D story, but where the next chapter begins is anyone's guess.

5. Aric Almirola
Age: 37
Current ride: No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Experience: 374 Cup starts (3 wins, 26 top 5s, 82 top 10s); 102 Xfinity starts (3 wins); 78 Camping World Truck Series starts (2 wins)
Current points standing: 23rd
2021 stats: 1 win, 21.8 avg. finish, 2 top 5s, 3 top 10s

Note: Almirola's New Hampshire win went a long, long way toward helping his 2022 prospects. The most likely scenario for him is remaining at SHR next year, but until the Magic Mile he was in the midst of one of the most challenging seasons of his career for a team facing a lot of questions. He's closing in on 40 as the sport leans younger, but he's a steady presence capable of popping off a win or two in the right circumstances.

4. Erik Jones
Age: 25
Current ride: No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet
Experience: 169 Cup starts (2 wins, 33 top 5s, 64 top 10s); 78 Xfinity starts (9 wins, 37 top 5s, 50 top 10s); 42 Camping World Truck Series starts (7 wins, 2015 champion)
Current points standing: 25th
2021 stats: 21.0 avg. finish, 2 top 10s

Note: Jones and Bubba Wallace, from a certain point of view, essentially swapped rides for 2021 and the former appears to be outrunning the latter in both Joe Gibbs Racing and RPM equipment. He's also two years younger than the 23XI Racing driver. It wasn't that long ago Jones was considered the hottest prospect in the series and while his path to stardom has taken an interesting turn, he makes for a very intriguing gamble in the right situation.

3. Ross Chastain
Age: 28
Current ride: No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
Experience: 101 Cup starts (2 top fives, 7 top 10s); 192 Xfinity starts (2 wins); 95 Camping World Truck Series starts (3 wins)
Current points standing: 18th
2021 stats: 17.8 avg. finish, 2 top fives, 6 top 10s

Note: Chastain is one of the most experienced, well-rounded drivers on this list, despite being the fifth-youngest. He's had a strong mid-portion of the 2021 season and should be a hot commodity for a '22 Cup ride after his current team was sold to Trackhouse Racing. A natural fit for him might be to just slide over to that organization, which plans on adding a second full-time entry.

2. John Hunter Nemechek
Age: 24
Current ride: No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota (Camping World Truck Series)
Experience: 39 Cup starts (3 top 10s); 52 Xfinity starts (1 win, 12 top 5s, 30 top 10s); 116 Camping World Truck Series starts (11 wins, 36 top 5s, 51 top 10s)
Current points standing: 1st
2021 stats: 7.4 avg. finish, 5 wins, 8 top 5s, 11 top 10s

Note: Some questioned Nemechek's decision to drop back down to the Camping World Truck Series in search of a more competitive ride, and those people were sorely mistaken. JHN has lit the series on fire this year, positioning himself as the clear favorite to win the 2021 title and completely revitalizing his stock. A return to the Cup Series is a near-guarantee at some point, but finding a spot that makes sense for him in 2022 is a little iffy. His phone will be ringing, though.

1. Kurt Busch
Age: 42
Current ride: No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
Experience: 742 Cup starts (33 wins, 2004 champion); 30 Xfinity starts (five wins); 28 Camping World Truck Series starts (four wins)
Current points standing: 14th
2021 stats: 17.3 avg. finish, 1 win, 3 top fives, 7 top 10s

Note: Easily the best resume of drivers on this list -- in addition to being the only Cup champion on the market -- rumors were swirling earlier this year that the Cup mainstay could be hanging it up after the season. Given his team is shutting down at the end of the year you'd think that would be the final nail in the coffin, but a thrilling Atlanta victory was a stark reminder for the series that Busch remains one of the most naturally talented drivers in the garage and should be the most sought-after free agent to sign for next year. As more Silly Season pieces come together, don't expect the future Hall of Famer to be out there for the taking much longer.