Editor’s note: This continues the series of season reviews for select 2022 NASCAR Cup Series drivers.

See more: Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, Kevin Harvick, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suárez, Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney

Driver: Kyle Larson
Car: No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Crew chief: Cliff Daniels
Final 2022 ranking: 7th
Key stats: 3 wins, 13 top fives, 19 top 10s, 4 poles, 635 laps led

How 2022 ended:  Larson might have had a chance to repeat as Cup champion – or at the very least, to have made it to the Championship 4 – had it not been for a three-race stretch where he finished 18th at Talladega and was dealt back-to-back 35th-place finishes at the Charlotte Roval (which knocked him out of advancing to the Round of 8) and Las Vegas. He finished on somewhat of an up note, albeit too late, when he won at Homestead-Miami Speedway and finished second at Martinsville, before ending the season with a ninth-place showing at Phoenix. Unfortunately, Larson finished a disappointing seventh in the final standings.

Best race: Larson’s best race was one that, for all intents and purposes, didn’t really count for much. He dominated the October race at Homestead, leading 199 of 267 laps, but it was too little, too late as he had already been eliminated from advancing to the Round of 8 and, ultimately, championship contention.

RELATED: Kyle Larson rolls to dominant victory at Homestead-Miami

Other season highlights: While he also won the second race of the season at Auto Club Speedway and then Week 25 at Watkins Glen, one other race stood out: finishing runner-up at Martinsville in the penultimate race of the season. He led the first 68 laps in the 500-lap event, but was never able to get back to the front of the field, settling for the runner-up spot.

Stat to know: While some might consider three wins, 13 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes in 2022 a strong season, it actually paled in comparison to what he did in 2021: 10 wins, 20 top fives, 26 top 10s and wrapped up the year with his first career Cup championship.

Quotable: “I’ve learned that there’s still a lot of area to get a lot better and just smarter. Just doing a better job. Last year, seemed good. I was on my game and things were working out, restarts, everything. Every area was better as far as the driver goes last year. So just got to figure out how to get back to that point.” – Larson on comparing last season to 2022.

RELATED: Reigning champion Kyle Larson eliminated from 2022 NASCAR Playoffs

Looking ahead: Larson is not the type of driver who wallows in defeat or coming up short of expectations. Rather, he uses both as an incentive and a motivating force. He knows what went wrong in 2022, accepted much of the blame upon his shoulders, and is bound and determined not to make the same mistakes in 2023.

The Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum is getting even bigger in 2023.

The main event of the exhibition race held inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum expands for the Feb. 5 race as the field will increase to 27 cars, bumped up from 23 in last year’s inaugural running.

MORE: Buy your tickets now!

Eligibility for the one-of-a-kind stadium race includes all 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Charter team owners and associated Cup drivers. 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Open team owners and associated Cup drivers are eligible to enter and compete for the four additional starting positions in this year’s field.

The format of this year’s Clash at the Coliseum is largely unchanged. On Saturday, Feb. 4, the field will be split into three groups for practice, with each group receiving three sessions to dial in their cars.

Following practice, single-round and single-car qualifying will begin to set the starting lineups of Sunday’s heat races — four 25-lap contests in which only green-flag laps will count. In qualifying, each driver gets three laps — one warm-up lap and two timed circuits. Teams will go out for qualifying based on the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series owner points standings from lowest to highest. If there are more than 40 entries to this event, the fastest four open teams will transfer into the heat races.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 06: A general view of the last chance qualifying race prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on February 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meg Oliphant | Getty Images

Saturday’s fastest qualifier will earn the pole position in Heat 1, with the second-fastest qualifier earning pole for Heat 2; third-fastest on pole for Heat 3; and fourth-fastest on pole for Heat 4, etc.

The heat races will determine both the field for the main event, alongside the starting lineup. The top five finishers in each heat race will automatically advance to the main event, setting the top 20 starting positions (specifics in the chart below).

Drivers who finish their heat races outside the top five will fight to advance into the main event through the Last Chance Qualifiers, two 50-lap dashes to officially set the Clash field. The first LCQ will feature those who finished sixth-10th in Heats 1 and 3; the second LCQ hosts those who finished sixth-10th in Heats 2 and 4. The top three drivers in each LCQ will advance and compete in the Clash.

The 27th and final spot in the field is reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2022 season points standings and who did not already earn a starting position in the Clash. That means Joey Logano, last year’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum winner and the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series champion, is locked into the field.

Below is a breakdown of how the grid will be set for the 150-lap feature:

Position Criteria
1 Heat 1 winner
2 Heat 2 winner
3 Heat 3 winner
4 Heat 4 winner
5 Heat 1 second place
6 Heat 2 second place
7 Heat 3 second place
8 Heat 4 second place
9 Heat 1 third place
10 Heat 2 third place
11 Heat 3 third place
12 Heat 4 third place
13 Heat 1 fourth place
14 Heat 2 fourth place
15 Heat 3 fourth place
16 Heat 4 fourth place
17 Heat 1 fifth place
18 Heat 2 fifth place
19 Heat 3 fifth place
20 Heat 4 fifth place
21 LCQ 1 winner
22 LCQ 2 winner
23 LCQ 1 second place
24 LCQ 2 second place
25 LCQ 1 third place
26 LCQ 2 third place
27 2022 points provisional

Tune into the Clash at the Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR Creative Design

With the 2022 racing season in the books, it’s time to recognize stock-car racing’s championship performances from all levels of the sport. Recap the hardware-winning seasons for multiple NASCAR, ARCA and touring series, plus the title laurels handed out in eNASCAR.

***

Joey Logano celebrates his second Cup Series title at Phoenix Raceway
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

CUP SERIES

2022 champion: Joey Logano

Season review: The Team Penske driver sealed his second Cup Series championship with a dominant victory in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. The 32-year-old closed out a four-win campaign with the No. 22 Ford team, including a triumph in the year-opening exhibition Busch Light Clash at the LA Coliseum. His victory in the Round of 8 opener clinched his fifth Championship 4 berth. Once there, Logano rode a wave of confidence to a clinching win from the pole position, outdistancing fellow title contenders Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott. Logano is now only the second active driver with multiple championships, joining Kyle Busch. (Recap)

***

Ty Gibbs cradles the Xfinity Series championship trophy
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

XFINITY SERIES

2022 champion: Ty Gibbs

Season review: Gibbs wrapped up a sterling 2022 season with a clinching victory in the Phoenix finale, pacing 125 of 200 laps for his seventh win of the year. The 20-year-old driver carried the No. 54 Toyota owned by his grandfather, Coach Joe Gibbs, past the other three title hopefuls from JR Motorsports — Noah Gragson, Justin Allgaier and Josh Berry — in the final. The championship came in the young Gibbs’ first full Xfinity Series season, but it was marked by tragedy with the death of his father, Coy, in the hours after the Phoenix race. Ty Gibbs will join the Cup Series next season, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. (Recap)

***

Zane Smith kisses the Truck Series championship trophy
Chris Graythen | Getty Images

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

2022 champion: Zane Smith

Season review: Smith washed away the sour taste of runner-up finishes in the previous two Truck Series seasons, warding off Ben Rhodes in two laps of overtime to clinch his first championship. The 23-year-old California native was a four-time winner through the season for the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford team, claiming the Regular Season Championship and finishing the year out with his victory from the pole position in the closing event at Phoenix. Rhodes, Ty Majeski, and Chandler Smith — all Toyota drivers — were the other finalists. The series will shift its entitlement sponsorship from Camping World to Craftsman next season. (Recap)

***

Nick Sanchez wrapped up the 2022 ARCA Menards Series title at Toledo Speedway on Oct. 8, 2022
Luke Hales | ARCA Racing

ARCA MENARDS SERIES

2022 champion: Nick Sanchez

Season review: Sanchez made the most of his first full-time ARCA Menards Series campaign, converting in his season-long title pursuit by a 14-point margin over Daniel Dye. The 21-year-old driver won three times during the year (Talladega, Kansas, Michigan), handing his Rev Racing team its first touring-series championship since 2012. Sanchez also dipped his toe into the Xfinity Series waters last season, recording a best finish of seventh with Big Machine Racing at Martinsville. He’ll continue his relationship with Max and Jennifer Siegel’s Rev Racing team in 2023, but full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series. (Recap)

***

Sammy Smith celebrates his victory and ARCA Menards Series East title at Bristol Motor Speedway
Adam Fenwick | NASCAR Studios

ARCA MENARDS SERIES EAST

2022 champion: Sammy Smith

Season review: Smith notched his second consecutive championship in the East Series, winning five of the seven races for Kyle Busch Motorsports and outdistancing Taylor Gray by 41 points in the final standings. Smith also claimed the Sioux Chief Showdown title, finishing out his dominant run with a victory under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway. The 18-year-old driver plans to move to the Xfinity Series for a full schedule in Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Toyota next year. In 2022, Smith ran a nine-race schedule for JGR in Xfinity competition, recording a best finish of third place at Watkins Glen in August. (Recap)

***

Jake Drew celebrates a victory at Portland International Raceway
Brian Hayes | ARCA Racing

ARCA MENARDS SERIES WEST

2022 champion: Jake Drew

Season review: Drew overcame the heartbreak of the 2021 West campaign, rushing to his first title on the strength of consistency and a four-win season. Drew had lost the previous year’s West championship with a last-lap twist in the Phoenix finale that handed the crown to Jesse Love. The 2022 margin was far more comfortable, and Drew needed only to start the final race to clinch the title. The driver of Bob and Maureen Bruncati’s No. 6 Ford held a 53-point edge over runner-up Tanner Reif in the final standings. His season was highlighted by a three-race win streak as the calendar turned to the summer months, with victories on Portland and Sonoma’s road circuits and the Irwindale short track. (Recap)

***

Jon McKennedy, left, driver of the No. 79 Middlesex Interiors Modified, celebrates after winning the 2022 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2022.
Veasey Conway | NASCAR

WHELEN MODIFIED TOUR

2022 champion: Jon McKennedy

Season review: McKennedy avoided potential disaster in a late-race crash in the Martinsville Speedway finale, holding on for his first Modified Tour championship in just his second year of full-time competition. McKennedy had come close before, finishing second overall in a 2020 season truncated by the COVID-19 outbreak. But his 2022 campaign was marked by a series-leading 13 top-10 finishes in 16 races, highlighted by a victory at Claremont (N.H.) Motorsports Park. The 35-year-old Massachusetts native drove the No. 79 for car owners Tim and Sheryl Lepine. Tommy Baldwin Racing claimed the team owners’ championship. (Recap)

***

Layne Riggs with the trophy beside his No. 99 racer at South Boston Speedway
Joe Chandler | South Boston Speedway

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS WEEKLY SERIES

2022 champion: Layne Riggs

Season review: At 20 years old, Riggs became the youngest winner of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national championship. The second-generation Late Model Stock driver edged the previous year’s champ, Peyton Sellers, by just four points to lock up his first national crown. Riggs clinched by netting 16 wins in 43 starts across five tracks in North Carolina and Virginia, a performance that included a track championship at South Boston (Va.) Speedway. Riggs — the son of former Cup Series driver Scott Riggs — is a full-time student at UNC Charlotte. He also made three Truck Series starts last season, logging a best result of seventh in his debut at Clermont, Ind. (Recap)

***

Marc-Antoine Camirand hugs crew chief, Robin McCluskey, after winning the WeatherTech 200 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Matthew Manor | NASCAR

PINTY’S SERIES

2022 champion: Marc-Antoine Camirand

Season review: Camirand iced his first Pinty’s Series championship by a convincing margin, outpacing Kevin Lacroix by 27 points to cap off a three-win season. The 43-year-old Quebec native registered a series-best 11 top-10 finishes in 13 races, prevailing at Eastbound Speedway, Edmonton International Raceway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Camirand also topped the Canada-based series with 803 laps led and an average finish of 5.6 for the newly formed Paillé Racing Team. (Recap)

***

Alon Day celebrates another Euro Series championship
Klemen Sofric | Whelen Euro Series

WHELEN EURO SERIES

2022 champion: Alon Day

Season review: The Israeli driver marched into history with his fourth Whelen Euro Series championship, securing a third-place finish in the finale to best Alexander Graff by 20 points. Day led the series with five victories and nine top-10 results in the 2022 season’s 12 rounds. The driver of the PK Carsport No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro also hoisted the Euro Series trophy in 2017, 2018 and 2020, and he has posted multiple victories in each season since joining the circuit in 2015. (Recap)

***

Ruben Garcia Jr. celebrates his 2022 Mexico Series title
NASCAR Mexico Series

MEXICO SERIES

2022 champion: Rubén García Jr.

Season review: García landed his record fourth Mexico Series championship in the No. 88 Toyota, winning four times during the season to clinch the year-ending award. The 27-year-old driver won three times in the first six races of the year, including back-to-back triumphs at Querétaro and Chihuahua to establish himself as a title contender. The former Rookie of the Year (2012) also won the Mexico Series championship in 2015, 2018 and 2019.  (Recap)

***

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Kirwan flank the championship trophy award to Kirwan for winning the eNASCAR iRacing championship.
James Thomas | NASCAR Studios

eNASCAR COCA-COLA iRACING SERIES

2022 champion: Casey Kirwan

Season review: Under the spotlight of a live season finale for the first time at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Kirwan raced to a second-place finish to secure the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series title by one point over Bobby Zalenski. The XSET team driver was presented with the inaugural Dale Earnhardt Jr. Trophy from its namesake and pocketed a $100,000 payday in his first playoff appearance. Kirwan ended the season with one win (Pocono, July 19) and a series-best 12 top-10 finishes. Stewart-Haas eSports, led by Steven Wilson’s series-leading four wins, finished first in the overall team standings. (Recap)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – (Dec. 21, 2022) – NASCAR is turning the 2023 Rose Parade presented by Honda into a royal processional fit for “The King.”

The sanctioning body announced today that Richard Petty will ride atop its historic float “Always Forward” that celebrates NASCAR’s 75th anniversary and the upcoming Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. The parade, which will be held on Monday, Jan. 2., is part of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses which also features the famed Rose Bowl Game.

MORE: Buy your tickets to the Clash now!

“Nobody embodies the rich history of our sport more than Richard Petty,” said NASCAR Vice President of Marketing Services Patrick Rogers. “He’s not only ‘The King,’ but an icon recognized around the world as one of the greatest athletes of all time. It’s an incredible honor to have him represent NASCAR on our float, and I know our fans in California will love this opportunity to hail NASCAR royalty in person.”

Petty’s coronation as NASCAR’s “King” was a byproduct of the hard work and skill he showcased during a remarkable 35-year career. His record 200 NASCAR Cup Series wins is considered one of the most untouchable records in all of sports. Petty was also the first driver to win seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, and he holds NASCAR records for most poles (123), most wins in a season (27), most Daytona 500 wins (seven), most consecutive wins (10) and most starts (1,185). He was enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class in 2010, and he currently serves as Chairman of Petty GMS Racing.

Yet Petty cemented his status as a cultural icon by becoming one of sport’s most accessible and likable athletes. Rarely seen without his trademark cowboy hat and sunglasses, Petty still greets fans at the race track with the same warm smile he displayed during his driving career.

The float that will carry “The King” on Jan. 2 features his iconic No. 43 race car, along with the No. 3 made popular by Dale Earnhardt and the No. 24 driven by Jeff Gordon. With the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’s Peristyle and Olympic cauldron serving as a breathtaking backdrop, the cars race around a track surrounded by checkered flags, ribbons, palm trees and more. Designed and constructed by Artistic Entertainment Services (AES), the float is 25 feet tall, 55 feet long and headed by NASCAR’s 75th Anniversary diamond logo.

RELATED: More on float

The annual Rose Parade celebrates 134 years of success with its upcoming celebration on Jan. 2, led by the volunteer-driven, non-profit Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association. In addition to participating in the 2023 parade, NASCAR will also be providing the Association’s 935 volunteers with a special Busch Light Clash and Auto Club Speedway ticket offer, in recognition of their dedication to America’s New Year Celebration.

The Busch Light Clash at the LA Coliseum will be held on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023, as a part of the destination’s “Coliseum Forever” celebration to honor the historic stadium’s centennial anniversary and will air live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET. After an action-packed 2022 season, the 2023 NASCAR season-opener is bound to be another thrilling event in a momentous year.

For more information about the Busch Light Clash and details on ticket pricing, please visit nascarclash.com.

Editor’s note: This continues the series of season reviews for select 2022 NASCAR Cup Series drivers.

See more: Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, Kevin Harvick, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon, Daniel Suárez, Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe

Driver: Ryan Blaney
Car: No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang
Crew chief: Jonathan Hassler
Final 2022 ranking: Eighth
Key stats: 0 wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s, 3 poles, 636 laps led

How 2022 ended: Blaney charged through the NASCAR Playoffs as the only driver in the postseason without a win. Strong performances, particularly in the Round of 12, propelled the No. 12 team into the penultimate Round of 8, but mistakes at Las Vegas and Homestead-Miami thwarted his chances of advancing to the Championship 4. Blaney went out fighting, though, storming to a runner-up finish in the season finale at Phoenix after leading 109 laps to nab his fourth top-five finish in the final seven races of 2022.

Best race: Talladega playoff race. No, Blaney didn’t lead the most laps this day, but the stout superspeedway racer placed himself in position to capitalize once again at the 2.66-mile tri-oval. Blaney led 31 laps, claimed the Stage 1 victory and declared himself a threat to win. At the checkered flag, the No. 12 Ford fell just 0.046 seconds short of the victory, edged by Chase Elliott for the Talladega triumph.

RELATED: Chase Elliott wins at Talladega, advances to Round of 8 in playoffs

Other season highlights: While it didn’t count for points or a guaranteed playoff berth, Ryan Blaney did visit Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway in May, taking home the $1 million prize for winning the exhibition NASCAR All-Star Race at the 1.5-mile oval. Blaney also impressed at one of his worst tracks, Richmond Raceway, where he led 128 laps, won the pole and Stage 1 and finished seventh on April 3. His spring race at Phoenix was productive as well, leading a race- and season-best 143 laps en route to a fourth-place finish after starting from the pole.

Stat to know: Nine stage wins. Twelve top fives are Blaney’s career high, improving after three consecutive seasons with 11 such finishes. But the goose egg sitting in the wins column marked his first winless year since his rookie season in 2016, even though he led the series in stage victories. His average finish, meanwhile, remained consistent with prior years at 13.6 – a drop from 11.9 in 2021 but a slight improvement from 13.8 in 2020 and 13.7 in 2019.

Quotable: “As much as I trust Chase, I don’t trust him enough for him not to take me three-wide and leave me in the middle, so I chose to stay down in front of (fellow Ford driver) Michael (McDowell). He was awesome at pushing me on the last restart and giving me great shots. Just a little bit too late.” – Blaney after finishing second to Chase Elliott at Talladega.

RELATED: Ryan Blaney through the years | All of Blaney’s Cup wins

Looking ahead: Blaney proved he and first-year crew chief Jonathan Hassler are plenty capable of extracting speed from the Next Gen car given their resources at Team Penske, where teammate Joey Logano took home the championship. But going winless one year after collecting a career-high three victories in 2021 left plenty to be desired for the No. 12 team, even if they did advance to the Round of 8 this season. The ultimate point of emphasis for Blaney and Co. should center around closing races, particularly after scoring more stage wins than anybody in 2022.

Editor’s note: This continues the series of season reviews for select 2022 NASCAR Cup Series drivers.

See more: Bubba WallaceErik JonesMartin Truex Jr.Alex BowmanKevin HarvickTyler ReddickKyle BuschAustin CindricAustin DillonChris Buescher, Daniel Suárez

Driver: Chase Briscoe
Car: No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang
Crew chief: Johnny Klausmeier
Final 2022 ranking: 9th
Key stats: 1 win, 6 top fives, 10 top 10s, 1 pole, 280 laps led

How 2022 ended: While the “upset” fable might be overused, it described Briscoe’s 2022 playoff campaign quite handily, considering he was able to claw his way through the Round of 16 (+14) and Round of 12 (+2), outlasting the likes of Tyler Reddick and 2021 Cup champ Kyle Larson, to name a pair. And while the 28-year-old eventually succumbed to elimination in the Round of 8, 2022 certainly marked an improvement over 2021, where he only compiled three top-10 finishes as a full-time rookie. In other words, do not let Briscoe’s finish in the standings fool you. It might seem low, considering he was a playoff driver, but make no mistake – Briscoe’s sophomore season at the Cup level was just what the doctor ordered for the No. 14 team.

Best race: Phoenix spring race. Given it was Briscoe’s first Cup victory made enough sense to warrant this selection, but other factors made this pick an easy layup. For starters, the race was Briscoe’s only 2022 performance that saw him stay inside the top 15 for the race’s entirety. Leading a season-high and Cup career-high 101 laps only further highlighted Briscoe’s dominance during the spring performance in the desert. And in the end, the result netted him a win and a playoff berth. For that, it only made sense to tally this race at the top of the list. But then again, some savvy wheel-turning at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course to eventually sneak Briscoe into the Round of 8 wasn’t far behind, either.

RELATED: Briscoe becomes 200th winner in premier series history | Chase Briscoe catches ‘Hail Mary’ to reach Round of 8

Other season highlights: Scrappy, not flashy, can sometimes reap more benefits. One could immediately come to that conclusion when looking at Briscoe’s postseason stretch. While the No. 14 driver didn’t come away with a win during the 10-race campaign, he finished inside the top 15 in eight of those 10 races and inside the top 10 in six of those eight. And keep in mind, this was after Briscoe began postseason play with a 27th-place finish at Darlington to begin the Round of 16. If not for finishing 36th at Homestead-Miami in the Round of 8, it is possible Briscoe even finds a way into Championship 4 consideration, given he finished fourth and ninth during the two other Round of 8 races (Las Vegas and Martinsville, respectively). Talk about a what-if.

Stat to know: 13.2 average start. Briscoe started inside the top 10 in 13 different races and inside the top five in 11 of those 13, including a start on the pole at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in June. Briscoe only started inside the top 10 once in 2021 (Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course). Should Briscoe clean up his average finish just a pinch – which marked out at 17.3 in 2022 – the No. 14 team could take an even greater leap in positive production come 2023.

Quotable: “For me, it’s kind of been like that my whole career, you know? Nobody expected me to ever get to this point. Nobody expected I’d make it into the Truck Series. And, you know, we’ve just scratched and clawed and never gave up, and it’s kind of the same.” – Briscoe on embracing underdog role during NASCAR postseason

RELATED: Chase Briscoe embraces underdog role through NASCAR Playoffs

Looking ahead: Third time’s the charm, right? That is exactly what Briscoe and the No. 14 team will go with as 2023 looms large. A resurgent sophomore season following a disappointing rookie campaign was the first step toward positive production, and in the end, it helped find Briscoe deep in the championship hunt in 2022. With a touch more consistency from start to finish, Briscoe could very well take another jump forward. Perhaps having an “underdog” ideology helps, too.

Editor’s note: This continues the series of season reviews for select 2022 NASCAR Cup Series drivers.

See more: Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman, Kevin Harvick, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Austin Cindric, Austin DillonChris Buescher, Chase Briscoe

Driver: Daniel Suárez
Car: No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Crew chief: Travis Mack
Final 2022 ranking: 10th
Key stats: 1 win, 6 top fives, 13 top 10s, 280 laps led

How 2022 ended: Nearly advancing both cars to the Round of 8, power-steering issues for the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing entry at the Charlotte Roval spoiled Suárez’s optimistic afternoon. Sitting 12 points above the cutline with 47 laps remaining, the issue sparked and sent Suárez and company into panic mode as they navigated through the treacherous left-and-right-handed turns. Unfortunately, though Suárez put on an incredible performance to even make it to the checkered flag, the pace and positions lost ended with the No. 99 team on the outside looking in. In the season’s final four races, he ended with three top-16 finishes.

Best race: Sonoma Raceway. After flexing his raw speed at Circuit of The Americas, Suárez’s spin in the latter half of the race resulted in an unfortunate finish for the team. But as soon as the next road course hit the schedule, Suárez made amends with one of the most notable victories in NASCAR history. Suárez dominated the 2.52-mile California circuit, leading 47 laps and earning the first win of his Cup Series career — making him the first Mexican-born driver to win at the sport’s premier level.

MORE: Suárez’s victory is one for the history books | Photos from the celebration

Stat to know: Leading 280 laps this season, Suárez nearly matched his total in his previous five Cup Series seasons combined. Before 2022, he had only led 335 laps at the level and no more than 166 in a single season. His career-best 280 laps were split among 12 races in which he held the lead, pacing the field for 30 or more laps five times.

Quotable: “I’m extremely proud to be the driver from Mexico, the driver from a different background. I don’t feel that the sport could have found someone more committed to myself, my culture and my background.”

WATCH: Why did Suárez choose NASCAR?

Looking ahead: Amid the best season of his Cup Series career, team owner Justin Marks and Suárez signed a contract extension, keeping him in the No. 99 with Trackhouse Racing for the 2023 season. The new contract pushes him into his third season with the team, his longest stint at a single organization in his premier series career. Suárez should be not only a playoff contender but a serious threat to win multiple races next season after his strong showings at multiple types of tracks in 2022.

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: How to find USA Network | How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App | Watch on USA Network | Get the NBC Sports App | Watch on Peacock | FloRacing | How to watch NASCAR International

Monday, Dec. 19
7 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: 75 Years of Racing (re-air), FS2
8 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive at Richmond (re-air), FS2
8:30 a.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR Xfinity Series 1998 Autolite Platinum 250 at Richmond Raceway (re-air), FS2
11 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS2
6 p.m., AFT Springfield I Race (re-air), FS2
7 p.m., AFT Cedar Lake Short Track Race (re-air), FS2
8 p.m., AFT Volusia Finale I Race (re-air), FS2
9 p.m., AFT Volusia Finale II Race (re-air), FS2

Tuesday, Dec. 20
12 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive at Charlotte (re-air), FS2
1 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive at Richmond (re-air), FS2
2 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive at Talladega (re-air), FS2
3 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Best of Radioactive at Bristol (re-air), FS2

Thursday, Dec. 22
12 p.m., ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Speedway (re-air), MAVTV
2 p.m., ARCA Menards Series race at Phoenix Raceway (re-air), MAVTV
4 p.m., ARCA Menards Series race at Iowa Speedway (re-air), MAVTV
6 p.m., ARCA Menards Series race at Berlin Speedway (re-air), MAVTV
8 p.m., ARCA Menards Series race at Elko Speedway (re-air), MAVTV
10 p.m., ARCA Menards Series race at Michigan International Speedway (re-air), MAVTV

Friday, Dec. 23
6 p.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR Cup Series 2007 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS2
9 p.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR Cup Series 2009 Aaron’s 499 (re-air), FS2

Sunday, Dec. 25
12 a.m., ARCA Menards Series race at Springfield Raceway (re-air), MAVTV
1 p.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR Cup Series 1994 Brickyard 400 (re-air), FS1
4 p.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR Cup Series 2004 Subway 400 at Rockingham Speedway (re-air), FS1
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: 75 Years of Racing (re-air), FS1
8 p.m., NASCAR Presents: Beyond the Wheel, FS1
9 p.m., Greatest Races: NASCAR Cup Series 2005 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and JTG Daugherty Racing unveiled their newest Daytona 500 paint scheme Friday morning, drumming up anticipation for NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season and 65th running of the “Great American Race.”

The organization highlighted its elevated partnership with Kimberly-Clark and the familiar Kroger brand associated with the race team over the years and unveiled the sleek new scheme at Great American Ball Park.

“Having a long-term partner and being able to showcase them in the biggest race of the year where they see the value is special,” said Stenhouse Jr. at the reveal. “It’s cool to have Cottonelle with us for the Daytona 500. Daytona doesn’t owe us one, but we’ve got unfinished business there. Also, Mike Kelley has stepped into a crew chief role to lead the team. We have a long history, and we have won races and championships together. We are ready to get the season started.”

RELATED: See full schedule for 2023 | Buy race tickets

Along with the season-opening Daytona 500, Kimberly-Clark also announced their sponsorship intentions for the remainder of the season, featuring notable brands like Scott, Viva Paper Towels and Kleenex.

“Kimberly-Clark is excited to kick off another season of racing with JTG Daugherty Racing and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. behind the wheel,” said Elizabeth Metz, North American Vice President of Cottonelle and Scott. “Cottonelle is honored to be featured on the No. 47 Kroger Camaro for one of the most important races of the year, and we wish Ricky the best of luck this season!”

Stenhouse led 77 laps during the 2022 season and posted one top-five finish and five top 10s (his highest total since the 2018 season), marking a much-improved Next Gen debut for the single-car operation. He enters his 11th full-time season in the Cup Series and has one win at Daytona, coming during the 2017 Coke Zero 400 while driving for RFK Racing (previously Roush Fenway Racing).

The 2023 Cup Series season kicks off with the second-ever Busch Light Clash at the LA Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

While you are counting down the days to the season-opening Busch Light Clash at the LA Coliseum, check out some of the Silly Season movement and see if you can predict the outcomes for the 2023 season. Guess correctly and you can rack up points that enter your name in for exclusive prizes and at-track benefits. Take a look below.

RELATED: Catch up on all the Silly Season news | Buy tickets for Busch Light Clash