2022 Mid-Season Report

2022 Mid-Season Report

By Brian H Cotnoir

I haven't done this in four years, but now I'm ready to get back on the horse.   The NASCAR season is now halfway through, so let's take a look at how everyone is doing in NASCAR's Top 3 divisions.

CUP SERIES

Biggest Surprise

Trackhouse Racing

In just their second year of existence, Trackhouse Racing has greatly improved.  In addition to purchasing the assets for Chip Ganassi's NASCAR team and expanding to a two-car team, Trackhouse Racing has been this season's biggest surprise!  The team scored it's first win at COTA with Ross Chastain earlier this year and has a total of 3 wins already this season.  Last year Daniel Suarez finished 25th in points and had only one Top finish all year (a 4th place at the Bristol Dirt Race).  This year Suarez has four Top 5 finishes and when he scored his first win at Sonoma, he locked himself into the Playoffs.   The only thing more surprising than Suarez's rebound is that of his teammate, Ross Chastain.

Most Improved

Ross Chastain

I had entirely written Ross Chastain off as a NASCAR Cup Series Bust, but the Watermelon Man is on fire this season.   Chastain scored his and Trackhouse's first Cup Win at COTA and a month later he scored his second career Cup win at Talladega.  He also has scored runner-up finishes at Phoenix and Atlanta.   He's even won a Truck Race at Charlotte for his former team, Niece Motorsports.  No doubt in my mind that come playoff time Ross Chastain is going to be one of the favorites to watch.

Needs Improvement

Goodyear Tires

I do not like the single lug nut Cup Series tires.   The amount of tire failures and drivers losing tires this season in the Cup Series has been alarming; it's a major safety concern and I wish NASCAR and Goodyear would go back to the old five lug tires used in all other racing series.

XFINITY SERIES

Biggest Surprise

SS Greenlight wins

At Auto Club Speedway this year, Cole Custer helped SS-Greenlight Racing score its first win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.   It was a popular win and for team Co-Owner, Bobby Dotter it was his first trip to Victory Lane in the Xfinity Series since 1992 (though technically, he didn't get to Victory Lane because he wasn't declared winner until after Jeff Burton was disqualified). 

Most Improved

Josh Berry

JR Motorsports is having another wonderful season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but I have to say Josh Berry in his first full-time season with the team has been fantastic!  He's already matched his win total from last year and is looking to be one of the frontrunners for this year's playoffs.  

Needs Improvement

Sheldon Creed

Sheldon Creed has had an abysmal Rookie Season in the Xfinity Season this year.  Creed's fellow Rookie teammate at RCR, Austin Hill, has already won one race at Daytona and has had two runner-up finishes.   Creed needs to turn around his season if he hopes to make the Xfinity Series playoffs this year, hopefully he can recapture the magic he had in the Truck Series where he was the 2020 Champion.  

TRUCK SERIES

Biggest Surprise 

Ty Majeski

Ty Majeski is having a fantastic season at ThorSport Racing.   He has finished in the Top 5 in 50% of the races this season in the NASCAR Truck Series this year.   That first win is just around the corner, and Majeski could be a Dark Horse come the Playoffs!

Most Improved

Zane Smith

Despite finishing 2nd in the Truck Series the past two seasons, Zane Smith has shown a lot of improvement in 2022.  He's already won a career high 3 races this season and has only finished outside the Top 10 twice in 2022.   Smith has been on a roll with his new team, Front Row Motorsports, and hopefully he continues that run into the playoffs.

Needs Improvement

John Hunter Nemechek

Nemechek squandered an easy championship last year in the NASCAR Truck Series, and this year he isn't looking very promising.  In the first three races of the 2022 Truck Season, he had an average finish of 24th place.   He has one win on the season so far, but for a KBM driver he should be running away with the championship this year.  His teammate Corey Heim has two wins this season, and he's only running part-time.   I certainly hope he can have more success come playoff time.


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