NASCAR’s new pairs ranking of drivers for the 2023 season

I am right here to get you match-ready on Sunday at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. You want a primer for whoever has new numbers for 2023 when the inexperienced flag drops (5 p.m. EST; 8 p.m. EST, MAIN EVENT, FOX). Or that you must talk about with your mates who made the very best low season transfer.

So with out additional ado, listed here are my rankings for the 2023 modifications. They are going to be in two elements. The primary is the drivers with new groups. The second is the drivers who stayed with their crew however modified crew chiefs.

Drivers within the new groups:

1. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing No. 45

Riddick gained three races final yr at Richard Childress Racing and joined a crew led by Billy Scott, an unknown crew chief who has labored with each veterans (Kurt Busch) and drivers who’ve discovered inventory automobiles (Danica Patrick). Scott gained a race final yr with Bosch, and has performed a job within the improvement of the next-generation automobile. Reddick is able to thrive as he joins a assured crew and a crew whose season was turned the other way up when Bosh suffered a concussion.

2. Kyle Bush – Richard Childress Racing No. 8

Busch is changing Reddick at RCR and can little doubt be in comparison with Reddick, as Reddick heads to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Toyota crew, which let Busch stroll away as contract negotiations hit a lifeless finish final summer time. Busch joins the crew that gained three races amid final yr’s turmoil and a crew that comes into its personal with Randall Burnett as crew chief. The massive query is whether or not RCR could be a elegant group and problem for victories and championships. Busch would play a serious function in making this occur, and neither Busch nor Childress are recognized for his or her endurance.

3. AJ Alminder – Kaulig Racing No. 16

That is kind of a “new” duo since Allmendinger drove in 18 Cup races final yr for Faculty. His 5 finest appearances and eight high 10 finishes present he can carry out at cup stage. Along with his power on street programs and his enchancment on the ovals, Allmendinger will doubtless have a breakout Cup season 5 years after leaving JTG Daugherty Racing with no clear path to driving for the Cup once more. Every part is in place for this crew to have a strong season, contemplating Allmendinger is already used to working with the crew led by crew chief Matt Swiderski.

4. Ty Gibbs – Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54

Rookie Gibbs, grandson of crew proprietor Joe Gibbs, changed Kyle Busch within the No. 18 automobile. He is actually Cup prepared, or as prepared as any driver – at the least from a expertise standpoint. His questionable selections at occasions final yr can have folks questioning if he can deal with the pains of a cup schedule. It will be unfair to foretell Kyle Busch’s numbers in Season 1. The truth is, he can be, which means Kyle Busch was twentieth in factors as a starter. Gibbs has been within the high 10 of the 15 beginning gamers to interchange the injured Kurt Busch final yr at 23XI. Good factor for Gibbs – he has crew chief Chris Gayle, who has Cup expertise, going with him from the Xfinity Collection to the Cup.

5. Ryan Preece Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41

Preece replaces Cole Custer within the SHR Cup lineup and has a crew chief – Chad Johnston – that he and the crew have been conversant in as Johnston was the crew chief for Preece’s profitable vehicles the final two years and he was a former crew chief for Tony Stewart at SHR. Press Bryce to carry out. However this group might have slightly time to kick in, and SHR has struggled. If the modifications to Ford’s nostril assist the crew’s competitiveness, it might be key to seeing if I received it incorrect and Preece ought to have been ranked increased.

6. Noah Gragson – Legacy Motor Membership No. 42

Gragson is shifting on from the JR Motorsports Xfinity program to interchange Ty Dillon at what was Petty GMS. He introduced in his Xfinity crew chief Luke Lambert, who has a number of years’ expertise main a Trophy crew. However that crew has struggled up to now yr and is now in one other transitional section with the arrival of Jimmy Johnson as co-owner. Johnson’s presence and management might help enhance a crew – however not essentially instantly. Gragson has had one of many high 10 finishes in his 18 Cup begins final yr driving choose races for Hendrick Motorsports (as a alternative for the injured Alex Bowman), Coolig and Hen.

7. Ty Dillon – Spire Motorsports No. 77

Dillon solely managed one Prime 10 at Petty GMS final yr as he, the crew and the rookie crew chief did not click on. 9 races wherein he did not end undoubtedly did not assist issues. The hope is that his begin within the 2020 Cup will assist Spire. There’s an opportunity for that, however for Dillon to get a mean end inside the highest 20 there are going to be questions.

not accessible. Jimmy Johnson – Legacy Motor Membership No. 84

Effectively, it is in all probability only a five-race deal however we won’t rule out the seven-time champ returning to the Cup Collection with a small possession stake however an enormous management function in what was as soon as Petty GMS and now the Legacy Motor Membership. He is received former champion Joey Logano’s crew chief Todd Gordon making the choices. So simply how good will it’s? I’ll decrease expectations. That is nonetheless a younger group. Selecting the highest 10 gamers can be begin.

Identical driver and new crew chief:

1. Alex Bowman – Blake Harris

Bowman is probably the most profitable driver on this record and drives for the very best crew (Hendrick) on this record. Harris, who changed Greg Ives, comes after a profitable one-year stint as crew chief for Michael McDowell and several other years at JGR and Furnishings Row. The important thing on this relationship is trusting that they’re doing the best factor and in one another as nicely.

2. Austin Dillon – Keith Rhoden

Rhoden’s appointment as Dillon’s crew chief as Justin Alexander’s alternative was a little bit of a shock however might be an important transfer. Rodden has expertise as a crew chief working for a number of organizations (he was crew chief for Kasey Kahne and Jamie McMurray) and most just lately labored for Chevrolet. He is aware of the best way to deal with drivers and is aware of the best way to work underneath strain, which is actually the case if you’re the crew chief for the grandson of a crew proprietor.

3. Michael McDowell Travis Peterson

McDowell clearly did not need to lose Harris, and they’re going to now go together with engineer Peterson, who was most just lately at RFK Racing and previously at JR Motorsports and Hendrick. Their success will depend upon whether or not Peterson can implement modifications to enhance the automobile primarily based on McDowell’s suggestions and whether or not he can take the calculated dangers in racing technique that’s typically required for a corporation that doesn’t have the funding for bigger groups.

4. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Mike Kelly

Kelly was already working for JTG Daugherty Racing in a contest advisor function, and now he’ll take over as Stenhouse’s crew chief. The duo had magic within the Xfinity Collection a decade in the past as Stenhouse gained back-to-back titles. They could not repeat that within the Roche Cup. What would possibly make this example even higher is that Stenhouse is the one driver for JTG, to allow them to tailor the automobile particularly to his needs and wishes.

5. Todd Gilliland – Ryan Bergenty

Bergenty has been McDowell’s chief of employees for the previous three years and now takes over as Gilliland’s crew chief, changing Seth Barbour, who moved to the crew’s head coach. Gilliland has talked about how he must be higher at beginning a race weekend and discovering the tempo wanted in 20 minutes of observe – and Bergente will play a key function. However these items do not often flip round shortly.

6. Cody Ware – Jerry Kelly

Weir Kelly, the longtime chief of automobiles at Penske, will change into his crew chief beginning this yr. Ware has proven enchancment up to now yr, and if Kelley brings in some concepts from Penske that may be utilized to Rick Ware Racing automobiles, there’s an opportunity Ware will proceed to place up higher numbers.

Bob Pokeras covers NASCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time protecting motorsports, together with the previous 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene, and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobocrassand subscribe to FOX Sports activities NASCAR E-newsletter with Bob Pokras.

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