NASCAR: The only confirmed driver change for 2022 so far

There has only been one driver change confirmed for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season thus far as contract talks begin to heat up around the series.

As we approach the one-third mark of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season and the halfway mark of the regular season, we will surely be hearing a lot more about driver contracts, specifically those due to expire when the season concludes in early November.

There are quite a few drivers among the sport’s top teams who do not currently have deals in place to return for the 2022 season.

Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing each have a pending free agent in their driver lineup with Alex Bowman, Brad Keselowski and Aric Almirola, respectively; Joe Gibbs Racing only solidified their 2022 lineup by re-signing Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. just before the start of the 2021 season.

However, beyond those contract extensions, there is one driver change that has already been confirmed for next year.

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This change was actually confirmed for the 2022 season even before the 2020 season ended, and it is a move that is affiliated with Team Penske.

Reigning Xfinity Series champion Austin Cindric is set to replace Matt DiBenedetto and become the rookie driver of the #21 Ford at Wood Brothers Racing next year. This was confirmed back in October, and it actually almost happened for this year. With Team Penske and Wood Brothers Racing having a technical alliance, the latter needed the former’s approval on their driver selection for the #21 Ford for 2021.

Thanks to several solid outings in the 2020 playoffs, DiBenedetto was able to change Team Penske’s mind and delay Cindric’s arrival for another year, despite initial plans to promote him in 2021.

This, of course, was before Cindric went on to win the 2020 championship, so he is just the third reigning Xfinity Series champion to return to the series since 2013. Through nine races so far this season, he leads the series in the point standings and has two victories, which is tied for the series lead.

But this delay came with the announcement that Cindric would be guaranteed the seat behind the wheel of the #21 Ford in 2022, effectively making the 2021 season a year for DiBenedetto to audition for whichever other team or teams want to sign him for next year. Regardless of his 2021 performance, he won’t be back with his current team in 2022.

Other than this, there haven’t been any actual changes announced for next year’s driver lineup; just contract extensions with current teams. But with silly season beginning to heat up, don’t be surprised when we see another one or more.