NASCAR powerhouse still missing one key driver from 2022 lineup

Ty Gibbs has long been expected to join his grandfather’s team full-time for the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, but that still hasn’t been confirmed.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver lineup for the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season is going to look at lot different than it did in 2021. But so far, there is only one driver confirmation.

Brandon Jones is set to return for a fifth season behind the wheel of the #19 Toyota, but he is the only driver currently locked in for 2022.

Daniel Hemric, after a championship-winning season behind the wheel of the #18 Toyota, is set to replace the Cup Series-bound Justin Haley at Kaulig Racing behind the wheel of the #11 Chevrolet.

Harrison Burton, after spending the last two seasons behind the wheel of the #20 Toyota, is set to move to the Cup Series to replace Matt DiBenedetto at Wood Brothers Racing behind the wheel of the #21 Ford.

Joe Gibbs Racing have also announced that they will be downsizing from four cars to three for the 2022 season, though they plan to retain the “star car” alongside two cars for full-time competitors.

But even the “star car” will look a bit different, with Kyle Busch having retired from Xfinity Series competition and the car’s primary driver from 2021 presumably set to fulfill a different role in 2022.

That primary driver, Joe Gibbs’s grandson Ty, has long been expected to take the step up and become a full-time driver in 2022.

However, confirmation has still not been made, despite the fact that the season is scheduled to get underway two weeks from today, as well as the fact that he has had sponsorship lined up for a number of races since October.

As a rookie part-time driver, Gibbs took the Xfinity Series by storm in 2021, winning four races, including his first career start, and finishing as the highest non-playoff driver in the standings in 13th place, despite the fact that he only competed in 18 of the 33 races on the schedule. Had he been playoff eligible, he would have been a championship contender.

The 19-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native was busy competing full-time in the ARCA Menards Series throughout 2021. He secured the series championship with 10 wins and nine other top four finishes in 20 starts.

In four ARCA Menards Series East starts, he went four for four. In two ARCA Menards Series West starts, he went two for two.

There is absolutely no doubt that he is ready to compete full-time at NASCAR’s second highest level, even without any Truck Series starts to his name. Joe Gibbs Racing’s three full-time drivers combined for one win in 99 starts last year, and Gibbs quadrupled that win total in less than one-fifth the amount of starts.

In fact, Gibbs is on hand at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this weekend for the Busch Light Clash Cup Series exhibition race, presumably for Joe Gibbs Racing and the Joe Gibbs Racing-affiliated 23XI Racing team if they need a backup driver.

But this late in the game, should there be any concern that there has not been a formal confirmation of Gibbs joining Jones as a full-time driver for his grandfather’s Xfinity Series program?

The 2022 NASCAR Xfintiy Series season is scheduled to get underway on Saturday, February 19 with the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300, which is set to be broadcast live from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1.