NASCAR: Next Gen timing could benefit one new team

Kaulig Racing are set to race full-time for the first time in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, and there is reason for optimism in their quest to trophy hunt.

Kaulig Racing team owner Matt Kaulig has not been shy that he wants to “trophy hunt” as a NASCAR team owner. The Lexington, North Carolina-based team have grown into a proven threat in the Xfinity Series with drivers such as Justin Haley and A.J. Allmendinger.

Kaulig Racing showed their regular season consistency when Allmendinger won the 2021 regular season championship over reigning series champion and Team Penske driver Austin Cindric, sealing the deal at Bristol Motor Speedway in a remarkable finish.

Their Cup Series endeavors have provided an early return on investment as well. Allmendinger made most of his journey back to the Cup Series, winning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course in August to deliver Kaulig Racing their first Cup Series win.

Kaulig Racing have already seen incredible success in their short history, and their future could lead to more.

The team’s 2022 Cup Series roster shows potential across the board. Promoting Haley from the Xfinity Series to drive the #31 Chevrolet full-time gives a young driver a huge opportunity in a year during which the equipment of each team may be as equal as it can be thanks to the introduction of the Gen 7 car.

Additionally, the #16 Chevrolet will serve as an opportunity for multiple drivers, young and old, while also providing stability for the team as a second chartered entry. This car is set to be driven by Allmendinger, Noah Gragson and 2021 Xfinity Series champion Daniel Hemric throughout the season.

While the races for each of these three drivers have yet to be announced, this lineup presents a great balance for the team to compete outside of the #31 car. Allmendinger has always been a proven road course ringer, and he has become a serious threat on 1.5-mile tracks and short tracks as well.

Hemric finally made his legacy move on the last turn of the 2021 Xfinity Series season to win not only his first race but the series championship. This momentum should propel the former Joe Gibbs Racing driver to success as he races for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series and Cup Series.

Gragson may be a wild card, having only one Cup Series attempt to his name: a DNQ effort at last year’s Daytona 500. But he saw improvements in his 2021 Xfinity Series season, and with a “take no prisoners” attitude combined with a “trophy hunting” attitude from the shot caller himself in Kaulig, the future could be now for Gragson and the rest of the roster at Kaulig Racing.