NASCAR: The 8 drivers in new rides for the 2022 season

Eight of the full-time drivers competing in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season are in rides which they were not in last year.

A quarter of the 32 full-time drivers confirmed for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, the first season with the new Gen 7 car, are in new rides.

Of the eight drivers set to compete in rides they did not have last year, only three actually competed full-time in the Cup Series last year. Three competed full-time in the Xfinity Series, one competed full-time in the Truck Series, and one was simply not a full-time NASCAR driver in 2021.

Interestingly, three of the five drivers who were not full-time Cup Series drivers last years are set to stay with the same organizations they drove for last year — just at a higher level.

Let’s take a look at the eight drivers in new rides for 2022.

1. Ross Chastain to Trackhouse Racing Team

Trackhouse Racing Team acquired Chip Ganassi Racing, and with that came the team’s two charters — and one of their drivers. Ross Chastain, who drove the #42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi’s team, is set to join the Justin Marks and Pitbull-owned team as the driver of the #1 Chevrolet.

2. Austin Cindric to Team Penske

Austin Cindric is set to stay in-house at Team Penske, but as the full-time driver of the #2 Ford vacated by Brad Keselowski. Cindric, who competed full-time for Roger Penske’s Xfinity Series team, did compete part-time in the Cup Series last year as the driver of the #33 Ford.

3. Brad Keselowski to RFK Racing

As for Keselowski, he opted to turn the page after 12 seasons with Team Penske, joining Roush Fenway Racing as the replacement for Ryan Newman behind the wheel of the #6 Ford. He also became a part-owner of the team along with Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, and their name was changed to RFK Racing to reflect his arrival.

4. Harrison Burton to Wood Brothers Racing

In somewhat of a surprising move, Harrison Burton was selected to replace Matt DiBenedetto behind the wheel of the #21 Ford at Wood Brothers Racing after competing full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. DiBenedetto, who has since been signed by Rackley WAR in the Truck Series, had been slated to be replaced by Cindric, but even with Cindric moving straight to Team Penske, he was unable to retain his seat.

5. Justin Haley to Kaulig Racing

Justin Haley is set to compete full-time behind the wheel of the #31 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing. Haley had driven full-time for the Matt Kaulig-owned team in the Xfinity Series while competing part-time behind the wheel of the #77 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports in the Cup Series.

6. Todd Gilliland to Front Row Motorsports

The only change here is the fact that Todd Gilliland is in a new series. After competing full-time for Front Row Motorsports in the Truck Series, he was promoted to the team’s Cup Series operation to replace Anthony Alfredo behind the wheel of the #38 Ford.

7. Ty Dillon to Petty GMS Motorsports

Ty Dillon, who was not a full-time driver in any NASCAR series last year, made select appearances in the Cup Series and the Xfinity Series. But now he is back full-time. Following the merger between Richard Petty Motorsports and GMS Racing, the former Germain Racing driver is set to pilot the #42 Chevrolet in 2022. The charter for his entry had been a Richard Petty-owned charter that was used by Rick Ware Racing.

8. Kurt Busch to 23XI Racing

The “it” rumor of the 2021-2022 NASCAR Cup Series season was confirmed over the summer when it was announced that 23XI Racing would be hiring Kurt Busch to drive their second car, the #45 Toyota, in 2022. Despite initially hitting a roadblock, they found a charter for this new entry, purchasing one from the now defunct StarCom Racing team. Busch had driven the #1 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing.

These eight drivers are set to make their first official starts with their new teams in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 20. The 64th annual running of the “Great American Race” is set to be broadcast live from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Fox.