NASCAR: The yearly trend that has come to an end

Stewart-Haas Racing are set to compete in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season with the same four drivers who competed for them in 2021.

After an offseason of roughly three months, NASCAR Cup Series action returned two weekends ago for the Busch Light Clash, the annual preseason exhibition race. For the first time ever, this race took place at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

All drivers had the opportunity to qualify for this main event around the four-turn, 0.250-mile (0.402-kilometer), but only 23 did so.

Among the drivers who competed in the race were Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe and Cole Custer. Their teammate, Aric Almirola, attempted to do so but didn’t make the cut as a result of a wreck in the last-chance qualifier.

But with those four drivers on the entry list, a recent yearly Cup Series trend has come to an end.

Prior to this year, Stewart-Haas Racing had changed exactly one of their four drivers from one year to the next for five years in a row.

Take a look at the moves they had made going back to 2016.

• 2016 to 2017: Clint Bowyer replaced Tony Stewart behind the wheel of the #14 Chevrolet-turned-Ford; Stewart, the team co-owner, retired.
• 2017 to 2018: Aric Almirola replaced Danica Patrick, who retired, behind the wheel of the #10 Ford
• 2018 to 2019: Daniel Suarez replaced Kurt Busch, who moved to Chip Ganassi Racing, behind the wheel of the #41 Ford.
• 2019 to 2020: Cole Custer replaced Daniel Suarez, who moved to Gaunt Brothers Racing, behind the wheel of the #41 Ford.
• 2020 to 2021: Chase Briscoe replaced Clint Bowyer, who retired, behind the wheel of the #14 Ford.

But for 2022, no changes were made.

This marks the first time that this can be said since between the 2015 and 2016 seasons, when Kevin Harvick continued driving the #4 Chevrolet, Danica Patrick continued driving the #10 Chevrolet, Tony Stewart continued driving the #14 Chevrolet and Kurt Busch continued driving the #41 Chevrolet.

This was a trend that Stewart admitted he was looking forward to ending, even before it was confirmed that no changes would be made.

“We’ve had a history of having long-term relationships,” Stewart stated when asked by Beyond the Flag about the fact that the last five years had seen driver changes.

“We’re happy with our lineup. We’re happy with our guys. We feel like they’ve all contributed and worked really well together to try to find solutions [amid a tough 2021 season]. This is the lineup I want for next season.”

Given the fact that the 2022 season is set to see the introduction of the Next Gen car, this continuity could be key now more than ever.

The 2022 season is officially scheduled to begin this Sunday, February 20 with the 64th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. This race is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. Don’t miss your chance to start your free trial of FuboTV today!