NASCAR: Four drivers have already signed new deals

NASCAR Cup Series silly season is heating up, and four drivers have already officially signed new deals for the 2023 season.

Despite all of the interesting headlines that have emerged during NASCAR Cup Series silly season so far in 2022, there really hasn’t been that much chaos in terms of actual confirmations.

Just four drivers have signed new deals since the year started, and all four of those drivers have re-signed with their current teams.

Those four drivers are Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott and William Byron, JTG Daugherty Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr.

Just before the season started, Elliott signed a five-year extension with Rick Hendrick’s team to continue driving the #9 Chevrolet through the 2027 season.

A few months later, Byron, who also entered the year without a deal in place for 2023, signed a three-year extension to continue driving the #24 Chevrolet through the 2025 season.

Then last week, Stenhouse and Truex both agreed to return to their respective teams in 2023.

Stenhouse signed a multi-year extension to continue driving the #47 Chevrolet for JTG Daugherty Racing, formally ending the rumor that the team may sell their charter and shut down.

Shortly after the Stenhouse news was announced, Truex, who many had believed would call it quits after the 2022 season, confirmed that he is set to return for another season at Joe Gibbs Racing behind the wheel of the #19 Toyota after all.

There are several other seats still open for 2022, and thus many more announcements to come. In fact, there are some “borderline” confirmations that have already been made but not formally announced, such as Daniel Suarez returning for another year at Trackhouse Racing Team behind the wheel of the #99 Chevrolet.

As for actual driver changes, there hasn’t been that much activity. The lone confirmed driver change for next year is at Stewart-Haas Racing, and even that one change hasn’t been completely solidified.

We have known since before the season started that Aric Almirola, who is in his fifth season behind the wheel of the #10 Ford, plans to retire at the end of the year, but a replacement isn’t expected to be named for another few months.