NASCAR: 5 most disappointing Cup drivers of 2022
By Asher Fair
Most disappointing NASCAR drivers in 2022: No. 3 – Ty Dillon
Ty Dillon is back in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2022 after missing the 2021 season, driving the #42 Chevrolet for Petty GMS Motorsports. He had competed for Germain Racing from 2017 to 2020, but they shut down after the 2020 season and sold their charter to the new 23XI Racing team, which opted to put Bubba Wallace behind the wheel of their #23 Toyota in 2021.
Dillon’s first year back at the sport’s top level hasn’t gone well, and his struggles have been further complicated by the fact that, for the first time ever, he has a full-time teammate in Erik Jones.
Erik Jones joined Richard Petty Motorsports as Wallace’s replacement last year, and he stayed with the team in 2022 following their partnership with GMS Racing to become Petty GMS Motorsports.
While Jones has had success, finishing as high as third place and establishing himself as a threat to win multiple races and potentially qualify for the playoffs on points, Dillon simply hasn’t.
Dillon has just one top 10 finish, a 10th place finish in the dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway, and he sits eight positions — and more than 100 points — behind Jones in the point standings.
The season started with promise for Dillon, who finished outside of the top 20 just once in the first six races. But in the 12 races that have been contested since then, he has just five top 20 finishes. Will he even be able to keep his seat for next year?