NASCAR: 3 drivers who are the future faces of the sport
By Randy Smith
The 2022 NASCAR season has seen 15 different winners and new faces in the spotlight. Here are three names to watch as future faces of the sport.
The Gen 7 car has proven to produce the parity NASCAR was searching for when the sport planned its return to stock. The 2022 Cup Series season has seen 15 drivers win at least one race thus far, creating a scenario that could result in the first regular season with more than 16 different winners.
Despite the equalizing factor of the Gen 7 car, a few drivers have stood out as drivers who can become key faces of the sport moving forward. Three in particular have represented their teams and respective manufacturers well.
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Manufacturers have been a key component in the sport’s history and have served as a sub-culture for teams and fans alike. “Win on Sunday, buy on Monday” has been an effective strategy for driver and manufacturer relationships throughout the years due to the importance of each OEM in NASCAR, on and off the track.
Additionally, manufacturers now have developmental programs for drivers in the lowered-tier series of stock car racing. There is Toyota Racing Development (TRD) for Toyota, Drivers Edge Development for Chevrolet, and Ford Performance for Ford.
With manufacturer representation a key component in the sport, here are three names to watch as future faces of not only the sport but of their respective manufacturer.
NASCAR faces to watch: No. 1 – Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott has been the Cup Series’ most popular driver since 2018, and he continues to be a popular name to watch on Sundays. The Dawsonville, Georgia native currently leads the Cup Series in wins this season with four and sits first in the point standings.
Driving for Hendrick Motorsports, the premier Chevrolet team in NASCAR, has created a pathway to success for Elliott that could expand beyond his 2020 championship season. This season alone, he has won at a wide range of tracks, including concrete ovals, an asphalt oval, and a superspeedway.
Additionally, some of Elliott’s best tracks, particularly road courses, are still left on the schedule. With road course races at Watkins Glen International and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval remaining, the 26-year-old could further add to his win total.
His success with Hendrick Motorsports makes him the most likely candidate as Chevrolet’s face in NASCAR going forward, and deservedly so.