NASCAR Xfinity Series losing top three drivers for 2023?

The NASCAR Xfinity Series has seen some of its best talents rise to the top in 2022, but the 2023 season could look very different.

As the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season winds down, attention is already turning over to 2023. Three of the Xfinity Series’ top talents — Noah Gragson, A.J. Allmendinger, and Ty Gibbs — have already secured a ride in or are suspected to join the Cup Series, vacating their seats in the series where names are made.

Gragson is moving to the #42 Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet, Allmendinger is taking over the #16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet full-time, and Gibbs is believed to be on his way to the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

The departure of these three drivers raises questions about what fans might see next year and who might be able to take advantage of their absence at the sport’s second highest level.

Fresh faces

With three star drivers and possibly more vacating seats in the series, it’s inevitable that new talent will come into the series to fill those rides. Chandler Smith, one of the favorites to win the 2022 Truck Series title, recently announced that he will join Kaulig Racing’s Xfinity Series program in 2023, replacing Allmendinger.

With select starts in the Xfinity Series in 2022, it’s possible that Sammy Smith and 2011 Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne could both run full-time next season with Joe Gibbs Racing.

John Hunter Nemechek, who currently competes for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series, has also made select Xfinity Series starts in 2022 and could make the jump into a full-time Xfinity Series ride as well.

New winners

In 2022, Gragson, Allmendinger, and Ty Gibbs have combined for 17 wins in 29 races, and with all three of them out of the series, that could be what some drivers need to get to victory lane.

Series veterans such as Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, and Josh Berry will surely find their way to victory lane. Others such as Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, and Landon Cassill could potentially break through to grab their first wins in the Xfinity Series in the absence of the 2022 season’s three dominant drivers.

Other drivers, such as Daniel Hemric and Jeb Burton, could have their best opportunities to end their long win droughts.

In addition, a group of young drivers will have opportunities to steal wins from the series veterans. Chandler Smith, filling the seat of one of 2022’s most competitive cars, as well as Zane Smith, who is set to make limited starts in the series next year, may not immediately find victory lane, but with some time in the series, both could upset the veterans and capture wins.

Championship contenders

With the 2022 season’s championship favorites out of the picture in 2023, two familiar faces will likely be the early championship favorites next season: JR Motorsports teammates Allgaier and Berry.

Berry, currently in his first full season in the Xfinity Series, spent most of the regular season in the top five in points and has collected two wins with his #8 team. Allgaier, one of the series’ long-time residents, has made the Championship 4 numerous times. With some of the more seasoned talent out of his way, he could finally clinch his first NASCAR championship.

Jones, another series veteran, may also find himself among the championship contenders in 2023. Jones has been with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series program since 2018 and has earned five wins. In 2023, he is set to join forces with JR Motorsports to drive the #9 Chevrolet which Gragson is vacating.

The #9 team has a history of winning championships, which they’ve done with three current Cup Series stars — Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick — in the last nine seasons.

When it comes to the NASCAR Xfinity Series season, the possibilities seem endless. Despite that, it would appear that the series’ existing talent pool of veteran drivers is likely going to produce the 2023 champion, even with the top three drivers out.