NASCAR: 5 full-time drivers who missed races in 2022

There were 32 full-time drivers during the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season, but only 27 competed in all 36 races on the schedule.

There are 34 drivers set to compete full-time during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, as two chartered entries which were previously driven by multiple part-time drivers are now set to have full-time drivers.

But of the 32 drivers who were classified as full-time drivers for the 2022 season, only 27 actually competed in all 36 races on the schedule.

Five full-time drivers missed time in 2022 for different reasons, with three sitting out one race and two sitting out multiple races.

Chris Buescher – 1 race

RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher was sidelined for the June race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway as a result of COVID-19 protocols. Front Row Motorsports Truck Series Zane Smith filled in for him, making his Cup Series behind the wheel of the No. 17 Ford.

Bubba Wallace – 1 race

23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace became the first driver since 2015 to be suspended as a result of his actions on-track after intentionally wrecking Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Wallace was suspended for the October playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Kyle Busch Motorsports Truck Series driver John Hunter Nemechek filled in for him behind the wheel of the No. 45 Toyota.

Cody Ware – 1 race

Rick Ware Racing’s Cody Ware was involved in a nasty wreck in the September race at Texas Motor Speedway, though even with the ankle injury he suffered in the wreck, he returned for the following weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway.

However, with the following race being a road course race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, he decided that it was best for him to sit out. J.J. Yeley replaced him behind the wheel of the No. 51 Ford for this race.

Alex Bowman – 5 races

Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman was involved in a seemingly minor single-car wreck in the same race at Texas Motor Speedway. The wreck happened fairly early on, and yet he was able to continue on and finish the race.

However, because he showed concussion-like symptoms in the days that followed, he ended up being sidelined for the next five races. Noah Gragson replaced him behind the wheel of the No. 48 Chevrolet in all five events.

Kurt Busch – 16 races

23XI Racing’s Kurt Busch was also involved in a seemingly minor wreck, with his coming during qualifying at Pocono Raceway in July. He ended up missing every one of the season’s 16 remaining races. Ty Gibbs replaced him for the first 15, but after his father Coy Gibbs passed away just before the season finale, Daniel Hemric filled in for that one.

For the first six races, Gibbs drove the No. 45 Toyota. But in a strategic move aimed at bolstering the No. 45 team’s constructor championship chances, Wallace was moved to the No. 45 Toyota for the playoffs, and Gibbs ended up driving the No. 23 Toyota in the first nine playoff races. Hemric drove it in the season finale.

There are 34 drivers set to compete full-time during the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. How many will actually run all 36 races on the schedule? The season is scheduled to begin on Sunday, February 19 with the 65th annual Daytona 500. Fox is set to broadcast the race live from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.