The offseason is upon us, but many questions linger heading into the 2023 season. With a new year right around the corner, here are some big, big things to ponder.
WILL 2023 BE KEVIN HARVICK’S FINAL SEASON? Harvick is now 47 years old, a Cup Series champion, tied for ninth on the all-time wins list with 60 and a certain first-ballot NASCAR Hall-of-Famer. But he’s also still winning races and has that competitive fire. You all remember the Bristol incident with Chase Elliott from 2021. You don’t see a middle-aged dad get that infuriated ever, unless someone leaves a door open during the winter. You’re not trying to heat the WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD, you know. Sean Gardner | Getty Images
WHAT WILL KYLE’S FIRST SEASON AT RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING LOOK LIKE? Everything is changing for Kyle Busch. New team. New car number. New sponsors. New manufacturer. That’s a lot of change. But if there’s anyone that can handle that much adjustment, it’s Kyle Busch. I’d expect wins from him, even if he does have big shoes to fill with the outgoing Tyler Reddick. Actually, those would be really, really little shoes. My point is that I think Kyle will be fine, OK. Chris Graythen | Getty Images
HOW MANY RACES WILL COLE CUSTER WIN IN 2023? I worded that sentence carefully. It’s not “WILL Cole Custer win a race in the Xfinity Series in 2023?” but rather “How many?” Cole’s first foray into the Cup Series was not without its challenges, but a return to Xfinity will yield results, and someday he’ll be back and stronger than ever in Cup. His last full-time season in Xfinity resulted in seven wins. SEVEN. I’m gonna set the over/under in 2023 at six and the number of times he falls off his car in Victory Lane at one. Sean Gardner | Getty Images
WHAT WILL THE 2023 VERSION OF ROSS CHASTAIN BE? Ross had so many incarnations in 2022. “Aggressive Guy That Everyone Is Mad At.” “Race Winner.” “Guy Threatened In A Food Lion.” “He Who Will Defy The Laws Of Physics At Martinsville.” “Viral YouTube Sensation.” It will be interesting to see which, if any, carry over to 2023. He’s like that unpredictable dude that shows up at the party, and you gotta be like, “Yeah, keep an eye on that guy.” Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
WILL PETTY GMS BE THE BREAKOUT SENSATION OF 2023? Could easily be. Now that two seven-time Cup Series champions have a stake in the team and a very talented, if not polar opposite, pair of drivers in Erik Jones and Noah Gragson behind the wheel, Petty GMS could see Victory Lane on multiple occasions. Erik and Noah, though – one is a quiet, blue-collar sort that enjoys reading. The other is a boisterous free spirit that shotguns beers, climbs fences and hurls in the race car. Maybe to combine their interests, Erik could do a reading of a book about acid reflux. Chris Graythen | Getty Images
WILL CHRISTOPHER BELL’S STAR CONTINUE RISING? We knew Christopher was capable, but his success in 2022 was astounding. He delivered when the pressure was at its highest point. Let’s put it this way – at the beginning of 2022, had I told you, “Three of the four JGR drivers will earn a playoff spot, one JGR driver will not earn a playoff spot, one will get eliminated in the first round, one will get eliminated in the third round and one will earn a spot in the Championship 4,” where would you have placed Bell? This kid is here to turn your hot takes ice cold. Sean Gardner | Getty Images
WILL THE DIRT CURSE CONTINUE IN 2023? What is the dirt curse? Let us explain. In 2021 – the first year of the Bristol Dirt Race – Joey Logano won. In 2022, Kyle Busch won. So what is the curse? Both drivers did not win another race the entire rest of the season. We get that it’s a small sample size – certainly not Chicago Cubs level by any means — but a curious stretch nonetheless. Logan Riely | Getty Images
CHICAGO? There are so many questions about NASCAR’s exciting maiden voyage into street courses that I’m wording the question as “Chicago?” and that just represents all the questions we have. Unrelated, but this image makes me realize how fun it would be if a couple of standard Windy City commuters accidentally find their way onto the course. Like, Waze doesn’t realize we’re racing that day and just finds the best route for somebody going to work. Getty Images
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