2022 NASCAR Season: Next Gen Cars And a New Lot of Team Owners

Several changes are afoot in the NASCAR scene, especially with the Next Gen car making its 2022 debut. However, it is worth mentioning that the new car will also get to meet a variety of new Cup Series team owners. Of course, there are still the usual suspects like Rick Hendrick, Richard Childress, Jack Roush, Roger Penske and Joe Gibbs.

However, a whole host of Next Gen owners will join them. This includes the likes of Matt Kaulig, Justin Marks and even current racers Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski. Furthermore, NASCAR even added some star power in the form of NBA legend Michael Jordan and Grammy winner Pitbull.

HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – JANUARY 15: Erik Jones tests the Next Gen car at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

“The sport has a lot of momentum,” said Hendrick. “We have a whole crop of young drivers who are winning races and developing into stars. We have a huge fan base and they’re coming back in a major way after the pandemic. When you see 100,000 people at Road America, that’s very exciting.”

Who are all these NASCAR team owners?

First and foremost, there is Matt Kaulig, a former college football player. He practically grew up around motorsports and has fielded an Xfinity team for the last five years. The outfit has broken into the NASCAR Cup Series grid on a few occasions, but there are plans to make it permanent.

His initial target was a 2021 full-time debut, however the COVID-19 pandemic forced a delay. Now, he and many of his fellow team owners are happy about the increased level of competition. Furthermore, the 2022 Next Gen car could provide a fresh start or a grid reshuffle.

Meanwhile, Justin Marks’ Trackhouse Racing bought Chip Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR operation. With the acquisition, they could push forward plans to field a second car alongside the #99 Chevrolet of Daniel Suarez. As a former driver, Marks sees the increase in the number of team owners as an evolution.

Next up is Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s brainchild, 23XI Racing. When Leavine Family Racing shut down, it opened up an opportunity for Hamlin and Jordan to fill in the void. Like Trackhouse Racing, they also have designs to field a second car alongside their marquee #23 Toyota.

Other major owners include Brad Keselowski and even Jeff Gordon, who was a surprise addition. Keselowski is leaving the Team Penske organisation and joining Roush Fenway Racing as driver-owner. Meanwhile, Gordon has been touted as Rick Hendrick’s successor of sorts.

READ MORE: Where to Watch the Unveiling of the 2022 NASCAR Next Gen Car? What Time Is the Reveal Event?

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