The 2023 NASCAR season is underway after the Busch Light Clash which featured Martin Truex Jr. claiming the gold medal. However, the official points season begins in under two weeks at the 2023 Daytona 500.
Let’s dive into the five biggest NASCAR storylines as we enter the second season of the NextGen car.
Joey Logano’s quest for a third NASCAR Cup Series title
Joey Logano won the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series championship in dominant fashion at Phoenix Raceway last November. Now, the task of defending his championship, which hasn’t been done since Jimmie Johnson in 2010, is ahead of him.
Logano joined a rare list of multi-time Cup Series champions last season. There are now 17 drivers with two or more titles at NASCAR’s top level. However, there is an even more exclusive club.
Only nine drivers in Cup Series history have won at least three championships. At 32 years old, Logano can join that list if he goes back-to-back at Phoenix Raceway during the 2023 season.
It would undoubtedly make the driver of the No. 22 car a top-10 driver in the history of the sport. As for now, those declarations should be put to the side. Logano needs to attempt what many drivers have not been able to do in going back-to-back.
This is a new 36-race season so there is a long way to go for every driver. However, some have an even longer path as they are just getting started at NASCAR’s top level.
Related: Joey Logano responds to Kyle Busch calling him out after the Busch Light Clash
Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson’s rookie seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
Ty Gibbs and Noah Gragson, the young, polarizing drivers from the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, have made the jump to NASCAR’s top level with some pretty notable teams.
Gibbs will drive the No. 54 car for Joe Gibbs Racing while Gragson will pilot the No. 42 car for Legacy Motor Club. Both drivers have landed with an organization that has a storied history in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Last season, the driver of the No. 54 car tallied seven wins, 16 top-5 finishes, 23 top-10 finishes, and a 9.2 average finishing position. On the flip side, the new Legacy Motor Club driver ended with eight wins, 21 top-5 finishes, 26 top-10 finishes, and an 8.1 average finishing position.
Gibbs and Gragson will both be in the Cup Series for years to come. However, their rookie seasons should have lower expectations. The transition from Xfinity to Cup can take a long time to complete.
The Rookie of the Year battle is going to be electric, just like many of their battles last season. It will be interesting to see who has the upper hand at the end of the season. While these two young drivers are ready for a long future, another driver is possibly ready to hang up the wheel.
Related: Joe Gibbs Racing preview – Big expectations, predictions for the 2023 season
Martin Truex Jr.’s bounce-back season and possible retirement
Martin Truex Jr. missed the 2022 NASCAR playoffs for the first time since 2014 with Furniture Row Racing. Truex’s season was not terrible but four top-5 finishes and 15 top-10 finishes clearly represented a regression.
In fact, this came after the driver of the No. 19 car pondered retirement during the 2022 season. Truex decided to come back but he is not committed to racing in the NASCAR Cup Series beyond 2023.
Now, there are two storylines surrounding Truex. Will he bounce back from a poor year and will he decide to retire at the conclusion of the 2023 season? Well, one of those might have already been answered.
Truex won the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum last weekend and while it does not count as a true points race, it does create momentum going into the Daytona 500. Perhaps, this could be a sign of things to come.
If not, will a retirement decision become easier? Based on Truex’s recent comments, it will take some time so don’t expect anything soon as the Daytona 500 comes closer.
Related: Predicting if Martin Truex Jr. retires after the 2023 season
Kyle Busch vs. Tyler Reddick: Who is better with their new organization?
Perhaps, a better storyline would be Logano vs. Kyle Busch after the Richard Childress Racing driver called out the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion for dumping him at the 2023 Busch Light Clash.
However, there are too many reasons to watch how Busch vs. Tyler Reddick unfolds this year. Busch spent over a decade with Joe Gibbs Racing before leaving for Richard Childress Racing. Coincidentally, he’s replacing Reddick in the same ride.
Reddick will drive the No. 45 car for 23XI Racing after Kurt Busch stepped away from full-time racing due to a concussion suffered at Pocono Raceway. The two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion’s move did not come without controversy.
23XI Racing originally hired Reddick for the 2024 season, not this season. This created a boatload of tension in Richard Childress Racing and it eventually ended with 23XI Racing needing to buy out Reddick or he may not have been in a good ride.
The performances of Busch and Reddick will be something to monitor the entire season. Will Richard Childress Racing get the last laugh or will Reddick thrive with Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan?
Related: Jimmie Johnson could drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2023
Kevin Harvick’s final season in the NASCAR Cup Series
The biggest storyline of the 2023 season is Kevin Harvick’s final year in the NASCAR Cup Series. Harvick announced his intentions to retire from full-time racing in the Cup Series a few weeks before the Daytona 500.
It goes without saying that NASCAR will miss Harvick as a driver; however, his retirement won’t be from the sport overall. The driver of the No. 4 car will move to the FOX Sports booth for the 2024 season next to Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer.
This represents a new journey for Harvick and one that many expected him to start following his racing career. Speaking of his racing career, there is still one more season left and he hopes to go out with a bang.
Harvick winning the championship in his final season would be the storybook ending that barely anyone receives in sports. However, a more realistic goal would be one victory as many drivers don’t win in their final year.
There will be a year-long celebration relating to Harvick’s career but the job is not done. A second Cup Series title is on the line and the chase toward achieving that goal begins soon.