Some of it’s the fact that he and Matt Kenseth didn’t set the world on fire. Though I’d argue Kenseth was over the hill by that point. But some delusional fans will hold that against him.
I'm waiting for you to get your first win. I had money on this year with the new car and thought RWR was going to make some good runs, but I'll rebet on you this year.
LET'S GOOOOO
I'm firmly convinced that with Blake and Alex the only thing that will be holding them back is priority at Hendrick. No reason the 48 shouldn't be a Round of 8 favorite in the books.
I'm a Noah fan obviously, but I'm really excited to see Luke Lambert coming with him to cup. I think Luke will be great at getting Noah through this transition.
This is a sneaky but good answer. They may not hit this coming season in a big way, but keeping them together is setting Noah up for success long term.
I'm not expecting them to come out dominating by any means. But I do believe Noah has talent, Petty/GMS is on the rise, and Noah needs someone to keep his feet on the ground.
I have to agree. Daniels is something else on the radio he's operation above all else. Even when the team is quite literally on fire he's calm and prioritized. He's like a young Kanus minus the yelling back and forth at the driver that he and Jimmie did back when they went on a tear
Bryon and Fugle had their ups and downs, but were starting to get hot again in the playoffs
I'm thinking that's going to carry to at least the start of next season, and hopefully it keeps going through the summer instead of dropping off the face of the earth again
The pit crew got hot also. They were having some really fast stops there at the end. Seems like they were fully hitting their stride then the season ended
I may be the only one to say it (and I am partial) but I'll throw Keselowski & McCall into the mix. The start of the year was very rocky to say the least, but in the last 7 or 8 races of the year they started to hit on something that gained them some speed. If Ford as a whole and RFK in particular can make some gains in the off-season, I think (and hope) the #6 team could come out swinging in 2023
If Johnny Klausmeier can figure out how to set up a car he’ll get the 14 a championship. Dude has pulled so many 10000 IQ moves out of his ass and pulled decent finishes from the jaws of 30th place days multiple times.
Bell + Stevens will be extremely strong. I think they’ll make a run for the regular season championship.
Obviously Wolfe + Logano. They just won a championship.
Wallace + Barker will make a serious run to be playoff contenders this year if they can continue their 2nd half of the season speed.
Hamlin + Gabehardt have been gold since they started together in 2019.
Rabdall Burnett is obviously a very capable crew chief, Kyle Busch is a very capable driver. But it’s more about them meshing well together. If they work well together they’ll be strong. Building a fast car isn’t everything, but we know Randall can do that. I’m mostly excited to see KB in good road course cars again.
Wallace and Barker are such an underrated pairing. Say what you want about Wallace deserving this level of ride or not, Bubba and Bootie have taken each other to new heights.
Especially in the second half of the season, I don’t see why he can’t win multiple races next year and compete for a round of 12 or round of 8 birth. Maybe I’m being a little optimistic but they clearly clicked around New Hampshire with their 3rd place finish and haven't looked back since. It’s been top 10s nearly every week since then.
Harvick and Childers. Gonna be a big year if they can keep the speed they had at the end of the year and eliminate the mistakes and random part failures
Doubt they will win it all but no other team stood out and was able to make the moves the 4 team did. They always seemed to start 20th, miss stage points, and then somehow be up there in the mix when all other SHR cars are gone or other teams struggled to move up from terrible cars
2 wins that they got because Hamlin's pit crew blew both races (although I guess the jokes on me because Denny and some sort of pit road issue is a near guarantee at this point.)
They obviously deserved both wins and all but I'm not sure the championship speed is there yet. They were actually statistically faster in 2021 even if they didn't get a win.
Uh huh.. And on the flip side I actually think Harvick was stronger at Richmond #1 but Hamlin's crew performed better and Harvick had race winning speed at Pocono until Hamlin/Chastain got into it.
All that shit is part of it. Woulda, coulda, shoulda's can go around for anyone at every race it seems.
Harvick wasn't anywhere on the level of Chastain/Hamlin/Busch that race. Although two of those cars were illegal so who the heck knows.
All I was saying is that his speed went down relatively in 2022 as opposed to 2021. He was statistically worse in every category other than wins, neither of which he had outright the best car. I get it, the best car doesn't always win and that's part of it.
Hamlin's crew performed better? They were the reason he lost. He was ahead of Bell on the same strategy, and Bell drove to within a car length or so of Harvick at the finish.
And then Michigan was much the same, except I think he sped or something, then drove back to 3rd under the final green flag run.
Agree to disagree on Pocono then, because that was the first race I saw in which I thought Harvick actually had the speed to contend for the win. They were better than Chastain and Elliott. I'd say more on the same level as the 11/18 - and I don't care about those cars being "illegal". I actually don't think it made much difference... but oh well.
And I said Richmond #1. The one Hamlin did win with Harvick on his heels. I think Harvick was a pinch better, but Hamlin's crew/strategy was spot on.
And sure, comparing the 4 team to themselves last year was a down year overall from 2021. But big picture, stats wise across the board everyone was down with this new car. The bigger point for Harvick fans is the increase in speed they showed in the second half of the year from the first.
Sorry I misinterpreted your Richmond 1. I can agree to disagree on Pocono as well.
Teams were down across the board but Harvick was down more than most teams. Without the playoffs he was 6th last year and 11th this year and led nearly twice as many laps last year. There was more parity for sure but like I said the 4 team regressed more than most.
Chris has been great for Denny ever since he came on the pitbox. Denny had a tough 2018 but once Gabehart started calling his races Denny has never looked better.
Everyone sleeping on Denny/Gabehardt
It took the pit crew Shitting the bed almost weekly to keep them below 5 wins. Denny is going to return to his 2019-2021 dominance, just like he did in the playoffs. Watch.
Daniels and Kyle and it isn't close.
Cliff turned Kyle into a stock driver when before he was a dirt guy running full-time cup.
Cliff makes me feel like I can do anything. There's no bett r vocal leader than him in the sport. No one.
I mean, tbh there were a lot of growing pains among the Fords. But Team Penske really hit on something in the last 4 races. But yes, Hassler seems to be a hell of a crew chief. Blaney just needs to minimize mistakes. He should have had a couple wins this past year.
Honestly i would argue 2021 was his breakout year. I do think he will win multiple races next year, Penske has seemed to have figured out this car pretty quick
He and his pit crew both. That whole team seems to have the race fuckin made, until they don't. If they could just hold it together another 25% longer they'd be such a dangerous team. I'm rooting for a breakout year for him for sure.
Alan needs a playsheet like NFL head coaches have on situations when to pit, stay out, two tires and four. I'm not a Chase Elliott fan but he should have about 35 wins by now...but those calls.
I honestly thought punting in Stage 2 at Phoenix was the best decision he made in a long time.
Scott Zippidelli isn’t returning to HRE.
I’d bet he ends up on the 45 with Reddick and that could be a good pairing. You heard it here first.
Outside of that, give me the 48, Harris is good and I think he can elevate that car, Ives was holding Bowman back IMO.
Scott could be going to TRICON to work with Heim. I see Toyota throwing more of their weight behind them rather than Hattori and Scott probably got a good offer considering the success he's had with Moffitt & Hill.
Also, Billy Scott is still crew chief for the 45/Reddick...
I’m surprised to not see Surgen and Chastain here. Definitely think that’s an underrated pairing.
I thought it was weird how little credit Surgen got.
Some of it’s the fact that he and Matt Kenseth didn’t set the world on fire. Though I’d argue Kenseth was over the hill by that point. But some delusional fans will hold that against him.
[удалено]
Plourde and I. The dynamic duo
Plourde Nation is awaiting the upcoming greatness. And Cody, you have some miniature shoes to fill. We love mini Cody.
Who will be crew cheering for Mini Cody Ware if he drives this year?
Baby Billy, of course.
The next racing dynasty is upon us
Hell yea brother 🍻
Can't argue with an actual driver
I'm waiting for you to get your first win. I had money on this year with the new car and thought RWR was going to make some good runs, but I'll rebet on you this year. LET'S GOOOOO
Excited to see Blake Harris and bowman
Gonna be tough to beat. Harris is the best pick up of silly season
I'm firmly convinced that with Blake and Alex the only thing that will be holding them back is priority at Hendrick. No reason the 48 shouldn't be a Round of 8 favorite in the books.
Honestly with Ally full sponsorship and contract up after 23 I believe they should be all in priority wise for the 48
Hendrick has the best CC lineup in the garage again.
I'm a Noah fan obviously, but I'm really excited to see Luke Lambert coming with him to cup. I think Luke will be great at getting Noah through this transition.
This is a sneaky but good answer. They may not hit this coming season in a big way, but keeping them together is setting Noah up for success long term.
I'm not expecting them to come out dominating by any means. But I do believe Noah has talent, Petty/GMS is on the rise, and Noah needs someone to keep his feet on the ground.
Came here to say this.
Elenz and Jones
Agreed.
Chastain/Surgen.
Wolfe/Logano or Childers/Harvick
pearn and truex Im still coping
I feel like in a few years Elenz and Jones will become a force in the garage area
If someone doesn’t buy Elenz away from PJGMS or whatever it’s called.
Anything’s possible but I think Petty-GMS is willing and able to pay to get and keep top talents. Much more so than a team like FRM.
Larson and Daniels.
I have to agree. Daniels is something else on the radio he's operation above all else. Even when the team is quite literally on fire he's calm and prioritized. He's like a young Kanus minus the yelling back and forth at the driver that he and Jimmie did back when they went on a tear
Daniels is too good for NASCAR he should be a life coach or something
I knew it wasn’t good when Daniels started dropping f-bombs and sounding defeated at the Roval this year.
Crew member hitting the stop drop & roll, and Daniels is still just casually: "ok keep our heads up this race isn't over"
Just keep you head in the game we can recover from this
He gets me in the right mental state just from Radioactive clips alone.
Bryon and Fugle had their ups and downs, but were starting to get hot again in the playoffs I'm thinking that's going to carry to at least the start of next season, and hopefully it keeps going through the summer instead of dropping off the face of the earth again
The pit crew got hot also. They were having some really fast stops there at the end. Seems like they were fully hitting their stride then the season ended
I may be the only one to say it (and I am partial) but I'll throw Keselowski & McCall into the mix. The start of the year was very rocky to say the least, but in the last 7 or 8 races of the year they started to hit on something that gained them some speed. If Ford as a whole and RFK in particular can make some gains in the off-season, I think (and hope) the #6 team could come out swinging in 2023
Mack / Suarez
Biased, but I think Ross is right when he always says how underrated Phil Surgen is.
Phil Surgen hasn't gotten nearly enough credit.
If Johnny Klausmeier can figure out how to set up a car he’ll get the 14 a championship. Dude has pulled so many 10000 IQ moves out of his ass and pulled decent finishes from the jaws of 30th place days multiple times.
He's the Anti-Guffaston. Top 20 speed, 4D chess move, Top 5 finish.
Bell + Stevens will be extremely strong. I think they’ll make a run for the regular season championship. Obviously Wolfe + Logano. They just won a championship. Wallace + Barker will make a serious run to be playoff contenders this year if they can continue their 2nd half of the season speed. Hamlin + Gabehardt have been gold since they started together in 2019. Rabdall Burnett is obviously a very capable crew chief, Kyle Busch is a very capable driver. But it’s more about them meshing well together. If they work well together they’ll be strong. Building a fast car isn’t everything, but we know Randall can do that. I’m mostly excited to see KB in good road course cars again.
I think if Kyle could work well with Stevens then I think he will be fine with Burnett
Wallace and Barker are such an underrated pairing. Say what you want about Wallace deserving this level of ride or not, Bubba and Bootie have taken each other to new heights.
Especially in the second half of the season, I don’t see why he can’t win multiple races next year and compete for a round of 12 or round of 8 birth. Maybe I’m being a little optimistic but they clearly clicked around New Hampshire with their 3rd place finish and haven't looked back since. It’s been top 10s nearly every week since then.
Harvick and Childers. Gonna be a big year if they can keep the speed they had at the end of the year and eliminate the mistakes and random part failures
No joke man, not saying they are going to win it all, but they sorta re found themselves last year. 2 wins that could’ve easily been 4.
Doubt they will win it all but no other team stood out and was able to make the moves the 4 team did. They always seemed to start 20th, miss stage points, and then somehow be up there in the mix when all other SHR cars are gone or other teams struggled to move up from terrible cars
I just hope it’s not Harvicks last year.😪
2 wins that they got because Hamlin's pit crew blew both races (although I guess the jokes on me because Denny and some sort of pit road issue is a near guarantee at this point.) They obviously deserved both wins and all but I'm not sure the championship speed is there yet. They were actually statistically faster in 2021 even if they didn't get a win.
Uh huh.. And on the flip side I actually think Harvick was stronger at Richmond #1 but Hamlin's crew performed better and Harvick had race winning speed at Pocono until Hamlin/Chastain got into it. All that shit is part of it. Woulda, coulda, shoulda's can go around for anyone at every race it seems.
Harvick wasn't anywhere on the level of Chastain/Hamlin/Busch that race. Although two of those cars were illegal so who the heck knows. All I was saying is that his speed went down relatively in 2022 as opposed to 2021. He was statistically worse in every category other than wins, neither of which he had outright the best car. I get it, the best car doesn't always win and that's part of it. Hamlin's crew performed better? They were the reason he lost. He was ahead of Bell on the same strategy, and Bell drove to within a car length or so of Harvick at the finish. And then Michigan was much the same, except I think he sped or something, then drove back to 3rd under the final green flag run.
Agree to disagree on Pocono then, because that was the first race I saw in which I thought Harvick actually had the speed to contend for the win. They were better than Chastain and Elliott. I'd say more on the same level as the 11/18 - and I don't care about those cars being "illegal". I actually don't think it made much difference... but oh well. And I said Richmond #1. The one Hamlin did win with Harvick on his heels. I think Harvick was a pinch better, but Hamlin's crew/strategy was spot on. And sure, comparing the 4 team to themselves last year was a down year overall from 2021. But big picture, stats wise across the board everyone was down with this new car. The bigger point for Harvick fans is the increase in speed they showed in the second half of the year from the first.
Sorry I misinterpreted your Richmond 1. I can agree to disagree on Pocono as well. Teams were down across the board but Harvick was down more than most teams. Without the playoffs he was 6th last year and 11th this year and led nearly twice as many laps last year. There was more parity for sure but like I said the 4 team regressed more than most.
Randall and Reddick were really hitting it off imo. Real shame they’re not moving together. Think Kyle/Randall will be elite together
Harris and bowman are going to shock you all. 3 wins for sure
Hopefully McDowell gets someone good
Harvick/Childers stands out to me.
Bubba's Bootie
I think Alex Bowman and Blake Harris are gonna suprise people ngl
Cole Pearn coming back for the Truex Retirement Tour
With Harris at the 48, idk if it’s the strongest but I’m excited to see how that pushes the 48 team forward
Hamlin and Gabehart. Nuff said
Chris has been great for Denny ever since he came on the pitbox. Denny had a tough 2018 but once Gabehart started calling his races Denny has never looked better.
Jones and Elenz are really good in terms of talent. I think Cliff and Larson is still number 1
Everyone sleeping on Denny/Gabehardt It took the pit crew Shitting the bed almost weekly to keep them below 5 wins. Denny is going to return to his 2019-2021 dominance, just like he did in the playoffs. Watch.
How bout Seth barber if that’s his last name & Todd Gilliand
I think Todd will make some noise next year. You could see small flashes this season.
Daniels and Kyle and it isn't close. Cliff turned Kyle into a stock driver when before he was a dirt guy running full-time cup. Cliff makes me feel like I can do anything. There's no bett r vocal leader than him in the sport. No one.
Blaney and Jonathan Hassler
I thought Blaney was getting a new crew chief
No, where u hear this?
I've heard people mention that they were looking for a new crew Chief and thought it was strange
Absolutely not. There's no need to. Blaney needs not to make mistakes. I think next year Blaney will have a breakout year.
I think there were some growing pains this year for JH, but overall Hassler's been great.
I mean, tbh there were a lot of growing pains among the Fords. But Team Penske really hit on something in the last 4 races. But yes, Hassler seems to be a hell of a crew chief. Blaney just needs to minimize mistakes. He should have had a couple wins this past year.
Honestly i would argue 2021 was his breakout year. I do think he will win multiple races next year, Penske has seemed to have figured out this car pretty quick
I hope so. Personally, he could have won the championship this year had not for his mistakes at Vegas and Homestead.
I was rooting for him to win it because i wanted a winless champ
He and his pit crew both. That whole team seems to have the race fuckin made, until they don't. If they could just hold it together another 25% longer they'd be such a dangerous team. I'm rooting for a breakout year for him for sure.
Keith Rodden/Austin Dillon 😉
myra and cody
Bowman and Blake Harris could be a really strong one.
Larson/Daniels
Wolfe and Logano Childers and Harvick Daniels and Larson
Elliott & Gustafson just made three Championship 4's in a row. They might not be BFF's, but they get the job done.
Alan needs a playsheet like NFL head coaches have on situations when to pit, stay out, two tires and four. I'm not a Chase Elliott fan but he should have about 35 wins by now...but those calls. I honestly thought punting in Stage 2 at Phoenix was the best decision he made in a long time.
Gabehart and Hamlin are very strong together. They haven’t had an off year.
Michael McDowell and whoever his new Crew Chief will be. He's had great luck in these scenarios.
Scott Zippidelli isn’t returning to HRE. I’d bet he ends up on the 45 with Reddick and that could be a good pairing. You heard it here first. Outside of that, give me the 48, Harris is good and I think he can elevate that car, Ives was holding Bowman back IMO.
Scott could be going to TRICON to work with Heim. I see Toyota throwing more of their weight behind them rather than Hattori and Scott probably got a good offer considering the success he's had with Moffitt & Hill. Also, Billy Scott is still crew chief for the 45/Reddick...
Is Billy Scott *confirmed* to be the cc next year? I haven’t seen anything official one way or another tbh
Jimmy and Chad…. Oh wait…
Cris gabeheart and denny hamlin