Which Drivers Had their Best Points Results in 2022?

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR

Eight Drivers Had their Best Cup Championship Points Finish in 2022

Of the 16 drivers in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, half of them saw their best-ever championship result. With five drivers earning their first-ever Cup victory in 2022, four of them also made this group. Each of these drivers arguably had their best season yet in 2022. As a result, they each look to build on this year for even greater heights in 2023.

Joey Logano – First (tied)

For starters, this list of drivers begins with 2022 champion Joey Logano. Championship number two for Logano came on the strength of four wins, including the Round of 8 opener and the season finale. 2022 for team 22 was also highlighted by winning the inaugural Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum, and the first Cup race at Gateway.

Now with two Bill France Cups, it will be interesting to see if Logano can possibly repeat his 2022 feat in 2023. Logano only makes the Championship 4 in even number years however. One of the weirdest and most random NASCAR trends says that Logano will not become a back-to-back champion. The Penske 22 crew will try and end this oddball stat in 2023. 

Ross Chastain – Second

Perhaps the most unprecedented driver on this list, Ross Chastain ended his maiden Playoffs at second in points. The 2022 season saw Chastain’s first two wins, as well as him deliver the highlight of the year at Martinsville. Few could have predicted preseason that Trackhouse Racing would be on the doorstep of the Cup Series title.

Whether it was for winning, wrecking, or being aggressive, Chastain was a headline many times throughout the year. Now knowing the full potential of Team Trackhouse, this group could be even more dangerous in year two together.

Christopher Bell – Third

The third and final Championship 4 contender on this list, Christopher Bell ended his first multi-win season third in points. Bell initially made the Playoffs thanks to a July triumph at New Hampshire, and came to life once the postseason started. The 20 was the only car locked into the Round of 12 before the Bristol cutoff race, which Bell was in contention to win.

Bell would thrive however in the next two round-ending events, as he won under do-or-die circumstances at both the Roval and Martinsville. The Martinsville victory was also the 200th organizational win for Joe Gibbs Racing. This marked Bell’s first Championship 4 appearance as well. Unable to close out with the big trophy from Phoenix, Bell seemingly took the big step forward from winner to perennial contender in 2022. Should the 20 team be more consistent in next year’s regular season, they just might be Playoff favorites.

William Byron – Sixth

The only Hendrick driver on this list, William Byron ended his fifth NASCAR Cup campaign sixth in the final standings. The 24 was as strong as anyone early in 2022, with two wins in the opening eight races. After Martinsville however, Byron seemingly faded into obscurity. The 24 would only collect one more top-10 in the regular season.

Once the Playoffs began though, Byron found his way forward again, with four-straight top-10s. Lasting all the way until the Round of eight, Byron’s undoing was a mediocre day at Martinsville. Failing to capture another Grandfather Clock, the 24 will have to settle for just outside of the top four in points. The Byron-Rudy Fugle duo should be even more consistent next year. The great speed shown early in 2022 should be reason to pin Byron as a 2023 title threat.

Chase Briscoe – Ninth

Sophomore driver Chase Briscoe had anything but a slump in 2022. His first win came in week four at Phoenix, locking him into his first Playoffs. An afterthought for much of the regular season, Briscoe was more remembered for dive-bomb moves that altered the winner at Bristol Dirt and the Coke 600.

Once the postseason began though, the 14 appeared to find another gear. Through below-the-radar survival, Briscoe made the Round of 8, and was leading late at Homestead and Martinsville. Failing to close out either race led to his elimination. However, the 14 was still within eyeshot of stealing a Championship 4 berth. In what was still a relatively off year overall for Stewart-Haas Racing, Briscoe managed to almost upset with a chance at the title. After being oh so close to a few particular wins, Briscoe aims to see victory lane more often in 2023.

Daniel Suarez – 10th

In year two with the Trackhouse No. 99 team, Daniel Suarez had a quietly spectacular season. Earning career victory number one at Sonoma in June, this is only a piece of the story for Suarez’s year. Despite only scoring one win, the 99 was a strong force up front consistently throughout the balance of 2022.

Being right alongside teammate Ross Chastain more weeks than not, the 99 was knocking on the door of transferring past the Round of 12. Mind you that Suarez was previously 0-5 in even making the Playoffs. Inexperience or not, Suarez was in position to be one of the elite eight. A power steering failure while running inside the top five at the Charlotte Roval ended the 99’s title bid. However, Suarez did still manage to cap off 2022 at 10th in the final championship.

The 99 was far from lacking any speed or execution. Their luck simply turned rather bad at the worst possible time in the Playoffs. Expect Suarez to remain up front throughout 2023, as all of Trackhouse Racing should only be stronger.

Austin Dillon – 11th (tied)

Only making the Playoffs through winning the Daytona regular season finale, Austin Dillon also ties his best championship result (2017, 2020). 11th in the final standings shows that the 3 team was far better than just lucking into the final berth. They were on pace with teammate Tyler Reddick for much of the year. Scoring 11 top-10s, Dillon quietly had one of the best seasons of his Cup career.

Dillon now gains Kyle Busch as a teammate for 2023, a move he helped instigate. With Busch’s addition should come a performance uptick throughout RCR. Dillon hopes to take the next step forward into becoming a regular winning contender.

Austin Cindric – 12th

The final man to earn his best championship result in 2022 was rookie Austin Cindric. In Cup season number one, Cindric left a lasting impact by becoming the first full-time rookie in history to win the Daytona 500. Aside from conquering The Great American Race, Cindric did advance past the opening Playoff round. His ultimate downfall would be at the Charlotte Roval, where a dismal day saw him eliminated.

Cindric’s final 2022 stat line would be five top-fives, nine top-10s, an average finish of 16.3, and 86 laps led. This accounts for one of the best rookie campaigns in recent NASCAR history. The deuce will try and avoid any sophomore slump in 2023, as he will try and chase more checkered flags.

Having half of the 16-man Playoffs earn their best championship result has not happened before under this format. Occurring in year one of the Next Gen car is a testament to the parity and leveling of the playing field brought into Cup. It is unlikely, but not impossible, to see this feat equalled or even surpassed in the 2023 championship. In due time, we shall see how many can break into the Cup Series winners club in the new year. Likewise, we will also see if any new threats emerge for the Bill France Cup.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR