Top stories from the 2023 NASCAR Cup season

1. Chicago Avenue Course is a shocking success

The 2023 NASCAR Cup season had loads of firsts and maybe none was greater than the collection’ inaugural avenue course race, held round historic Grant Park in downtown Chicago. Whereas the weekend confronted quite a few climate challenges, the racing proved very good and with a shock winner. Making his first ever begin, three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen dominated the sphere to safe the victory for Trackhouse Racing. Van Gisbergen is transferring to NASCAR competitors full-time in 2024, working a full Xfinity Collection schedule with Kaulig Racing together with a partial Cup schedule with Trackhouse.

2. New NASCAR media rights deal finalized

Late final month, NASCAR introduced it had reached settlement on a brand new seven-year, multi-billion-dollar TV rights deal for its Cup Collection that features a streaming part for the primary time. The deal is reportedly price roughly $1.1 billion whole a 12 months – a few 40 p.c improve over NASCAR’s present package deal, which expires on the finish of the 2024 season. Becoming a member of present TV companions Fox and NBC within the new deal will likely be TNT and streaming companions Prime Video and Max (previously HBO Max). NASCAR additionally secured a seven-year cope with the CW Community to televise its Xfinity Collection races starting with the 2025 season. That package deal is reportedly price over $115 million a 12 months.

3. NASCAR’s Storage 56 entry turns heads at Le Mans

Along with van Gisbergen’s victory, NASCAR acquired extra constructive worldwide publicity with its Storage 56 entry within the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours. The entry’s trio of drivers – seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, 2010 Le Mans 24 general winner Mike Rockenfeller and 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button – had a productive stint competing in a modified model of the Subsequent Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 race automobile. The NASCAR entry, a collaboration among the many sanctioning physique, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, IMSA and Goodyear, was working on the end, finishing 285 laps on the 8.4-mile circuit and completed thirty ninth within the 62-car discipline.

Picture by: Alexander Trienitz

#65 Panis Racing Oreca 07 – Gibson of Manuel Maldonado, Tijmen Van Der Helm, Job Van Uitert, #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 of Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller, Jenson Button

4. North Wilkesboro revived

The historic .625-mile brief observe acquired rave opinions this 12 months after internet hosting NASCAR competitors in Could for the primary time since 1996 with a Truck Collection race and the NASCAR All-Star Race. It was the fruits of an extended and tough course of that required a lot convincing of state and native authorities officers by Speedway Motorsports in addition to $18 million in cash from the N.C. state authorities for infrastructure enhancements. The observe is present process a repave and can once more host the All-Star race in 2024.

5. Ryan Blaney is topped champion

The Cup Collection acquired one other first-time champion in 2023 with Ryan Blaney however a return journey to the highest for proprietor Roger Penske. Blaney’s Cup title – which got here with the assistance of two vital wins within the 10-race playoffs – was the fourth general and second consecutive for Crew Penske and forty fourth within the storied historical past of the group. Penske drivers have now gained each championships determined for the reason that introduction of the Subsequent Gen automobile, with Joey Logano additionally profitable in 2022.

6. Denny Hamlin turns into NASCAR’s villain  

Denny Hamlin took on the position of villain through the 2023 NASCAR Cup season. He didn’t draw back from the bathe of boos and actively engaged with displeased followers. On-track, he acquired into it along with his buddy Kyle Larson as they battled for the win at Kansas and later Pocono. The Pocono incident left Larson fuming, and Hamlin unapologetic, telling followers to “boo my rock out right here in just a few years.” 

His podcast, appropriately named Actions Detrimental, even acquired him penalized after he overtly admitted to deliberately walling Chastain within the spring Phoenix race. The brazen and outspoken Hamlin is a driver the followers have at all times liked to hate, however 2023 was the 12 months when Hamlin really embraced it. 

7. Chase Elliott sidelined

NASCAR’s Most Common Driver went winless this 12 months, didn’t make the playoffs for the primary time in his profession, and missed a complete of seven races. He was sidelined by a leg harm for six weeks, with Josh Berry and Jordan Taylor driving the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in his absence.

In a while, he was additionally suspended for one race after deliberately wrecking Hamlin through the Coke 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Corey LaJoie drove his automobile the next weekend. It was an odd and irritating 12 months for the HMS star, and one he’ll need to put behind him as quickly as doable.

Picture by: Lesley Ann Miller / Motorsport Photos

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry crash wreck

8. Noah Gragson suspended 

It was a hellish rookie season for 2022 NASCAR Xfinity runner-up Noah Gragson. He struggled for outcomes and was even briefly sidelined with concussion-like signs after a crash at Gateway. However issues actually went incorrect in early August. After liking a meme that mocked the 2020 homicide of George Floyd by the hands of Minneapolis law enforcement officials, he was suspended from Legacy Motor Membership and later NASCAR itself.

He parted methods with LMC quickly after, and has since efficiently accomplished sensitivity coaching. Gragson will make his return in 2024, taking on the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

9. Kevin Harvick’s farewell tour

The final full-time driver to have competed within the pre-playoff period has now retired. Harvick ended his profession with 826 begins, 60 wins and the 2014 NASCAR Cup Collection championship.

Though SHR struggled, Harvick nonetheless made the playoffs and constantly beat all three of his team-mates. He got here shut on a number of events however by no means reached Victory Lane in his last season. Regardless of this, he nonetheless ended issues on a little bit of a excessive be aware by main laps in his last race, beginning third and ending seventh at Phoenix.. He’ll now transfer into the position of commentator as he joins the FOX Sports activities sales space in 2024. Followers confirmed their appreciation for the veteran driver in some ways, and made his No. 29 throwback from the All-Star Race the top-selling diecast of the 12 months.

10. Ross Chastain vs. the world

It was a story of two seasons for Ross Chastain. Within the first third of the 12 months, he was all anybody may discuss. His feud with Hamlin reignited in Phoenix, there was a run-in along with his team-mate at COTA, and even a battle at Kansas the place he punched Gragson within the face. However issues hit a fever pitch at Darlington. Whereas battling for the win, he and Kyle Larson had been buying and selling blows on late-race restarts. In the end, Chastain took it too far and crashed each automobiles. 

The fallout was quick with Rick Hendrick himself calling out Chastain. The fiery younger driver pale from view after that, leaving Darlington with the factors lead however falling to the backend of the top-ten by the point the playoffs started. However a cleaner and extra calculated Chastain ended the 12 months on a constructive, turning into the primary non-final 4 driver within the elimination period to win the season finale.

Honorable mentions:

– RFK Racing’s resurgence and Chris Buescher’s three-win season

– Ricky Stenhouse Jr. snaps a 199-race winless streak to win the Daytona 500

– Martin Truex Jr.’s disastrous playoffs after profitable the common season title

– Kyle Busch’s first 12 months with Richard Childress Racing

– Ryan Preece walks away from terrifying rollover crash at Daytona