Race Weekend Central

NASCAR News Avalanche: What Daytona News Dump Means for 2023 Silly Season

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – While there were no cars on track during a rainy Friday (Aug. 26) afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, there was still plenty of noise being made within its media center.

Amidst a whirlwind of rumors surrounding Silly Season ahead of the approaching 2023 calendar, multiple news stories broke out for various drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series garage, which might change where some drivers are racing next year.

Here, we’ll break down what each one means and how it affects the outlook of the future of some Cup Series drivers.

Let’s start with what’s probably the biggest news:

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Aric Almirola Delays Retirement, Will Be Back for 2023

It wasn’t the most unexpected piece of news that came out on Friday, but it certainly was the most critical.

Aric Almirola will return to Cup Series competition again in 2023 after he announced he had delayed his retirement, which he originally announced at the beginning of 2022, until at least the end of next year.

He owes his decision to loyal sponsor Smithfield, as the meat brand agreed to stay with the Floridian for another two years. While Almirola staying is a big deal for, well, Almirola fans, it’s an even bigger deal for fans of Kyle Busch.

Why?

Because Busch is the biggest free agent in NASCAR as of now. While he could very well re-up his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing, it was also heavily rumored for him to go to the Stewart-Haas Racing car left vacant by the retiring Almirola.

But now that ship has sailed, and suddenly, Busch has fewer options to choose from if he decides to leave his home of 14 years, JGR. Not to mention, with each race that Ty Gibbs performs well in the No. 45, putting him in the No. 18 becomes all the more tantalizing for team owners and presidents.

While that doesn’t help Busch, it’s even worse for other drivers.

Drivers like Ryan Preece.

Preece has spent this year piecing together part-time rides as a reserve driver for SHR. A Rick Ware Racing start here, a BJ McLeod Motorsports start there and sprinkle in some solid NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts for David Gilliland Racing, and you have the 2022 season of the 31-year-old former Modified racer from Connecticut.

All the while, Preece had been arguably first in line to take a SHR ride for some time — barring any contract deals with the team’s sole NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, Riley Herbst. When Almirola revealed his retirement plans, many eyes slid over to Preece’s corner of the room, as it seemed his time to return to Cup had come at last.

But now his chances at a return have become a little more unlikely after this Daytona news.

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Daniel Suarez Back With Trackhouse for 2023

It isn’t surprising Daniel Suarez will return to Trackhouse Racing Team for another year. After all, the Mexican driver earned his first career win at Sonoma Raceway and already scored a career-most top-five finishes with six so far this year.

What is surprising about this news is the fact that it’s only for another year.

Suarez first joined the team in its maiden voyage in 2021 and has stayed for its two years of existence. If the team is confident in Suarez’s talent, why only award him with a one-year extension, especially when it’s a driver that has been there since the beginning?

However, the speculation of the new media rights deal could affect how teams will be reimbursed financially, and it could have impacted how each one prepares their contracts for 2024.

There’s also the fact Trackhouse is still a young team despite its success. With success comes growth, and with growth comes a healthier team financially. Suarez may not have a secure seat for 2024, but that might not mean team co-owner Justin Marks doesn’t have plans for the Mexican driver.

Regardless of how one interprets it, Suarez is safe for at least one more year in his new Trackhouse “home.”

The same may not be said about some other drivers.

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Greg Ives Retiring as Crew Chief After 2022

Alex Bowman will continue his role in the No. 48 in 2023, but his veteran crew chief Greg Ives will not be there with him.

Ives, who has been in a NASCAR crew chief role since 2013, announced he will be retiring at the end of 2022. Ives’ career began sitting on top of the pit box for JR Motorsports before being promoted to Cup in 2015, working with Earnhardt and then Bowman.

Bowman has won all of his seven Cup Series victories with Ives. With his tried-and-true crew chief leaving, what does that mean for the Arizona native?

His current contract means he is still safe at Hendrick Motorsports until the end of 2023, but Bowman has statistically been the weakest-performing driver at the organization this year. Bowman’s performance next year will be all the more crucial for his career, and he’ll have to perform with someone new on top of the pit box.

There is blood in the water for what will be a frenzy of drivers looking for rides during the 2023 version of Silly Season. There is a cornucopia of young talent advancing its way through the ranks with each year, including those currently at JR Motorsports.

While Noah Gragson has a ride with Petty GMS Motorsports lined up for him next year full time in the Cup Series, that doesn’t mean he won’t be open for a higher-tier team by the end of 2023. On top of that, there’s Sam Mayer, who has had a quiet season so far in 2022 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series but has still shown talent that will likely grow in 2023.

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Craftsman Returning as Truck Series Title Sponsor

It doesn’t really have much to do with Silly Season on the track, but this news does have something to show for itself when it comes to NASCAR’s branding.

The return of Craftsman in the NASCAR Truck Series is a welcome one for fans of the sport that have been around for a while. It’s the first time the red tool brand will be the title sponsor for the series since 2008, a 15-year hiatus.

The announcement was made as a result of NASCAR’s new partnership with Stanley Black & Decker, which is the parent company to Craftsman.

It’s not yet known how much the brand has offered in terms of finances for the sponsorship, but it does shed some light on what was becoming a gloomy subject after Camping World announced they would leave as the series title sponsor last month.

The Truck Series has traded sponsorship hands a couple of times in the last few years. But with a company that stuck around in the division for 13 years before it departed the first time now returning, maybe we’ll see a little more stabilization to its name and likeness going forward.

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Jeremy Clements Given L2 Penalty, Daytona Win Ineligible for Playoffs

Friday at Daytona wasn’t the only day where some major news broke out.

After Jeremy Clements‘ most recent win at Daytona in the Friday-into-Saturday Xfinity Series race, NASCAR took the No. 51 Chevrolet back to its R&D center to inspect its engine. While there, officials found the intake manifold did not conform properly to NASCAR’s template.

Clements’ team was docked 75 owner and driver points along with 10 playoff points. Their Daytona win also became ineligible for the 2022 NXS playoffs. Clements had initially qualified for the postseason with the surprise upset.

So, what does this mean for the Xfinity playoffs?

Well, not much, really. Clements was likely never going to win the championship. What it does mean, however, is there is still one extra spot left for drivers like Sheldon Creed to fight over for that last spot in the top 12 in points.

Clements is currently 20th in the regular season standings now with almost no chance at making the postseason on points alone. He still has the option to win again and reclaim that playoff spot. Will it happen? Probably not. That being said, at least the 37-year-old still has two career Xfinity Series wins now. That’s more than most small, family-owned NASCAR teams can say they’ve got. There’s some pride in that.

If it weren’t for the fact that the inspection took place away from the track, however, there’s a good chance Clements would have been disqualified and second place would have won the race.

We were this close to a Timmy Hill win at Daytona…

RACE WEEKEND CENTRAL: DAYTONA

About the author

Dalton Hopkins began writing for Frontstretch in April 2021. Currently, he is the lead writer for the weekly Thinkin' Out Loud column and one of our lead reporters. Beforehand, he wrote for IMSA shortly after graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2019. Simultaneously, he also serves as a First Lieutenant in the US Army.

Follow Dalton on Twitter @PitLaneLT

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4 Comments
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Kuku H

51 Xfinity is now appealing the penalty, no word what will be the result.

Jeremy

Looking into my Crystal Ball: Is the car owner’s name Rick Hendrick? No? PENALTY STANDS!

Scott

Understood. Either way you guys are Awesome..hoping sponsorship comes your way soon.

Last edited 1 year ago by Scott
Racer919

I like Aric , but his decision kind of screws Ryan Preece.
The penalty for Jeremy Clements, from what I’ve seen, is ridiculous. Penalized for having a part that allows less performance?!?. As some have said, it calls to mind the penalty Carl Long received for having a used up engine that was barely oversized. Hope he wins the appeal.

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