Hard to believe 2022 is almost over! Congrats to all the drivers, crews, and teams. And we want to give a shout out to the sponsors. It takes so many people to make a race and a season happen. We can only ask this Christmas season and always, support those who support racing!
Awards at tracks across the country are slowly being handed out, and that includes the major levels of racing.
In 2023, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch will be the only full-time drivers with more than one title. Both own two Cup championships. With Jimmie Johnson set to race part-time, he of course, owns more than Joey and Kyle combined.
It will be exciting to see 7-Time Champion Jimmie Johnson back behind the wheel in 2023 as part of Richard Petty's ownership NASCAR Cup team. It starts with the Daytona 500. Right now, Johnson is only scheduled to run about 5-6 races. Let's hope a sponsor steps up and he can boost his starts to 10-12. The sport needs him back.
Ty Gibbs will compete against Johnson, Logano, and all the other Cup drivers in 2023. As he moves from Xfinity to Cup. And he's taking a championship with him. Gibbs out dueled Justin Allgaier, Noah Gragson and Josh Berry to claim the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity title.
Louisville's Ben Rhodes gets a well deserved rest. The 2021 NASCAR Truck Series Champion came ever so close to winning back-to-back truck titles. In the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix, Ben finished a close second behind newly crowned NASCAR Truck Champion, Zane Smith.
In the ARCA Series, Nick Sanchez took the 2022 title. He had a strong year with three wins and nearly 20 top 10 finishes. Daniel Dye came in second and Rajah Caruth finished third. NASCAR Xfinity Champ Ty Gibbs won the 2021 ARCA title. So, he is a back-to-back champion in two different racing series.
Titles in the Camping World NHRA Drag Racing Series have all been settled. In the last NHRA event of the season in California, multiple championships were up for grabs! When the final race was over, Brittany Force won the title in Top Fuel by narrowly defeating Lucas Oil racer Antron Brown. Ron Capps narrowly claimed the Funny Car title over Robert Hight, and Matt Smith easily took home the Pro Stock Motorcycles Championship. One race earlier in Nevada, Erica Enders won her fifth title in the Pro Stock Division title. The first event of the 2023 season will be in March at the Gatornationals in Florida. Lucas Oil is a longtime NHRA sponsor.
Winter is here! If you've enjoyed Kentuckiana Motorsports over the past 20 years, you know Lucas Oil has been a huge backer of all we do. You'll need some of its products in your car or truck this winter! We thank Lucas Oil as a longtime sponsor. We're able to talk racing locally and in other ways, thanks to Forrest, Charlotte, and Morgan Lucas and the entire Lucas Oil Family. Other backers: PNC Bank (Sponsor of Scott Dixon's Indy Car Series Car), Sportsdrome Speedway (Celebrating more than 75 years of Racing!) locally owned Bright Pest Control and Bright Retail in Louisville, (Offering Do-It-Yourself Professional Pest Products with a retail store), and Knox Ford in Radcliff (KY). KMS supporters also include: VoiceTel Kentucky (Offering telephone service for $25.00 a line, and that includes all taxes and fees), Temco Roofing, Andriots Paint, Flooring, & Blinds, ICA Dumpsters, Kentucky Raceway Ministries, St. Matthews Cycling, Nimlok Kentucky, Dynamic Healthcare, and Lyndon Mower Repair. We also thank our media connections in all series, especially NASCAR and with NASCAR Media for helping us bring the sport to the fans!
As we've told you over the years, Lucas Oil backs Protect the Harvest. This winter farmers, ranchers, fisherman, and those who enjoy the outdoors will stay busy. They all supply America. Lucas Oil has long supported them. And you can too. Learn more: www.protecttheharvest.com
Up nest, we'll recognize local track champions at the Sportsdrome Speedway and at Salem over the holidays!
Enjoy the racing!
