’22 NASCAR season one for the record books

After a season that saw the successful debut of a new race car, a record-tying number of winners, fresh faces in Victory Lane, two ‘firsttimers’ reaching the Championship 4 and a wall-ride-for-the-ages, it’s easy to become hy- perbolic when discussing the recently completed >> 2022 season. So, let’s do just that with this question … did we just witness the most competitive and noteworthy season in NASCAR Cup Series history?

The re-written record books suggest an answer …

19 DIFFERENT WINNERS The 2022 season tied the

NASCAR Cup Series record of the most different winners in a single season (19) all-time; joining 1956, 1958, 1961 and 2001.

ALL-TIME RECORD FOR GREEN FLAG PASSES FOR THE LEAD >> There were 1,544 green flag passes for the lead (GFPL), the most ever. A green flag pass for the lead, by the way, is defined as a lead change all around the racetrack, and not just at the start/finish line. NINE RACES HAVE SET RECORDS IN GFPL >> A total of nine different NASCAR Cup Series races have set records in green flag passes for the lead this season, including Circuit of The Americas (30 green flag passes for the lead), Atlanta-1 (141), Las Vegas-1 (57), Bristol Dirt (20)

Darlington-1 (28), Kansas-1 (41), Charlotte (64), Nashville (47) and Las Vegas-2 (46).

OVERALL GREEN FLAG PASSING INCREASED YEAROVER-YEAR >> In a yearover-year comparison (2021 to 2022), the 2022 season has seen an increase in total green flag passes throughout the field of +6.36%.

SECOND CLOSEST AVERAGE MARGIN OF VICTORY >> The average MOV for this season was 1.011 seconds, which is the second closest since the advent of electronic timing and scoring in 1993 (.909 seconds in 2014).

HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF LEAD LAP FINISHERS IN MODERN ERA >> The 36 races of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season have produced an average percentage of 59.46% of the competitors finishing on the lead lap per race – the highest percentage of lead lap finishers through 36 races in the Modern Era (1972-2022).

The firsts were many…

First year with the Next Gen car, a machine that ushered in a new era of competition in NASCAR.

First purpose-built racetrack inside a football stadium (L.A. Memorial Coliseum), a bold schedule vision in which more than 70% of ticket buyers were attending their first NASCAR race and one that kicked open the door for further innovation (see: Chicago Street Race in 2023).

Five first-time winners, a Modern Era record (Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Tyler Reddick).

First season with three graduates of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program winning a NASCAR Cup Series race (Kyle Larson, 3 wins; Bubba Wallace, 1 win; Daniel Suarez, 1 win)

The fans took notice … Overall television ratings by the FOX and NBC family of networks increased by 4%.

The overall share — the percentage of televisions turned on and watching NASCAR — increased by 10%.

There were eight sellouts in 2022, including

two of the earliest sellouts in recent history with the DAYTONA 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in Phoenix.

The number of fans who attended their first NASCAR race grew by

11%, when compared to the last event that allowed full capacity.

NASCAR Digital just experienced its best statistical season since 2015, including a 10% increase YOY in unique users.

That ‘wall-ride-for-theages’? NASCAR on NBC’s social video of Ross Chastain’s move on the final lap at Martinsville earned more than 50.4 million impressions and 27.9 million video views.

On the sports betting front, authorized gaming operators saw a 51.5% increase in their NASCAR handle, year-over-year.

And it all ended with a championship that cemented a first-ballot NASCAR Hall of Fame career …

JOEY LOGANO’S 22 IN ’22 >> Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, won his second NASCAR Cup Series championship (2018 and 2022), becoming the 17th different driver to

win multiple championships and just the second active driver to win multiple Cup titles (Kyle Busch). Logano book-ended his 2022 season with a win in the season-opening Busch Light Clash at the LA Coliseum and a victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway. So … was it the best season ever? The answer: It doesn’t really matter. It was a fun one … and we can’t wait for 2023, NASCAR’s 75th anniversary season — a celebration of stock racing’s past, present and, most importantly, bright future.

•••

NHRA officials announced today that Lucas Oil Products, the world leader and distributor of high-performance automotive additives and lubricants, will continue as the sponsor of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and “Official Oil of NHRA” as part of a long-term extension.

It furthers a premier and lasting partnership that continues to grow after more than two decades, as Lucas Oil remains a cornerstone sponsor and all-encompassing

partner of NHRA.

“All of us at Lucas Oil are excited to extend this Partnership with NHRA for another 3 years,” said Brandon Bernstein, Lucas Oil Director of Partnership Marketing. “We know how important the sportsman racers are to Lucas Oil and we want to keep that alive for many years to come. We see NHRA as an amazing property that has potential for massive growth and Lucas Oil is thrilled to be partnered in this journey.”

Along with its longtime title sponsorship of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which stars the best and most decorated sportsman competitors in drag racing, and its status as “Official Oil of NHRA,” Lucas Oil is the title rights sponsor for the annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd, Minn., and the historic Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. The sponsorship also extends to naming rights at historic Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, which plays host to the world’s most prestigious drag race, the NHRA U.S.

Nationals.

The company is a partner for some of the top teams in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series as well, including Pro Stock’s Kyle Koretsky of Richboro,

Top Fuel star Antron Brown and others, further showcasing the company’s longtime support in NHRA Championship Drag Racing.

Lucas Oil has also worked closely with drivers and race teams to develop specialized motor oil, gear oil and fuel treatments for racing over the years, leading to the creation of several top-selling products for the brand. Each product was designed to withstand extreme heat and friction, delivering reliable and standout performance in the process.

The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series recently announced its 2023 schedule, which includes 45 total divisional events and 25 regional events next year, beginning on Feb. 3-4 at Orlando Speed World Dragway.

Ernie Saxton