The 2021 NASCAR season has come to an end. If I had to pick one driver that seemed to be the most interesting to watch in 2021, – and this might seem like an odd choice – I would pick AJ Allmendinger. One might argue there were others more worthy of this particular nod. Kyle Larson, who pretty much dominated long stretches of the season and won the Cup championship, might be an obvious choice.
Wins are great. Laps led are great. Being in championship contention is great. And Allmendinger did all of those things – winning in both the Xfinity and Cup series and being in contention for the Xfinity title until Phoenix. But what sets Allmendinger apart is just how fun he was to watch every week. He cemented his status as one of the most passionate drivers in NASCAR. Even despite his own desire to succeed, he has proven himself to be a capable and compassionate leader at Kaulig Racing. Allmendinger has become the Elliott Sadler of 2021 – a guy with extensive Cup experience that can be a measuring stick for these youngsters, without being in such obviously better equipment that he’s off and gone within the first turn of every restart.
While I won’t be turning my back on Allmendinger in 2022 as he will obviously remain a contender in Xfinity and be gunning for wins with a part-time schedule in the Cup Series, I wish to provide you, the reader, with a list of those drivers I’m definitely looking forward to watching in 2021.
Daniel Hemric – I’ve long been a fan of Hemric, as he ran for Richard Childress Racing and JR Motorsports. I was a little disappointed when he went to Joe Gibbs Racing because I assumed – and was correct in that assumption – that he’d always be running second to Kyle Busch, Ty Gibbs (as well as Martin Truex, Jr. and Denny Hamlin as it turns out). Funny thing that happened along the way. All those second-place finishes and Top 5s allowed him to be consistent enough to make the Final Four. By leaving Gibbs to go to Kaulig Racing, one of the best teams in the Series, in 2022, Hemric will have the equipment to make a solid run at defending the Xfinity title and, with no real hierarchy in place at Kaulig, have the freedom to get to the front and stay there.
Noah Gragson – Gragson running for JR Motorsports definitely does not hurt his chances at being one of the guys I will cheer for in 2022. However, it’s his off-the-wall personality that appeals to me the most. He obviously loves what he does and isn’t afraid to show that. He does so, however, without being a complete *sshat about. At the same time, he can overcome the adversity he did during the 2021 season and ended up being a contender for the championship. Basically, Noah Gragson is the person that everyone in NASCAR wants you to believe Kyle Busch is.
Ben Rhodes – I always like Ben Rhodes but if I’d had to make a list of my Top 5 favourite drivers in the Truck Series, he probably would have been on the outskirts. (He would have had a good chance to make the Top 10, however. After all, he drives for ThorSport.) That changed with his post-celebration press conference where he referenced his friend “Bud” and it was obvious he’d hung out with a few of his “Buds” over the previous half hour or so. I’m sure some in the industry will take Rhodes to task for not being professional but, to me, it was a throwback to celebrations of yesteryear when drivers weren’t necessarily the most politically correct. It’s fine to want to present the proper image for your sponsors but damn it, this kid just won a national championship. Let him have a few beers.
Carson Hocevar – This kid could be Noah Gragson 2.0, except he doesn’t get into as many scuffles as Gragson. He’s another character in a sport that definitely needs them. He’s able to make fun of himself and not take things too seriously. At the same time, he made the playoffs at age 18 and in just his first full season in the Camping World Truck Series, with eight Top 10s in 2021. With this experience under his belt, I think he’ll have a solid season in 2022. While I think he’s probably a couple of years away from being a true championship contender, he will be interesting to watch on track and entertaining to see off track as he makes his way up the ranks in NASCAR.
Jesse Iwuji – Of course, I can’t forget Jesse Iwuji! The reason I have become a fan of Jesse Iwuji is because of his interactions on social media. When I first got on Instagram, I was posting photos of some of the diecasts I have in my collection. I started getting likes from this guy who said he ran in the K&N Series. It was Jesse. I’ve since had a few likes on Twitter from him as well. So when I saw him driving in the Trucks and Xfinity Series…well, how could I not cheer for him? I’m really excited to see what his new team, Jesse Iwuji Motorsports, with partner Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmett Smith, can do with in the Xfinity Series in 2022.
Honourable Mentions:
Hailie Deegan – Yes, she wasn’t a championship contender in 2021. However, I think her second full season in the Truck Series will see Deegan put in a solid effort and be running closer to the front and contending for wins in 2022.
Ross Chastain – I have to be honest; I really expected more out of Chastain when he went to Chip Ganassi Racing. Instead, he really rarely showed any signs of the talent, drive and desire he showed in the Xfinity Series and the Trucks. I have an article in the works about the immediate jump of Trackhouse Racing (to say nothing of 23XI Racing) directly to Cup, but maybe this move will be what helps Chastain find equal success in Cup as in the lower Series.
Ty Dillon – The news that Ty Dillon was coming back to the Cup Series, as GMS Racing’s initial full-time Cup driver was one of the best news items of the post-season. Everyone rags on Dillon for being Richard Childress’s grandson, but never seems to ask “Then why was he struggling from part-time to part-time ride in 2021? Why didn’t he just get his Pop Pop to put him in the RCR Xfinity ride?” I think Ty wants to make it on his own as much as he can – and with GMS moving to Cup, I think he’s got the ride that may not net him a championship but could turn some heads in the upcoming season.
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