RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – APRIL 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on April 03, 2022, in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Denny Hamlin’s late surge leads to a Richmond win in the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 on Sunday afternoon.
The NASCAR Cup Series heads into Richmond, Virginia to begin a stretch of short-track battles. Richmond Raceway is the first of three scheduled short tracks on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The racing at Richmond is always a precursor to what lies ahead at Martinsville and Bristol. The races are always close, cars are pushing and shoving, and many drivers are going home in poor moods.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – APRIL 03: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, celebrates in the Ruoff Mortgage victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on April 03, 2022, in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Denny Hamlin is the seventh different NASCAR Cup Series 2022 winner in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway on Sunday afternoon.
Perhaps there was no better place for Denny Hamlin to finally notch his first win of 2022. Much to the pleasure of the fans at Richmond Raceway, the hometown favorite from Chesterfield, Virginia took the lead of the Toyota Owners 400 from William Byron with five laps remaining and held off the field for a 0.552-second victory over Kevin Harvick and Byron.
Power Ranking the NASCAR Cup Series after Daytona International Speedway as the teams prepare for Auto Club Speedway this weekend.
The Next Gen car has officially passed its first test. The 2022 edition of the Daytona 500 was an exciting one, complete with a rollover accident at the end of the first stage, a couple of ‘big ones,’ and a nail-biting finish that ended with rookie Austin Cindric taking the Harley J. Earl trophy for his first career win. Wrecks took out many of the top contenders for the race, including defending champion Kyle Larson, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and 2014 champion Kevin Harvick, among others. Ahead of this week’s race at Auto Club Speedway, we have some shake-ups in the power rankings, though the top largely stays the same for fear of an overreaction.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 15: A general view of the grandstands as the sun sets during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 15, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
2022 NASCAR Cup Series power ranking comes before the first points-paying race of the year, the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
The 2022 NASCAR season is just a few days away, which means the excitement and anticipation are building. With the Next-Gen car making its debut, drivers like Harrison Burton, Austin Cindric, and Justin Haley moving up to Cup full-time, and teams such as 23XI Racing, Trackhouse Racing, and Kaulig Racing expanding their operations, there is plenty to look forward to heading into 2022. While there have been some shake-ups in terms of expectations coming into the season, some parts of NASCAR remain the same from last year, and the first edition of this season’s power rankings showcase that.
Kyle Larson has a sensational season with a NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Raceway.
One last race for four drivers to fight over one championship. It all takes place at Phoenix Raceway. 312 laps on a track that races just like a short track but can be way meaner. Drivers often have issues dealing with the high temperatures. Whether it is the slick racing surface, the resin to add grip, or brake issues, Phoenix Raceway always gives drivers problems.
