Search
Close this search box.

Partner

Report: JR Motorsports Still Exploring Idea of NASCAR Cup Series Expansion in 2022

TALLADEGA, ALABAMA – APRIL 24: Josh Berry, driver of the #8 Tire Pros Chevrolet, pits during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 24, 2021 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is already shaping up to be one for the record books, with the recent unveiling of NASCAR’s NextGen car that will debut next season, as well as the increased interest in competing at NASCAR’s top-level from race-winning organizations like Kaulig Racing.

Initially mentioned a few weeks back, it appears that JR Motorsports – which fields the No. 1, No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9 full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series — may potentially be interested in entering NASCAR’s top-level in 2022, according to a set of recent tweets from Adam Stern of Sports Business Journal.

Dale Earnhardt Jr – co-owner of JR Motorsports — told Sports Business Journal on Friday that the organization is “motivated to learn whether this is the time to do it or not,” continuing to say “it’s probably now or never.” Obviously, with the implementation of the NextGen Car ahead of 2022, it seems like a natural entry point for a team like JR Motorsports to make their first venture into the Cup Series, but at the same time, it’s also way more complicated than that.

 

The potential migration to the NASCAR Cup Series for JR Motorsports can be narrowed down a pair of key factors in the current climate of racing at NASCAR’s top-level. Firstly, the financial weight of the move is guaranteed to be a staggering one, made even more dramatic by the implementation of the new car for 2022. That, along with the general increased cost of running in Cup versus Xfinity is a hurdle that will require additional sponsorship for the organization.

However, even if that additional funding can be found for JR Motorsports, it still comes down to the ability to acquire a charter – through the purchase or leasing of one from another organization — in order to ensure that they will receive a worthwhile portion of the purse and lock themselves into every event. While teams like Live Fast Motorsports, 23XI Racing and Trackhouse Racing had no issues acquiring charters in advance of this year, early indications have interest to compete in the NASCAR Cup Series at the highest it has been in a longtime, which could make the charter acquisition process not only difficult, but pricey.

While there have been no official indications of JR Motorsports looking to acquire a charter from anyone at this point, it is possible we see the championship-winning organization in the NASCAR Xfinity Series sniffing around to see if there are any potential options for them entering 2022.

Noah Gragson, Justin Allgaier and Josh Berry have all proven to be contenders in the NASCAR Xfinity Series over the last two seasons, collecting wins in the second-tier series. So, if the team does expand to the NASCAR Cup Series, who would get the nod?

share it
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Post

Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen were driving through the grass on the cooldown lap after the enjoy illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway
Why Did Trackhouse Racing Cars Drive Through the Grass After Gateway Race?
DB_darl_truck_race_lajoie-5
Corey LaJoie 'Not Entertaining' Truck Offers; Looking for DAYTONA 500 Seat
Rodney Childers will serve as the crew chief for the No. 1 JR Motorsports team during the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil will share the ride.
Rodney Childers to Crew Chief No. 1 JR Motorsports Entry in 2026; Kvapil, Zilisch to Share Ride
Tyler Reddick was racing at Kansas Speedway with the health of his four-month-old son Rookie on his mind as his child was placed in the ICU earlier in the week after showing signs of heart failure.
More Than a Race: Tyler Reddick’s True Battle in Kansas Was Back Home
NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran says NASCAR will talk to Trackhouse Racing about running through the grass after the checkered flag at Gateway.
NASCAR to Talk to Trackhouse About Running Through Grass Post-Race
Judge Kenneth Bell has denied a preliminary injunction request for Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing in its ongoing antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR
Federal Judge Denies Injunction for 23XI/Front Row in NASCAR Antitrust Lawsuit

Join Our Newsletter

Ready to have NASCAR news hand-delivered to your email daily?

Related Article