After a roughly three-month off-season, NASCAR Cup Series action returned two weeks before Busch Light Clash, the annual preseason exhibition race. For the first time ever, the race took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
All drivers had the opportunity to qualify for the main event in this four-turn, 0.250-mile (0.402-kilometer) around, but only 23 did so.
The drivers who took part in the race were Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Kevin Harvick, Chase Briscoe and Cole Custer. His teammate, Eric Almirola, attempted to do so, but did not make the cut as a result of a wreck in a last-chance qualifier.
But with those four drivers on the entry list, the recent annual Cup Series trend has come to an end.
Prior to this year, Stewart-Haas Racing changed one of its four drivers from one year to the next five consecutive years.
Take a look at the moves he took back in 2016.
- 2016 to 2017: Clint Boyer replaces Tony Stewart behind the wheel of #14 Chevrolet-turned-Ford; Stewart, the team's co-owner, retired.
- 2017 to 2018: Eric Almirola replaces Danica Patrick, the #10 Ford . retired behind the wheel of
- 2018 to 2019: Daniel Suarez replaces Kurt Busch, who moved to Chip Ganassi Racing behind the wheel of the #41 Ford.
- 2019 to 2020: Cole Custer replaces Daniel Suarez, who moved to Gaunt Brothers Racing behind the wheel of the #41 Ford.
- 2020 to 2021: Chase Briscoe replaces Clint Bauer, who retires, behind the wheel of #14 Ford.
But no changes were made for 2022.
This is the first time that this can be said between the 2015 and 2016 seasons, when Kevin Harvick continued to drive a #4 Chevrolet, Danica Patrick continued to drive a #10 Chevrolet, Tony Stewart continued to drive a #14 Chevrolet And Kurt Bush continues driving the #41 Chevrolet.
It was a trend that Stewart acknowledged that he was waiting to end, before it was confirmed that no changes would be made.
Asked by Beyond the Flag about the fact that the past five years have seen driver changes, Stewart said, "We have a history of having a long-term relationship."
"We're happy with our lineup. We're happy with our friends. We think they all have contributed and really worked together [in the midst of a difficult 2021 season] to try to find solutions. That's the lineup I want for next season."
Given the fact that the 2022 season is set to see the introduction of the next gen car, this continuity may be more important now than ever.