Published 01/03/2023, 6:00 AM EST
It is officially 2023, and in just under a couple of months, the NASCAR season will begin. This upcoming season will most likely be more anticipated than others. Mostly because several drivers are switching teams and there are a couple of returning drivers joining the paddock. One of the biggest storylines is that of Kyle Busch leaving Joe Gibbs Racing and joining Richard Childress Racing. The other one is Jimmie Johnson, returning to NASCAR with Petty GMS Motorsports as a driver/owner.
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In the buildup to the first race of the season, one had to wonder what was in store for everyone. Aside from Busch and Johnson, Tyler Reddick heads to 23XI Racing. Meanwhile, AJ Allmendinger moves to the Kaulig Racing team on a full-time basis. Ryan Preece makes a return to the Cup Series, this time for Stewart-Haas Racing. Ty Dillon moves to Spire Motorsports from Petty GMS, while Noah Gragson and Ty Gibbs graduate to the Cup Series.
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Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson were backed to pull off a stunner
After the circus surrounding his Cup Series future in 2022, Kyle Busch is a man on a mission. Now that he is driving for a brand new team, he will want to prove that he is not a one-team pony. Additionally, there are races like the Daytona 500, whose trophies are missing from his mantlepiece.
This will obviously be an oversight that the #8 driver plans to correct, posthaste. On the other end of the spectrum, Kyle Busch will know that his quest for the elusive Daytona 500 will not be easy. Nevertheless, several fans have placed a lot of faith in him to get the monkey off his back.
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – JANUARY 29: Jimmie Johnson driver of the #48 Ally Cadillac Racing Cadillac DPi, looks on before the start of the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on January 29, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, there is the return of Jimmie Johnson to the Cup Series scene. This has gotten a lot of fans excited and a fair few of them have backed him to win a race or two. They hope and pray that the 7-time Cup Series champion gets back to winning ways in 2023. Although he is competing in a limited race capacity, fans are confident that Johnson can win one race.
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