I like Preece too, so it will be good to see him back in Cup with a better opportunity than the first time. It's not like he's done nothing since JTG-D let him go either. He has been working for SHR all of 2022 as a simulator driver and has raced several times in NXS and Trucks for other teams, including a Truck Series win. I'm still surprised that Custer has not been better in Cup as I really thought he was a better overall talent than C. Bell when they raced together in NXS. Custer should flourish again in the NXS and give JRM and JGR a real challenge for the title.
On the flip side of that, I can't blame Custer for ALL of the #41 issues since SHR really was behind with the NextGen car most of the season. Briscoe lucked into an early win and then Harvick got hot for 2 races to lock into the playoffs. Harvick ran consistently the rest of the season but the early woes kept him from advancing out of the 1st round. What REALLY bumped Custer out of the #41 car is Smithfield and Almirola! Smithfield agreed to a new 2-year sponsorship deal with SHR as long as Almirola would race one more season. The SHR plan was for Preece to run the #10 car in 2023, but they still needed a major sponsor for the car. Aric agreed to 1 more year, so Stewart and Haas argued about the driver they wanted in the #41 car. Stewart wanted Ryan while Gene wanted Cole. They decided to run a 2nd NXS car for Cole and put Ryan in the #41 Cup car. Custer will probably go in the #10 Cup car for 2024 unless some other oddities happen before then.
As for the 2022 Cup Series season as a whole, I thought it was fantastic (besides the concussions and fire issues). Oh, the single-lug tire issues was a bummer too. It was an extended test of the new car that the pandemic really stunted. But now NASCAR (and Goodyear) know what DOESN'T work and will get to fixing those issues. I forgot to mention the 1st major issue with the new car - bottoming out on flat tires. NASCAR mostly fixed that really fast. The fire issues from tire rubber wrapping up inside the wheel well has been addressed as far as driver safety goes, but still isn't a complete solution. That will get better. My personal opinion is to ditch the new tires altogether and go back to a smaller 5-lug rim with the tires and air pressure supporting the car more than these 1-lug screw-ups with high-flexing tires that blow-out without a moment's notice. NASCAR is already working on the impact zones of the cars to reduce the chances of concussions, so I hope they get that one right ASAP. There was a lot to still work out with this car but NASCAR pushed ahead anyway after their tests of pretty much everything got hampered or stifled by the pandemic shutting down so much stuff. It was still WAY better racing this year than what we saw from the COT in 2007! I can't wait for the 2023 season now, but I will happily wait to see how much progress NASCAR can make with improving these cars for safety reasons and for competition.
NO PWE's EVER!!! PLZ PM me 1st before sending any offer. ONLY selling cards as of March 2024. No trades or purchases right now.
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Largest total PC card collections by Team, then Athlete (as of 3/22/24):
STL Cardinals (MLB) - 8810; Carolina Panthers - 2888; GB Packers - 1790+ cards
Mark Martin (NASCAR) - 2038 cards; Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR) - 1875 cards; Jeff Gordon (NASCAR) - 1594; Ricky Rudd (NASCAR) - 839; Ozzie Smith (MLB) - 707