Grading Every NASCAR Driver's 2022 Season

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[@EricEstepp]

I've noticed a ton of scammers in the comments lately, pretending to be me. Please do not reply to them, text them, or send them any of your information. I'll do my best to keep blocking and reporting them as much as I can.

[@supertornadogun1690]

Gotta look for that checkmark and grey around the name

[@OldsmobileCutlass1969Va]

Sadly... The spammers are on every channel!!! When I see one... I report them.

[@TheBeardedChampion]

I thought Kurt retired Eric or is that after next season?

[@jordh24able]

Wait, it wasn't you when you said that I can earn $10,000 a week doing nothing?

[@GrandpaShark]

@@TheBeardedChampion He retired from full time. Sounds like he may drive in a few races.

[@AshtonG2022]

The paint scheme videos and the Grades are my favorites during the off-season.

[@thatpaintschemeguy8]

Same

[@vailex_]

Cole Pearn leaving has hurt Truex badly. Those two were amazing together

[@jturner0901]

the thing is is he ran decently this season but poor pit crew performance, mistakes from martin himself, and james small as well. But there were several races he could have won this season, Richmond 1, New Hampshire, and Darlington, (technically texas too but that was only because the leader spun, he didn’t have winning pace)

[@samtheram714]

Professor Estepp is back

[@670HP-Package-NOW]

The groovy grader

[@corduroycal]

That’s doctor estepp to you

[@jeremyjensen6154]

Hey Eric I just wanted to say Hello and thanks for the awesome videos! Ive been a diehard NASCAR fan my entire life. Your knowledge of the sport makes me proud to know Im not the only one that loves NASCAR.

[@jeremyjensen6154]

If you ever want to talk racing give me a shout out.

[@NASCARorbascarpeople]

Ross Chastain 1:02 Martin Truex Jr 1:39 Austin Cindric 2:33 Harrison Burton 3:05 Todd Gilliland 3:36 Kevin Harvick 4:13 Denny Hamlin 5:12 Brad Keselowski 6:08 Chris Buescher 7:11 Joey Logano 8:09 Daniel Suarez 8:50 William Byron 9:30 Kyle Larson 10:22 Alex Bowman 11:14 Ty Dillon 11:58 Eric Jones 12:35 Aric Almirola 13:17 Cole Custer 13:50 Chase Brisco 14:43 Tyler Reddick 15:25 Austin Dillon 16:32 Bubba Wallace 17:25 Kurt Busch 18:15 Corey Lajoie 19:06 Micheal McDowell 20:00 Ryan Blaney 20:35 Cody Ware 21:29 Christopher Bell 21:49 Justin Hailey 22:18 Ricky Stenhouse Jr 23:01 Chase Elliott 23:38 Kyle Busch 24:37

[@cyprusgaming.]

Mans doing god's work

[@mrbadguy5040]

Would have been funny if he did BJ McLeod

[@memepauschale476]

What’s the rule for the positioning?

[@nathanakers45]

With how much praise you (rightfully) gave Justin Haley I'm surprised you only gave him a B. A young driver driving that consistently fast AND clean, on a new-ish team in its first full season, was A-/A worthy to me. Very curious what he and AJ can do in '23.

[@chriscavin5453]

And let's not forget Haley only wrecked out at summer Daytona when it rained and nascar didn't throw a caution

[@jhood33]

Erik Jones could have an argument for an A grade. Tied his most top tens in a season at 13( which is more than double from last season), 3top 5s, gets the 43 back to victory lane and has an average finish of 16.25 which is 3 spots better than last year and qualified on average in the top 20. Given expectations, that could be a solid case for at least an A-.

[@kinesisboomer]

Absolutely agreed, though the B+ is fair. It only means there's next year to look forward to. Eric is right though, without that win at Darlington, would Petty GMS even have gotten Jimmie or Noah? Erik's win and performance this year certainly seem to bring Petty GMS back into the spotlight. With hope, next year we may even see both the 42 & 43 in the Championship. (I can dream.)

[@jjy4824]

I think just missing the playoffs makes it not an A.

[@81casperflip]

I'd put Aric Almirola in the Aric Almirola tier yet again this year

[@ephraimvorzman9786]

Your resident Willy B defender is back. William subverted expectations this season. Going into this year I had two goal I wanted him to achieve: win multiple races and make it to the round of 8. He did both. Granted, he did have a summer slump, but the finishes don’t tell the full story. He’s had terrible luck (Darlington 1, Atlanta 2, Daytona 2, Indy Road) and Rudy made some truly baffling strategy calls (Watkins Glen comes to mind). I also think that it’s not out of the question that Hendrick were using the 24 and 48 as R&D cars during the summer, given the similarity of William’s results to Bowman’s. Overall, two wins, 6th in points on the year, made the round of 8. I think Byron did enough to prove that he deserves his Hendrick ride.

[@gz_splash]

Hopefully we get another top 10 best and worst schemes

[@evannuh-koo-la4054]

At the beginning Eric was opened up at pages 346 and 347. The photo briefly shown was Neil Bonnett crashing the back of his 75 Pontiac into the wall at the 1987 Coca Cola 600

[@KFB4LIFE8]

I've been watching old Eric videos all day waiting for something new lol. Eric is a god

[@Rand0mContnt]

Chris Buescher showed this year that, with a decent car under him, he can perform. I think he and Brad turn some heads next year, and god RFK needs it.

[@samueltschida7402]

I always look forward to the grades. I think grading, or ranking the teams would be cool as well. Put them in tiers or something. Great stuff Eric!

[@Scotty2303]

As a huge Kyle Busch fan, I must say he had one of the craziest seasons I can remember, started off the season with a win at Bristol Dirt, could've easily rattled off 2 or 3 more and looked like a real championship contender around Charlotte/Gateway time, then Truex signed an extension around Nashville time and I think now in hindsight that's probably when it became clear to Kyle and to Joe Gibbs that they weren't gonna continue in 2023, glad he got outta there though and into a team on the rise again like RCR, it was quite clear JGR became a bit of a toxic environment for him near the end, meanwhile at RCR he'll be their star driver, hopefully 2-3 wins and a Round of 8 apperance is possible.

[@lukaslang5772]

I absolutely love these end of season videos. The grade video and the paint scheme ranking video are always my favorites each year!

[@Thegreatdeer53]

Love these! Keep up the awesome work Eric

[@ProxxRoxx]

Awesome, was looking forward to this! Great Job as always 👍

[@MackenzietheCollie]

2022 as a Truex fan was ABSOLUTE HELL! I look forward to 2023 because I believe the 19 team will get things together and will return to their winning, playoff, championship 4 qualifying form now with the first full year of the Next Gen car under their belt, and with the changes being made to the car itself heading into next season!

[@gswizzy17]

You mean Joe Gibbs Racing. The “19 team” doesn’t build cars. Sorry if Im being rude I just don’t like the saying “(number) team”

[@alpha24_9]

Hey! Had a good time meeting you at Phoenix and talking some nascar! Again good job by the Astros but hopefully the Rangers can find some post season luck soon.

[@pyroishere]

Another great video Professor Estepp, your videos are always great quality and you do a fair, non-bias breakdown, amongst the drivers. I'm I'm patiently, yet anxiously, waiting for my dicast to arrive, I think the site said 2023, so I'll try to be more patient. Thanks for all you do bro, and congrats to you and the Astros!

[@mt.nichols9349]

I feel like McDowell earned an A just purely based on the significance of this season in terms of his team’s future. It’s invaluable to be off to a solid start in a new car and have all that data to review. It’s tough to build success when neither car is performing well. With one performing above where it’s expected to, that’s an excellent starting point for the Next Gen era.

[@DennyDeliversYT]

Brad Keselowski this season is that one that seemed to be doing well… only to realize that he was actually cheating a lot lol

[@toxicbanana9923]

Ah the video I’ve been waiting for

[@rocksreviewsreactions337]

As Truex fans, we agree with that grade. He was so close a lot this year.😔

[@irvingboy1122]

Considering all the bad luck Blaney has had this season I hope he finally breaks through next season and gets some win going coming from an Elliott fan

[@ahawks4820]

Haley and McDowell definitely deserved at least an A-, both had great seasons and McDowell was a contender at every road course. Haley was a contender at all Super Speedways as expected. Both of which were also able to run well at intermediate tracks, McDowell especially, but Haley got 3rd at Darlington, 3rd at Texas, and got quite a few top-10’s. And as you mentioned only wrecked out of 1 race and that was due to something he had 0 control over (rain)

[@derekbrummett9239]

Great video! Your videos make our day! We agree with your grading.

[@SteveLaneGalway]

Thanks Eric. Your videos are a large part of the reason why Nascar is enjoyable.

[@kyleisrowdy4901]

Love these videos every year and looking forward to the worst and best paint scheme vid

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Very nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@jameshunt649]

Yo big fan of your videos Eric ! Hope to hear from you in the off season !

[@WhatsUpKarlSmithKyle]

Always happy to see and hear alot of love for my man Erik Jones!! Petty gms looking up and Jones is the face of that team. Can't wait till next season.

[@jmreeves89]

Good vid as usual, only I do think some organization to the order may improve it in the future. Maybe by car number? Or alphabetical or by team, some (more obvious, I'm sure there was a plan) rhyme or reason to the order would be cool. Congrats on a great season, Eric!

[@nicholasvassey9799]

Team Trackhouse is going to crush this coming season. Also Ross Chastain as Batman and Daniel Suarez as Robin is Funny but Awesome at the same time!

[@2448_aviation]

You forgot McDowell was fast at gateway. A- IMO

[@tylercochran902]

Love the AD praise. Thanks!!

[@iceeblueburst03]

Nice list of all the full time drivers and their letter grades! Can't wait to see how next year will go! I also can't wait for your paint schemes video to come out soon!

[@brewsnoop]

Finally I get to hear the pronunciation of Estepp! I’ve actually been wondering all year long, thanks Eric.

[@baileyreichert6138]

I look forward to this every year along with the paint scheme videos.

[@RobDTom]

I think you really nailed the grades! I agree with almost all of them.

[@User_of_randomness]

Thank you for this video! Just about half a day ago, my sister had a child for only 15 minutes. I have been sad about it for a while and this helped a lot! ♥️

[@chaos1203]

Bro I’ve been watching you since the nascar paradys nice job

[@prairiefarmer5994]

I think the most frustrating part being an Elliott fan this year is that, like we say a lot about other drivers and missing rings, if this was Winston cup points Elliott would’ve won by simply starting the final race at Phoenix. Oh well, there’s always next year.

[@JustAndEE_]

The homie is back, giving grades!

[@kbd777]

Another great video idea

[@cliffordbrown13]

Good job!

[@lukaslang5772]

I love these videos. You should do them for xfinity and trucks too!

[@Nascar4Life]

Day 2 of asking Eric to bring back Groovy Gulch with next gens

[@michaeljessupracing8454]

Hey , really like the channel. Lots of hard work. Just wondering if you’ve heard any inside scoop on how NASCAR intends to penalize Austin Hill after that brutal assault on Myatt Snider recently? Thx

[@David_Bell3939]

I believe Christopher Bell should get an A+ Eric!! Lol

[@fordenginebuildersv8power184]

Harrison will get some coaching before Daytona! We have offered the Wood Brothers to send him and a car here Arizona and work with him!

[@Ali.4063]

I’ve been waiting for this😊

[@steveutgaard9961]

Awesome video keep up the good work Job cool fun 🤩

[@freddiekeith9534]

Brad finished off the year running as well as most that sooner than I thought he would start running well, next year he will be better

[@intensehumanbox9662]

I really don't like Denny but getting denied by the single greatest move in Nascar history is just a sad state of affairs

[@81casperflip]

The car numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 all won in the same season for the first time in maybe ever?

[@bobpuckett3478]

That was pretty spot on

[@glennheard4021]

Very good!

[@motorosso3349]

Good analysis of the Cup driver's 2022 season.

[@CMP_18]

0:00 HEY! I have that book got it like 10 years ago 😂

[@andrewmarsey1859]

Pretty much on par with your grades. Christopher Bell gets the A++ this year. Newer subscriber, I really enjoy your commentary. Great season 👏🎉

[@t8r-8]

Look at that teacher's outfit lol

[@AbramTexasball]

From Tood Gilliland, he did run top 10 all day at the fall Tallageta race and starting to be like Michael McDowell at road courses and super speedways

[@resyrum5301]

All three rookies this year not only drove for Ford teams, but all also finished top 5 at the Indy Road Course

[@bigrooster6893]

Eric is very smart he waited to almost the end to talk about Chase Elliott because he wants us Chase Elliott fans to watch the entire video and not turn it off after he talks about Chase Elliott but I watch all of them anyway.

[@gregcalnan8394]

Excellent Michael Scott moment at the 10:20 mark :D

[@dennisbessey5161]

I actually agree with most of your grades i think you did a good job grading them

[@kaynewatkins2330]

Hey Eric do you remember me from talladega. I was the first person you signed for at the meetup

[@nascarguy2003]

21:46 You're really sleeping on Cody Ware here. He finished ahead of RWR's #15 car 19-16, which was driven by both a 15-year Cup vet (Yeley), and a road course ringer with factory support (Hand). He also did not finish in last place a single time this season, and at one point had one of the lowest incident counts of any full time driver. I think Cody had at least an A season for his expectations.

[@silasreed-p1l]

“Class is in session”. -Eric 2022

[@lightorange_thegamer29]

ITS BACK

[@braedonshelton2305]

Bubba come a long way this year. The first half of the season was brutal. I think Brad K. Will be a top 20 driver next year. Hopefully he gets a win.

[@grand_master_of_izalith7186]

Ngl, that opening with Nascar: The Complete History had me dying

[@jacobyhobbs744]

Eric I love your videos

[@ncdldnascarcupheaddiecastl4568]

You should do a video on the new times for the races next year

[@white_nissan_skyline_r3360]

I wish C. Bell would have had a bit better of a finish for the Championship 4 race. I think the problem is that he needs to maybe get a bit more practice at Phoenix.

[@wade_says]

Wish Bell would have won it all. That pit stop ruined it. I think he will be a force in the next few years.

[@mandude03VideosYT]

Nice tie Eric

[@joeah99cr21]

i want to make a video like this but for every driver, including different ones for xfinity, trucks and arca even. Every driver. Graded.

[@travispavich1694]

You should also do the x-finite and truck series as well, but should do at least cup and x-finity series

[@DavidJohnson-rj2zz]

What book was that in your hand at the start of the video

[@griffinfuller2567]

Barring Ty Dillon winning races, he was fired before the season started. Petty didn’t want Dillon but the merger with GMS forced him into that ride

[@anitagarrison6916]

🤭 Love the shirt and tie Professor Estepp.

[@officialjfendi]

breaking news: florida man at last receives an A+ in something and has impressed people all across the land

[@jeffcheshier3537]

Elliott getting an A is like Notre Dame being ranked top 10. With the dismal playoff run, A- at best, B+ more realistic, considering all the HMS resources that were increasingly focused on him in later playoff rounds.

[@jeffcheshier3537]

That being said, excellent analysis and a lot of work obviously went into prepping it. Thanks Eric, my son and I have really enjoyed watching your videos this season...added another layer of texture to our NASCAR experience!

[@danielchai6145]

I'd also give elliott an A. He wasn't clutch this year in the playoffs but he didn't have to be until Phoenix. And of course right when he gets his car where he wanted it, and was right next to logano for the championship lead, he spins off of chastain.

[@GodzillaLegendary-kf8vn]

Let’s wait for 2023 Burton is prob gonna have a big improvement I’d say for a rookie not on a team that’s exactly op like others he did good being able to even run up near the front

[@aaron-jamesgannon5135]

Can you do a 2022 livery ranking?

[@cameronchiesa1031]

I was really frustrated with Blaney not winning this season. Needs 2-3 wins next year, at least.

[@blueyintros4482]

Im so proud of my watermelon man

[@eggi576]

ooooo i have that book from the beginning so cool

[@mustanglover06]

I think blaney deserves a higher grade. He was in position to win several races this season, but issues out of his control took him out of contention- gateway, where his pit crew lost him spots every time down pit road - auto club, same issue- Vegas 1, where brad K spun in front of him and he had nowhere to go. Blaney was at least an A- driver this year in my opinion, just needs a more finely tuned team underneath him to get the wins.

[@nascarsam6161]

Bro really put on a tie 😅😂.

[@craigstephenson7676]

I actually think Chase had the best car at Phoenix right before that stupid block on Chastain. If he didn’t make that block it would’ve been a great race. A great strategy call gets him back to the top right next to Logano, I wanted to see them race each other. It looked like their cars were about the same in dirty air

[@trendkill7781]

adam stevens certainly played a huge role in bell's A .. how long before he's moved to the gibbs car ?

[@loonafan1118]

I think you should do this with the trucks and the Xfinity series

[@logdrive3929]

HE'S BACK (ALSO AUSTIN CINDRIC = THE 🐐)

[@isnftv2880]

Please do one of these for the Xfinity series season.