NASCAR issues a statement as the cat is out of the bag on number placement for the 2022 season
On Friday night, Kurt Busch announced he would join 23XI Racing for the 2022 NASCAR season. They’ll expand to a two-car NASCAR Cup Series team next year. In the video, the team showed video of their Np. 45 car.
Fans have taken notice of the number placement. The number is moved forward on the door.
The NASCAR Next Gen car makes it’s debut in the 2022 season. With that change comes a much smaller rear quarter panel.
The rear quarter panel is the primary sponsor placement on the current car. The shorter rear panel created a lack of real estate situation for multi-million dollar sponsors that fund every team in the sport.
Over the past several months, NASCAR has explored various options for the door number. Last year, the numbers were moved backwards in the All-Star race at Bristol.
Fans hated it, to say the least.
Now, it’s been confirmed that NASCAR has done the opposite. The number will be moved forward.
In recent years, the front of the door was filled with series sponsors. Those programs have been removed, opening the door for this change.
Related: NASCAR numbers could be moved forward (Concept Image)
NASCAR statement on the number placement
The sanction issued the following statement, “There remains incredible interest from new owners and new sponsors in joining the NASCAR family. We are committed to working with our race team partners to innovate and deliver opportunities to increase the value to sponsors who support our sport.”
Related: NASCAR car number placement discussed for 2022 (May 2021)
Richard Childress Racing on the 2022 NASCAR numbers
“We are extremely enthusiastic about the launch of the Next Gen car in 2022,” Richard Childress Racing President Torrey Galida said.
“All three manufacturers did a great job with the styling of the new race cars. We all know how important the number is to a fan’s connection with their driver. Moving the numbers forward should make them more visible, and will also provide the race teams an opportunity to give sponsors some enhanced branding opportunities.”
He added, “The teams and sponsors are going to have fun creating some bold new designs on the new car.”
The NASCAR Next Gen car makes it’s debut at Daytona International Speedway in February 2022.
Related: Bubba Wallace raced with an upside down roof number at Michigan (Photo)
