Two years ago there were six rookie drivers. Last year four of them returned for their sophomore seasons. This year the three best are back once again for their third seasons in Cup—and just like over the past two years, we’ll be ranking them here at Spade Racing.
Just like in years past we’ll be utilizing the PRETTY grade—Performance Relative to Equating Team’s Typical Year—as a way to properly rank someone from a top-flight team like Joe Gibbs Racing against someone from a top-flight slumping team like Stewart-Haas Racing against someone from a mid-level operation like RCR.
Here’s where our three guys stack up heading into Martinsville:
1.) Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing). 2022 Best Race Finish: 1st (New Hampshire & Charlotte ROVAL). PRETTY Grade: A. C.Bell is back on top on the back of advancing to the Round of 8 with a win at the ROVAL. Although he appears to have been (literally) knocked-out of contention for the Championship Round, it could be worse, like, oh, say intentionally hooking someone on the front stretch, fighting them, lying on tv, and then apologizing to everyone BUT the guy you hooked.
2.) Tyler Reddick (Richard Childress Racing). 2022 Best Race Finish: 1st (Road America, Indy & Texas). PRETTY Grade: A. Reddick has continued his breakout season where, despite being eliminated from the Playoffs, he’s still been in contention for wins. Here’s hoping he continues his hot streak over at 23XI, while Kyle Busch becomes the new driver to regularly outperform Austin Dillon.
3.) Cole Custer (Stewart-Haas Racing). 2022 Best Race Finish: 8th (Bristol). PRETTY Grade: D. If you exclude injured drivers, then Cole Custer is the worst performer this year amongst major teams (JGR, 23XI, Penske, SHR, Hendrick, Trackhouse) and is even behind mid-level teams like both RFK Racing drivers and Justin Haley. No wonder Smoke wants to put Ryan Preece in the 41 car next year.
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