The entire staff of Pit Pass Network made their predictions for the 2023 racing season. These predictions are for the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, IndyCar, and SRX. Predictions include each series champion, rookies of the year, and Championship Four drivers for each NASCAR series.
“Breakout Driver” is categorized as a driver who will surpass low-to-moderate expectations to be a top driver of the year. For example, Ross Chastain and Christopher Bell from 2022.
Robert Cwick Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Busch
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
Erik Jones
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Denny Hamlin
Daytona 500 Winner
Justin Haley
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
AJ Allmendinger
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Cole Custer, Josh Berry, Austin Hill, and Brandon Jones
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Brandon Jones
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Zane Smith, Ty Majeski, Grant Enfinger, and Matt Crafton
Rookie of the Year
Nick Sanchez
Breakout Driver
Hailie Deegan
IndyCar Series
Champion
Scott McLaughlin
Driver with Most Wins
Alex Paulo
Indy 500 Winner
Will Power
SRX
SRX Champion
Tony Stewart
Surprise Guest Driver
Matt DiBenedetto
Tiffany Faw Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Ryan Blaney
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
AJ Allmendinger
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Kyle Busch
Daytona 500 Winner
Brad Keselowski
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
Erik Jones
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Cole Custer, Josh Berry, Austin Hill, and John Hunter Nemechek
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Brandon Jones
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Zane Smith, Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski, and Grant Enfinger
Rookie of the Year
Nick Sanchez
Breakout Driver
Chase Purdy
IndyCar Series
Champion
Josef Newgarden
Driver with Most Wins
Josef Newgarden
Indy 500 Winner
Will Power
SRX
SRX Champion
Tony Stewart
Surprise Guest Driver
Kurt Busch
Jake Finch Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
Martin Truex Jr
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Austin Cindric
Daytona 500 Winner
Brad Keselowski
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
Ty Gibbs
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Sheldon Creed, Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, and Justin Allgaier
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Sammy Smith
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Zane Smith, Carson Hocevar, Ben Rhodes, and Matt Crafton
Rookie of the Year
Daniel Dye
Breakout Driver
Daniel Dye
IndyCar Series
Champion
Scott Dixon
Driver with Most Wins
Scott Dixon
Indy 500 Winner
Scott Dixon
SRX
SRX Champion
Bobby Labonte
Surprise Guest Driver
Mike Dillon
Griffin Fuller Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Kyle Larson, Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, and Kevin Harvick
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
AJ Allmendinger
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Austin Cindric
Daytona 500 Winner
Ryan Blaney
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
Ryan Preece
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Josh Berry, Cole Custer, Sam Mayer, and Austin Hill
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Chandler Smith
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Ty Majeski, Ben Rhodes, Carson Hocevar, and Zane Smith
Rookie of the Year
Daniel Dye
Breakout Driver
Carson Hocevar
IndyCar Series
Champion
Josef Newgarden
Driver with Most Wins
Will Power
Indy 500 Winner
Alexander Rossi
SRX
SRX Champion
Tony Stewart
Surprise Guest Driver
Jimmie Johnson
Robert Hill Jr Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, AJ Allmendinger, and Kevin Harvick
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
AJ Allmendinger
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Austin Dillon
Daytona 500 Winner
Justin Haley
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
Ryan Preece
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Cole Custer, Josh Berry, Austin Hill, and John Hunter Nemechek
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Kaz Grala
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Stewart Friesen, Zane Smith, Ben Rhodes, and Matt Crafton
Rookie of the Year
Nick Sanchez
Breakout Driver
Hailie Deegan
IndyCar Series
Champion
Pato O’Ward
Driver with Most Wins
Scott McLaughlin
Indy 500 Winner
Tony Kanaan
SRX
SRX Champion
Marco Andretti
Surprise Guest Driver
Stephen Nasse
Cash James Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Larson
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
Brad Keselowski
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Alex Bowman
Daytona 500 Winner
Erik Jones
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
Brad Keselowski
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Josh Berry, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, and Cole Custer
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Brandon Jones
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Zane Smith, Ben Rhodes, Carson Hocevar, and Nick Sanchez
Rookie of the Year
Nick Sanchez
Breakout Driver
Carson Hocevar
IndyCar Series
Champion
Josef Newgarden
Driver with Most Wins
Scott McLaughlin
Indy 500 Winner
Will Power
SRX
SRX Champion
Ryan Newman
Surprise Guest Driver
Terry Labonte
Terra Jones Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, and Kyle Busch
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
AJ Allmendinger
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Austin Dillon
Daytona 500 Winner
Michael McDowell
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
Tyler Reddick
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Josh Berry, Daniel Hemric, John Hunter Nemechek, and Brandon Jones
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Zane Smith, Ty Majeski, Carson Hocevar, and Ben Rhodes
Rookie of the Year
Daniel Dye
Breakout Driver
Daniel Dye
IndyCar Series
Champion
Josef Newgarden
Driver with Most Wins
Josef Newgarden
Indy 500 Winner
Josef Newgarden
SRX
SRX Champion
Tony Stewart
Surprise Guest Driver
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Gregory Latham Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and Ross Chastain
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
Martin Truex Jr
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Austin Cindric
Daytona 500 Winner
Michael McDowell
Rookie of the Year
Noah Gragson
Breakout Driver
AJ Allmendinger
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Cole Custer, Brandon Jones, Josh Berry, and Sheldon Creed
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Brandon Jones
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski, Zane Smith, and Matt Crafton
Rookie of the Year
Nick Sanchez
Breakout Driver
Hailie Deegan
IndyCar Series
Champion
Scott Dixon
Driver with Most Wins
Will Power
Indy 500 Winner
Will Power
SRX
SRX Champion
Tony Stewart
Surprise Guest Driver
Kurt Busch
Casey Melvin Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
Brad Keselowski
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Ross Chastain
Daytona 500 Winner
Kevin Harvick
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
Chase Briscoe
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric, Justin Allgaier, and Parker Kligerman
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Anthony Alfredo
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Matt Crafton, Ben Rhodes, Zane Smith, and Corey Heim
Rookie of the Year
Nick Sanchez
Breakout Driver
Chase Purdy
IndyCar Series
Champion
Scott Dixon
Driver with Most Wins
Will Power
Indy 500 Winner
Helio Castroneves
SRX
SRX Champion
Ryan Newman
Surprise Guest Driver
Carl Edwards
Justin Poley Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Chase Briscoe
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
Ryan Preece
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Austin Dillon
Daytona 500 Winner
Denny Hamlin
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
Chase Briscoe
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Cole Custer, Josh Berry, Austin Hill, and John Hunter Nemechek
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Chandler Smith
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Zane Smith, Ty Majeski, Ben Rhodes, and Grant Enfinger
Rookie of the Year
Daniel Dye
Breakout Driver
Taylor Gray
IndyCar Series
Champion
Josef Newgarden
Driver with Most Wins
Scott McLaughlin
Indy 500 Winner
Pato O’Ward
SRX
SRX Champion
Bobby Labonte
Surprise Guest Driver
Brad Keselowski
Daniel Smith Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Chase Elliott
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
Bubba Wallace
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Kyle Busch
Daytona 500 Winner
Michael McDowell
Rookie of the Year
Ty Gibbs
Breakout Driver
Tyler Reddick
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier, John Hunter Nemechek, and Josh Berry
Rookie of the Year
Sammy Smith
Breakout Driver
Sammy Smith
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Grant Enfinger, Zane Smith, Ben Rhodes, and Ty Majeski
Rookie of the Year
Nick Sanchez
Breakout Driver
Chase Purdy
IndyCar Series
Champion
Josef Newgarden
Driver with Most Wins
Josef Newgarden
Indy 500 Winner
Colten Herta
SRX
SRX Champion
Tony Stewart
Surprise Guest Driver
Ron Capps
Jane Waldrop Predictions
NASCAR Cup Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez, and Kyle Busch
Driver Who Will Make the Playoff Who Did Not in 2022
Martin Truex Jr
Driver Who Will Miss the Playoff Who Did in 2022
Austin Cindric
Daytona 500 Winner
Tyler Reddick
Rookie of the Year
Noah Gragson
Breakout Driver
Chase Briscoe
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Josh Berry, Daniel Hemric, John Hunter Nemechek, and Cole Custer
Rookie of the Year
Parker Retzlaff
Breakout Driver
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Craftsman Truck Series
Championship Four (champion in bold)
Carson Hocevar, Matt DiBenedetto, Chase Purdy, and Nick Sanchez
Rookie of the Year
Nick Sanchez
Breakout Driver
Hailie Deegan
IndyCar Series
Champion
Romain Grosjean
Driver with Most Wins
Alex Palou
Indy 500 Winner
Marco Andretti
SRX
SRX Champion
Ryan Newman
Surprise Guest Driver
Dale Earnhardt Jr
