Despite securing three quarters of the Championship Four last year, JR Motorsports failed to bring home the championship trophy. However, 2022 was a remarkable year for the team. JR Motorsports led the Xfinity Series in wins with 15 across four drivers. Noah Gragson led the series with 8, while Josh Berry and Justin Allgaier each won 3 races. Kyle Larson claims the other win, as he won at Watkins Glen in the 88 car. Although Sam Mayer did not win a race, he flashed enough talent to show a promising future. Heading into 2023, the only lineup change was Brandon Jones replacing the departing Gragson. With the three quarters of the lineup returning, surely JR Motorsports would only build off a fantastic 2022. Find out if they did in this Season in Review.
Sam Mayer – #1
2023 Stat Line:Â 33 Starts – 4 Wins, 13 Top-5s, 19 Top-10s, 177 Laps Led, Avg Fin 13.2
Crew Chief: Mardy Lindley
Driver Points Ranking: 3;Â Owner Points Ranking: 3
Notable Results: Picked up first career win at Road America; Advanced to Championship Four
After a solid (yet unremarkable) rookie season, expectations were for Sam Mayer to make a jump in performance in 2023. Although he made the Round of 8 last year, Mayer went winless and was the clear fourth driver in the JR Motorsports stable. Since it was his rookie year, his performance was acceptable. However, it is not a great look when you go winless while your fulltime teammates score a combined 14 wins.
Although the expectation was to improve this season, no one foresaw how well Sam Mayer would run. Especially during the second half of the year, Mayer formed into a championship contender. Perhaps most surprising is that Mayer turned into a road course ace. While Mayer did average a 9.8 finish (not including his DNF at Portland) in 2022, nobody saw Mayer winning 3 road course races. Mayer’s worst finish on a road course was 17th at Chicago, which was rain shortened. If you remove Chicago, Mayer’s average finish on road courses was an astounding 4.2.
In addition to the 4 wins, Sam Mayer advanced to his first Championship Four of his career. Mayer had to turn in a clutch performance at the ROVAL, as he was in must-win territory due to 2 DNFs earlier in the first round. Although he finished third in the championship standings, Mayer capped off 2023 with four straight Top-5s. After his 2023 season, Mayer is establishing himself as one of the top young drivers to watch moving forward.
2023 Grade: A
Outside of hoisting the championship trophy, Sam Mayer had the ideal season. The young driver racked up 4 wins and made the Championship Four. It is difficult to call that anything but successful. On top of that, Mayer collected double-digit Top-5s and matched his 19 Top-10s from the year prior.
Despite the great season, there are areas where Mayer can improve. Mainly, he needs to drive his DNFs down drastically next season. In 2023, he had 7 DNFs. By comparison, his three fulltime teammates had 11 total between them. Three straight DNFs late in the season almost ruined his chances for a championship. During the playoffs, Mayer had a DNF in 3 of the 7 races. While wins are great, it is of great importance that Mayer tones down the wrecking. Unless you are rattling off near double-digit wins per season, a car coming home in one piece on a weekly basis is key in the Cup Series.
2024 Outlook
Can Sam Mayer back up his 2023 season next year? That is the big question heading into next season for the young driver. While it seems likely 2023 was progression, Mayer needs to reinforce that by putting together another multi-win season. Remember, Josh Berry won 3 times in 2022 before putting up a goose egg this season. Mayer could be a rising star in NASCAR. However, that cannot be declared yet until he has two strong Xfinity Series seasons.
While Mayer did win at Homestead, it would be interesting to see if he can win multiple races on ovals. Upon review, Mayer rarely showed race winning speed outside of the road courses. Seeing Mayer contend for more wins on the ovals will be important to his development. What was most surprising about his 2023 season was that Mayer struggled on the short tracks. Mayer won his debut Truck Series race at Bristol, yet failed to Top-5 at any short track in 2023.
Justin Allgaier – #7
2023 Stat Line:Â 33 Starts – 4 Wins, 15 Top-5s, 20 Top-10s, 3 Poles, Avg Fin 10.6
Crew Chief: James Pohlman
Driver Points Ranking: 2;Â Owner Points Ranking: 2
Notable Results: Advanced to Championship Four; Picked up first Daytona win
For the fourth straight season, Justin Allgaier put together a multi-win season. Over those seasons, Allgaier has racked up 12 wins and 3 Championship Four appearances. Allgaier looked strong out of the gate, finishing inside the Top-3 in the first three events of the season. Then his season went on a bit of cold streak, where he had 4 finishes outside the Top-10 over the next 6 races. However, he hit another hot streak that included his win at Charlotte.
While Allgaier was strong all season, he truly hit his stride during the later portion of the year. Starting with picking up his first Daytona win, Allgaier’s final 10 races saw him average a 9.4 finish. If not for a wreck at the ROVAL, that average finish would improve significantly. In addition to the strong average finish, Allgaier picked up 3 of his 4 wins during this stretch. Most importantly, he had a win in each round of the playoffs to help him advance to the Championship Four.
2023 Grade: A-
Much like Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier had a successful 2023 season. He fell one win shy of hitting career high. However, he was closest driver to wrestling the championship away from Cole Custer on that final restart. While the championship still eludes Allgaier, it is hard to deny how well his season went. With that said, Allgaier remains a steady hand in the Xfinity Series that seems to have a ceiling. Each season, Allgaier peaks as the third or fourth best driver in the series. He will never be the standout, but will keep his car in contention most weeks and pick up multiple wins.
2024 Outlook
Justin Allgaier’s quest for the Xfinity Series Championship is starting to mirror Denny Hamiln’s. In terms of competitors with this much lineage in the series, could Allgaier be the greatest Xfinity Series driver to never win a championship? Perhaps.
As long as he is in JR Motorsports equipment, Allgaier will always have a chance at the championship. His pairing with crew chief Jason Pohlman did not seem to upset the team dynamic. 2024 should see another multi-win season where Allgaier likely makes the Championship Four.
Josh Berry – #8
2023 Stat Line:Â 33 Starts – 11 Top-5s, 18 Top-10s, 3 Poles, 211 Laps Led, Avg Fin 13.2
Crew Chief: Taylor Moyer
Driver Points Ranking: 11;Â Owner Points Ranking: 11
Notable Results: Made the playoffs; Secured a career-high 3 poles
Josh Berry’s late bloom into the national NASCAR scene has been a feel good story. After nabbing a couple of wins during a part time schedule in 2021, Berry finally obtained a fulltime ride in 2022. He did not disappoint either, as he racked up 3 wins and advanced to the Championship Four. Berry backed up Dale Earnhardt Jr’s faith in him with his great season. Expectations were high for Berry coming into 2023. Although he would have a new crew chief this season, there was no reason to expect a drop off.
Unfortunately, Josh Berry’s 2023 was a stepdown compared to his prior two seasons. He failed to win a race after winning multiple the previous two seasons. He flamed out early in the playoffs, not able to advance out of the first round. Although he did manage to match his Top-5s from the previous year, Berry never felt like the race winning threat as he did in 2022. While he had some better weekends here or there (Michigan being a prime example), the 8 car felt off compared to his top competitors.
Chevy’s Substitute Driver
Despite a down Xfinity Series season, 2023 would be extremely beneficial for Josh Berry. Berry was tabbed as the primary driver to replace a Chevy Cup driver whenever they went down for injury or suspension. It started with the third race of the season, as Berry filled in for snow board enthusiast Chase Elliott. Berry drove the 9 car for 5 races. Shortly after, Berry was picked again to drive for an injured Hendrick driver. This time, it was Alex Bowman. Berry made 3 official starts for Bowman, plus the All-Star Open and Race. Once more, Berry made 2 starts in Legacy Motor Club’s 42 after Noah Gragson got the boot.
In all, Josh Berry made 10 starts in the Cup Series. Based on his success in his Hendrick Cup starts, Stewart-Haas Racing decided to choose Berry as Kevin Harvick’s replacement for the 4 car. Demonstrating the ability to run well in the NextGen car, Berry was a logical choice for SHR. In his 10 starts, Berry managed to secure a Top-5 at Richmond and 3 Top-10s. Plus, he won the All-Star Open.
2023 Grade: D+
Although his Top-5s-and-10s compared well to last year, Josh Berry’s 2023 was a massive disappointment. Not only did he go winless, but he had an early exit from the playoffs. From Championship Four to finishing outside the Top-10 in points. That is a rough decline from one year to the next. Furthermore, Berry’s laps led dropped by 145 laps and his average finish rose by 2.4 positions. For a JR Motorsports driver, this season was wildly mediocre at best.
2024 Outlook
For Josh Berry, his outlook is tough to gauge. Obviously, a call up to the Cup Series is great for his career. However, he is joining a sinking ship that is Stewart-Haas Racing. At the same time, Berry will be joining the only team from SHR that looked competent last year. Being paired with Rodney Childers is great for Berry, as it should help ease Berry into that ride. Based on his limited Cup action, Berry should be a competent Cup Series driver. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what to expect out of Berry next season.
As for JR Motorsports’ 8 team, Sammy Smith will be leaving Joe Gibbs Racing and replacing Josh Berry. The reigning Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year will look to improve upon Berry’s 2023 accomplishments. In addition to the new driver, the team will have a new crew chief. Adam Wall, Kyle Larson’s lead engineer from 2023, will be calling the shots atop the pit box. With the influx of new talent, maybe the 8 car will perform better this season. However, Sammy Smith struggled to find consistent speed with JGR last year.
Brandon Jones – #9
2023 Stat Line:Â 33 Starts – 3 Top-5s, 10 Top-10s, 48 Laps Led, Avg Fin 17.1
Crew Chief: Jason Burdett
Driver Points Ranking: 14;Â Owner Points Ranking: 16
Notable Results: Missed the playoffs; Worst season of Xfinity career
Revenge was on the slate for Brandon Jones in 2023. After his teammate dumped him for the playoff Martinsville win, Jones seemed excited to transition to JR Motorsports. He would be attempting to live up to lofty expectations, as Noah Gragson won 8 times in the same car last season. While Jones is seen as another poster child for a “paid driver”, Jones had shown flashes of talent during his JGR tenure. Though he maybe an Xfinity lifer, there was hope that the change of scenery might bolster Jones to the next level.
Well, that certainly did not happen. What an awful year for Jones, the 9 team, and everyone who had to watch it unfold. Jones had his worst season since his days with Richard Childress Racing. This was the second fewest Top-10s Jones has scored in the Xfinity Series, lower than his rookie season. In addition to that, Jones missed the playoffs and sat as the bottom driver in top tiered equipment. His average finish of 17.1 was 3.9 spots worse than Mayer and Berry (13.2). The 9 car went from a championship favorite to a complete non-factor, battling AM Racing and Sam Hunt Racing for on-track positions.
2023 Grade: F
If there was a lower grade than F to hand out, Brandon Jones would receive it. All the negative comments that Jones has faced during his JGR days were seemingly proven correct. Jones took a team that contended weekly for wins to a mid-pack car. A JR Motorsports entry should not be averaging a finish outside the Top-15. Even Darlington (usually Jones’ best track) was not safe from how bad this season sucked.
The lone positive that can be taken from this season is Jones did not get booted from his ride. Despite 2023 being a disaster, Jones still has his ride. Throughout the season, commentators would discuss how badly Jones and the 9 team were struggling. At times, it felt as if JR Motorsports contracted down three teams.
2024 Outlook
Despite how awful this past season was, Brandon Jones is returning to the 9 car next year. JR Motorsports fans rejoice! With how bad 2023 was, there is only one direction for this team to go. Barring a complete breakdown, Jones can only improve in 2024. Maybe Jones was trying too hard throughout the season. Perhaps he did not mesh well with his crew chief and that caused the issues. Whatever the problems were, they need to be resolved for 2024.
Jones will be paired with a new crew chief, as Phillip Bell returns to JR Motorsports. The hope is that the new pairing can see Jones return to relevancy in 2024. The bare minimum expectation is that Jones makes the playoffs this coming season. With the level of competition in the Xfinity Series, there is no excuse for the 9 car to miss out again next year. However, another terrible season from Brandon Jones might spell the end of his time in top Xfinity Series equipment. Well, unless that Menards money is too sweet to pass up.
Miguel Paludo/Dale Earnhardt Jr – #88
2023 Stat Line: 5 Starts – 1 Top-5, 1 Top-10, 47 Laps Led, Avg Fin 16.6
Crew Chief: Jason Stockert
Notable Results: Top-5 at Homestead; Dale Earnhardt Jr catching on fire at Bristol
The 88 car made 5 starts in 2023. Miguel Paludo and Dale Earnhardt Jr split the time in the seat. Paludo ran 3 races, all of them on road courses. During his stint in the 88, Paludo failed to impress once again. He finished 13th at COTA and Chicago, while missing out on the Top-20 at the Indy GP. Surely, Paludo will return to the 88 car in 2024 to run a handful of the road courses. Hopefully, those results will be an improvement from this past season.
Contrasting the mundane Paludo starts, Dale Earnhardt Jr was Mr. Excitement in his 2 starts. At Bristol, Earnhardt Jr was battling for the lead late. He ran inside the Top-5 most of the race and looked to be a contender for the win. That was until his car caught fire, causing Earnhardt Jr to pull down pit road, stop in a random stall, and having a hole burned in the bottom of his shoe. Fast forward to Homestead, Earnhardt Jr put together another quality run where he finished fifth. The best part of these starts was the lack of screaming from the commentary booth.
JR Motorsports Grade: C+
Much like Hendrick Motorsports, JR Motorsports was the tale of two sets of drivers. With Sam Mayer and Justin Allgaier, you had 8 wins and both made the Championship Four. Meanwhile, Josh Berry and Brandon Jones both goose egged the season and neither made an impact. Berry’s playoff appearance was so brief and disastrous, it almost seemed like he did not missed them. Depending on what you want focus on is how you will judge JR Motorsports’ 2023 as a whole. For this review, it essentially splits down the middle.
With that said, it must be incredibly frustrating for the team that they keep falling short of the championship. Over the past two seasons, JRM drivers have accounted for 62.5% of the Championship Four. Yet, JRM has failed to capture the title. Last year had to be more frustrating than this year, especially considering who they lost to after the events of Martinsville. Can JR Motorsports get over the Championship Four hump and reclaim the Xfinity Series trophy in 2024? Based on their driver lineup, it may come down to the two drivers who found the most success last year.
For other 2023 Season in Review articles, click the link(s) below:
Griffin Fuller
- Cup: Team Penske, Wood Brothers, Stewart-Haas Racing, Trackhouse Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI Racing, RFK Racing, The Money Team/Beard Motorsports
- Xfinity: Stewart-Haas Racing, AM Racing
Robert Cwick – JTG-Daugherty, Live Fast, Front Row (Part 1), Front Row (Part 2), Legacy Motor ClubÂ
Daniel Smith (Statistical Breakdown)
- Cup: Team Penske/Wood Brothers, Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, 23XI & Legacy Motor Club, RFK/Front Row, Trackhouse/RCR, Stewart-Haas Racing, JTG/Rick Ware/Live Fast, Kaulig/Spire, Final Rankings
- Xfinity: Stewart-Haas/AM Racing, JR Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing/Sam Hunt Racing, RCR/Kaulig Racing, Big Machine/Jeremy Clements/BJ McLeod/Our Motorsports, Jordan Anderson/DGM, RSS Racing, JD Motorsports/SS Green Light Racing, Alpha Prime/Emerling-Gase, Final Rankings
- Trucks: Thorsports, GMS Racing, Niece Motorsports
