The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series is headed to Arizona this coming weekend for the 2022 Ruoff Mortgage 500. Most eyes will certainly be on the favorites like Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Denny Hamlin, but here are three drivers who might be being undervalued a bit. Check out three sleepers in the upcoming 2022 Ruoff Mortgage 500.
Here we go again with the Erik Jones sleeper train. Jones showed up with a podium finish in Las Vegas late last February, when he placed third in the Wise Power 400 before plunging to a 31st-place performance in the Pennzoil 400 a week after. Nevertheless, if we’re just talking about sleeper value here, Jones is certainly someone that’s worth a look. For one, Jones has four top 10s in 11 career starts at Phoenix Raceway. His best finish there was seventh during the 2017 edition of the Can-Am 500.
After forgettable starts in the 2022 Daytona 500 and in the Wise Power 400, Bell showed signs of life last Sunday when he popped up in the top 10 with a strong showing in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bell is winless at Phoenix Raceway in four career starts there, but he’s cracked the top 10 twice and owns an average finish of 14.75 in those races. He finished ninth in each of his last two starts at Phoenix Raceway.
Chastain is coming off a third-place finish at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and he could build on that performance when he races this weekend down in Arizona. Chastain has never finished inside the top 10 in seven career starts at Phoenix Raceway, but he is making progress there. After failing to crack the top 20 in his first five appearances at the said track, he’s gone 19th and 14th over his last two starts at the Phoenix Raceway.
