These Are Some of the Coolest Photos from the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship

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A crew member of the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford waves the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship flag as driver Joey Logano celebrates with a burnout after winning the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 06, 2022 in Avondale, Arizona.

The dust is finally starting to settle on the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship, a title earned by Team Penske’s Joey Logano last evening. I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready to let the year go quite yet — and I figured this is as good a time as any to enjoy a look through some of the greatest visuals of the season.

I have a lot of respect for motorsport photographers. Snapping shots of fast cars is nowhere near as easy as some people might want you to think — and getting a gorgeous photo with dreamy composition and the perfect lighting is even more difficult. That’s a big part of why I want to celebrate the unsung heroes of the NASCAR circuit: its photographers. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.

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Sunsets for Days

Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Worldwide Express/Advent Health Chevrolet, drives drives through the garage area as the sun sets during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 04, 2022 in Avondale, Arizona.

I don’t know about you, but I’m a real sucker for a good sunset race car shot. This photo of Ross Chastain is one I’d honestly love to have hanging on my wall.

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Shadow

Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 6 Kohler Generators Ford, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 02, 2022 in Talladega, Alabama.

It’s the same story with shadowy images like this one of Brad Keselowski. The skill it takes to get a shot like this is just absurd.

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I Wish I Was as Cool as Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Menards/Moen Ford, walks the grid in preparation to qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 03, 2022 in Darlington, South Carolina.

Literally, I would love even a smidge of his coolness.

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Pace Car Pack

Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, and Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 45 Monster Energy Toyota, lead the field prior to the green flag of the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2022 in Concord, North Carolina.

I’ve been obsessed with these types of photos from the back of the NASCAR pace car. It’s so rare to get photos of a car straight-on during a race, so nabbing a few on the warm-up laps is genius.

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FIRE

Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2022 in Concord, North Carolina.

More victory celebrations need explosions.

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Airborne

Chris Buescher, driver of the No. 17 Fifth Third Bank Ford, flips after an on-track incident with Daniel Suarez, driver of the No. 99 CommScope Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29, 2022 in Concord, North Carolina.

Chris Buescher’s massive crash during the Coca-Cola 600 was terrifying, but the driver was thankfully able to continue racing after a week away from the race track. This mid-air shot really shows the damage.

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Bubba’s Win

Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 45 ROOT Insurance Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 11, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas.

Bubba Wallace has faced an undue amount of criticism during his career, which made this well-earned win at Kansas such a satisfying one.

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Ominous

Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 14, 2022 in Richmond, Virginia.

This photo of Kevin Harvick celebrating his win at Richmond is exactly the kind of vibe I’m going for during the winter months.

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A Man of the People

Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Rheem/WATTS Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 17, 2022 in Loudon, New Hampshire.

God, what a shot.

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From the Fog

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 23, 2022 in Homestead, Florida.

I’ve never exactly been sure of how I feel about Martin Truex Jr., but this photo of him emerging from smoke during driver intros is arguably one of the greater images of the season.

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Rainy Days

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, leads the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 21, 2022 in Watkins Glen, New York.

Another pace car photo, this time of Chase Elliott during the rainy warm-up laps at Watkins Glen this year. I’m a sucker for those lens flares.

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A Perfect Summer Day

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia.

Honestly, this photo just gives me warm and fuzzy vibes.

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Cars at Speed

A general view of racing during the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I’m a massive fan of photos that actually give a sense of speed — just like this one does.

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Hamlin Is Over It

Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, gestures after winning the NASCAR Cup Series M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 24, 2022 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

Bless you, Denny Hamlin.

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Dillon’s Win

Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 BREZTRI Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 28, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

I love this one because it gives such a great sense of Daytona’s banking.

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We Don’t Deserve Gateway

Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Menards/Atlas Ford, and Chase Briscoe, driver of the No. 14 HighPoint.com Ford, lead the field on a pace lap prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway on June 05, 2022 in Madison, Illinois.

MORE FIRE, PLEASE AND THANKS.

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A Battle Bigger than Texas

Ryan Blaney, driver of the No. 12 Menards/Wrangler Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway on May 22, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas.

I was so stressed out during the final laps of the All-Star Race, but it was all worth it just to see Ryan Blaney beaming in victory circle surrounded by Texas-shaped confetti.

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Getting Dirty

Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Advent Health Chevrolet, spins after an on-track incident as Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, drives past during first practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 15, 2022 in Bristol, Tennessee.

Bristol’s dirt race is unironically one of the greatest things NASCAR has ever put together.

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Hometown Hero

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 10, 2022 in Hampton, Georgia.

A banner win for Chase Elliott.

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In Memoriam

A detail view of a pit crew helmet with “Uncle Coy” written on tape in memory of Coy Gibbs, co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 06, 2022 in Avondale, Arizona.

Just before the final race of the Cup Series season, Coy Gibbs, co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, died. Meg Oliphant did a wonderful job catching the team’s heartwarming tribute.

These Are Some of the Coolest Photos from the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship

Joey Logano might have taken the title, but we can still revel in the glory of the season.

Sunsets for Days

Sunsets for Days

Shadow

Shadow

I Wish I Was as Cool as Ryan Blaney

I Wish I Was as Cool as Ryan Blaney

Pace Car Pack

Pace Car Pack

FIRE

FIRE

Airborne

Airborne

Bubba’s Win

Bubba’s Win

Ominous

Ominous

A Man of the People

A Man of the People

From the Fog

From the Fog

Rainy Days

Rainy Days

A Perfect Summer Day

A Perfect Summer Day

Cars at Speed

Cars at Speed

Hamlin Is Over It

Hamlin Is Over It

Dillon’s Win

Dillon’s Win

We Don’t Deserve Gateway

We Don’t Deserve Gateway

A Battle Bigger than Texas

A Battle Bigger than Texas

Getting Dirty

Getting Dirty

Hometown Hero

Hometown Hero

In Memoriam

In Memoriam