Who are NASCAR’s best young drivers? Here’s our list of the top 10 prospects
NASCAR is awash in young, generational-level talent. Across NASCAR's three national series down to its grassroots divisions, NASCAR is inundated with young drivers — some in their early teens — with an ability behind the wheel that's beyond their age.
The latest driver to emerge to the forefront is Connor Zilisch, a prodigious 18-year-old who last week in his much-ballyhooed Xfinity Series debut won in convincing fashion , showcasing raw speed and impressive patience and moxie in managing a sequence of late-race situations that often frazzle the most hardened veterans.
Zilisch may be the headliner of this emerging class, but there are several others. Corey Day just made his NASCAR national series debut Thursday night in the Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He's caught Kyle Larson's attention to such a degree that the 2021 Cup champion has touted Day as a future superstar and urged team owner Rick Hendrick to put him under contract. (Hendrick's automotive company is sponsoring Day's NASCAR effort.)
Who else beyond Zilisch and Day should be heralded as NASCAR's top prospects? To answer this question, compiled a ranking of 10 upper-echelon prospects on the rise. The criteria used is that any driver not currently competing full-time in the Cup Series, age 25 or younger, was eligible, with talent and potential the overriding factors. These rankings are based on conversations with individuals across the NASCAR industry representing a variety of roles, all of whom are extensively knowledgeable about up-and-coming drivers.
:: Trackhouse Racing
Few NASCAR drivers in recent history have received more accolades than Zilisch, who only solidified the hype by winning in his Xfinity debut. He's a blue-chip prospect who many within the industry are convinced will achieve great things in Cup when he inevitably (and likely sooner rather than later) reaches that series. Going into the year, the one knock against Zilisch, whose background is in road racing, was lack of experience on ovals, especially on big tracks, but he resoundingly answered that question this season by winning ARCA races at Dover and Michigan and taking second in Milwaukee — all tracks over a mile.
Garage confidential: "Stud. Absolute stud." ... "He showed how unflappable in how he won that (Xfinity) race." ... "He could jump in a Cup car, on a road course, and finish in the top five. He's that good." ... "I want to see how he adapts to ovals, but the talent is there." ... "(He's) the most Cup-ready guy even with his limited experience at the national level." ... "Has the talent of Kyle Larson (or arguably more)." ... "He's one of the most marketable young drivers out there — which equals money, which equals rides that match his talent."
::Hendrick Motorsports
Day's accomplishments in dirt sprint car racing have turned many heads. Due to his dirt racing background, Day will have to demonstrate that his skillset is transferable to stock cars — something Larson was able to do, while several other highly regarded prospects from the dirt world weren't. Despite the uncertainty, Day was still named on the majority of ballots in our informal straw poll.
Garage confidential: "He's going to be (Rick Hendrick's) next superstar, you just watch." ... "When I see him, I see Kyle Larson." ... "When Larson says, 'He's better than I was at that age, you have to listen." ... "If you can get potentially the next Larson or (Christopher) Bell, you have to jump at that opportunity."
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When Crews is eligible to compete at NASCAR's national level, expect a similar type of buzz as Zilisch. And like Zilisch, the sizzle surrounding Crews has substance behind it. At age 13 years, 3 months, 4 days, he became the youngest winner in the formidable TA2 series, then the following year the youngest series champion. He's also won twice in ARCA competition. What stands out about him is not only a diverse background that includes racing go-karts, midgets and late models, but that he's been successful in anything in which he's competed. He'll likely be another star out of Toyota's developmental program.
Garage confidential: "Something special." ... "He's so smart, you'd never know he's only 16." ... "For him to do what he did in TA2 at his age tells you everything. And then he gets into a dirt car, a late model, and is competitive, wow." ... "I can't wait to watch when he starts doing NASCAR stuff."
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Heim isn't flashy, just effective. After winning the 2023 Truck Series regular-season championship, he followed by winning a series-best five times in 2024 and is again a strong contender for the overall championship. He's also made an impression behind the scenes serving as the simulator driver for Toyota-supported 23XI Racing and Legacy Motor Club. That he isn't yet full-time in Cup is surprising to some, but he is certainly deserving. It won't be long before he makes the jump.
Garage confidential: "He deserves to already be in Cup." .... "He's better now than some of the current drivers that Toyota have in Cup." ... I like him a lot, but what's his path (to Cup)? It feels like his road is blocked."
:: JR Motorsports
It wasn't too long ago teams largely avoided canvassing the late-model ranks for future drivers. That's no longer the case thanks to the success of Josh Berry and others. And just as Berry capitalized on the select opportunities JR Motorsports provided him, Kvapil is doing the same. When he made his Xfinity debut this spring at Martinsville, he scored a fourth-place finish that had team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. raving afterward about his talent. More praise followed when he finished second in his next start. JRM would love Kvapil to race full-time for the team next year, and if that chance comes, there is little doubt that he'll reward them.
Garage confidential: "Kid finds a way to win." ... "Doesn't make many mistakes and then doesn't make the same mistake twice." ... "Races like a veteran. Mature." ... "Impressive in every Xfinity start this year. Outperforms other young JRM drivers seemingly every time."
:: Kaulig Racing (beginning next year)
Just a few years ago, Eckes looked like a young driver who had his chance at the national level and, for numerous reasons, it hadn't worked out as intended. He is now a Truck Series driver who's won a combined seven times over the past two years, captured the 2024 regular-season championship and is a favorite to win the overall championship this year. Next year, he's getting a well-earned promotion to Xfinity, where he'll drive for Kaulig Racing, an opportunity based solely on merit and not funding.
Garage confidential: "Most Cup-ready of guys on my list." ... "Kid doesn't quit even when he's been kicked to the curb." ... "He gets better every year." ... "Watch him blow up next year in Xfinity."
:: Chevrolet/Big Machine Racing (beginning next year)
Sanchez has enjoyed a breakout season in his second year in Trucks, winning twice and improving his average finish by four positions. His consistency is not yet to the level you'd like to see, but the talent and speed are certainly there — he's won a series-best seven poles the past two years. If he can convert that speed into wins, look out. Big Machine Racing announced that Sanchez will take over its Xfinity entry next year, a good chance for him to further solidify himself as one of NASCAR's top up-and-coming talents.
Garage confidential: "Nick's so d— fast, sometimes to his detriment." ... "I like him a lot, but also think he should be better than he is." ... "I'd like him to stop making so many little mistakes, but maybe I'm nitpicking."
: 17 (turns 18 next month) : Toyota/Joe Gibbs Racing
Another driver on this list whose path to NASCAR came through late models, Sawalich has won 12 of 26 combined ARCA starts over the past two years — including eight of 13 this year and on Thursday clinched his second consecutive ARCA East championship. Not yet old enough to run NASCAR full-time, he's made spot starts in the Truck Series (11 across two years) where he's shown plenty of speed but been unable to score the corresponding finish. He is set to make his Xfinity debut later this year with Joe Gibbs Racing and is lined up for a full-time opportunity in that division in 2025.
Garage confidential: "Because he's always in good equipment, he doesn't get the love he probably deserves, but there is a lot to like." ... "He's another with those intangibles — brings the car home in one piece, gets the finishes out of the car that he should. If he has a first-place car, that's what he gets."
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After a concussion curtailed much of Robusto's 2023 season, the 19-year-old is healthy and beginning to show why folks are so high on her. She's finished sixth or better in all three of her ARCA starts — including a runner-up in her first-ever stock car start on dirt. The step for her is to start winning, something that should come as she gains experience.
Garage confidential: "By all rights, should have at least two (ARCA) West wins this season." ... "She's been strong at every type of race track she's been to." ... "She needs to win. She has the talent, now she needs to show she can win." ... "Now that she's healthy, I expect her to break out."
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While the general public may not be familiar with Ruggiero, he's on the radar of those within the garage, with many of those polled having him in their top five. He debuted in ARCA this year with a second at Phoenix, and in his subsequent starts has finishes of second, third, third, fifth, ninth, sixth and 15th. That first ARCA victory is on the cusp of happening, and when it occurs, it should put a spotlight on a driver who's often been overlooked.
Garage confidential: "This kid is a dog." ... "He'll race you hard, but clean. But he's no pushover." ... "He's always been second fiddle on his own team, but he's every bit as good as any of his teammates."
Others to watch (listed alphabetically): Jade Avedisian, Rajah Caruth, Kaden Honeycutt, Conner Jones, Jesse Love, Connor Mosack, Tyler Reif, Layne Riggs, Chandler Smith
. Can Jade Avedisian make it?(Top photo of Connor Zilisch: James Gilbert / )
