Ranking NASCAR’s rising stars to watch in 20...

The following Cup Collection star within the making is already ready within the wings, and in inventory automotive racing, the ultimate two steps earlier than the massive present on Sunday are the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Collection (NOAPS) and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection (NCTS)

Final 12 months, we named Connor Zilisch as our No. 1 prospect, and it ought to shock nobody that he went on to dominate the season as an Xfinity Collection driver (now O’Reilly Auto Components). He now heads to the Cup Collection because the full-time driver of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet.

However who would be the subsequent driver to affix the celebs on the game on the Cup grid? Solely contemplating drivers below the age of 25, we examined their stats and their outlook for the 2026 season to pick out our prime prospects for the upcoming 12 months.

You can also find our list focusing on the rising stars of IndyCar HERE.

1. Corey Heim (23) – ???

Topping our checklist is a driver in a really complicated state of affairs. He’s with out a full-time experience. We count on to see him in a part-time Cup experience with 23XI Racing once more (he even completed sixth within the Bristol Evening Race final 12 months), however it’s surprising that the reigning Truck Collection champion and one of many brightest younger skills within the sport won’t be competing for a title in 2026. It is absurd, and but, right here we’re. Simply how good was Heim in 2025? Well, we did an entire story about all the different Truck Series records he broke, several of which were standing since the 1990s. Certainly, he will not be on the sidelines for lengthy as he’s clearly a generational expertise, and 23XI clearly has a eager curiosity in him, however for now, his future stays unclear.

2. Brent Crews (17) – #19 Joe Gibbs Racing (NOAPS)

Brent Crews, Toyota

Picture by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos

Crews will compete in 29 of 33 races for Joe Gibbs Racing within the O’Reilly Auto Components Collection this 12 months. The one motive he will not do the opposite 4 is just because he is not sufficiently old. The 17-year-old Toyota Improvement Driver has received six of the 17 ARCA races he is entered, and practically grew to become a Truck Collection winner this previous 12 months. He made NCTS ten begins with Tricon, scoring two prime fives and three prime tens. However on the Charlotte Roval, he led 53 of 70 laps earlier than ending second. He may also be eligible for the NOAPS title in 2026, as he can apply for a playoff waiver for these missed races because it was as a consequence of an age restriction. 

3. Kaden Honeycutt (22) – #11 Tricon Storage (NCTS)

Kaden Honeycutt, Halmar-Friesen Racing Toyota

Picture by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos

Honeycutt already impressed all through 2025, and may have visited Victory Lane no less than as soon as. The 22-year-old began the 12 months with Niece Motorsports and ended it with Halmar-Friesen Racing, however that did not cease him from driving all the best way to the Championship 4 and ending the season third in factors. However 2026 could possibly be his 12 months as he’ll inherit the championship-winning No. 11 from Heim. Whereas it is large footwear to fill, it is also an unimaginable alternative as he could have the quickest truck within the area at his disposal. 

4. Jesse Love (20) – #2 Richard Childress Racing (NOAPS)

Jesse Love, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Picture by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos

Getting into 2025, Love was already an ARCA champion, profitable ten of twenty races when he claimed the 2023 crown in dominant vogue. However simply a few months in the past, he got here out of seemingly nowhere to win the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Collection title, snatching it away from Zilisch within the season finale. He needed to scratch and claw via each spherical, however shocked us all when he got here out on prime. The Richard Childress Racing driver then journeyed to Australia to participate within the Tremendous 2 finale on the Adelaide Avenue Circuit, and can now compete within the Chili Bowl Nationals. His shock title positively bumped him up this checklist. Nonetheless, Love might now really feel he has one thing extra to show as there are some on-line voices that query his standing as ‘champion’ as a result of format used, so he will certainly be decided to silence these voices in 2026. He is additionally nearer to Cup than most on this checklist, as he ran 5 Cup races with RCR final 12 months.

5. Layne Riggs (23) – #34 Entrance Row Motorsports (NCTS)

Layne Riggs, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford

Picture by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Photos

Riggs was the one driver who managed to place up any kind of combat in opposition to Heim throughout the 2025 NCTS season, profitable three races. Nonetheless, he narrowly missed the Championship 4 and missed out on a shot on the crown, ending the 12 months fifth in factors. However when you take away Heim from the equation, Riggs led all different drivers in race wins, laps led, prime fives, poles, and common end. He’ll get one other shot with FRM this 12 months, and with out Heim, he’s clearly the early title favourite.

6. Carson Kvapil (22) – JR Motorsports (NOAPS)

Carson Kvapil, JR Motorsports, Clarience Applied sciences Chevrolet Camaro

Picture by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Photos

You’ll have observed that we did not embody a automotive quantity for Kvapil, and that is as a result of he will probably be driving a couple of automotive quantity for JRM in 2026. His duties will probably be cut up between automobiles, and he’ll work with completely different crew chiefs as a part of a novel dynamic with how they pieced collectively his full-time schedule. Kvapil is a driver we anticipated extra out of in 2025, however that must be seen as a praise, as a result of he nonetheless made all of it the best way to the Championship 4 with JRM. Regardless of a powerful exhibiting within the playoffs, he nonetheless went winless and was the one full-time JRM driver to not go to Victory Lane. However nonetheless, we all know the expertise is there and a second 12 months with JR Motorsports may be the breakout season for the younger driver.

7. Rajah Caruth (23) – #88 JR Motorsports / #32 Jordan Anderson Racing (NOAPS)

Rajah Caruth, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos

Like Kvapil, Caruth could have a novel means of competing in all 33 NOAPS races this 12 months. He’ll run 23 races with JRM, and the opposite ten with Jordan Anderson. There’s a giant hole in tools between these two organizations, and will probably be fascinating to look at Caruth navigate that as he tries to drag JAR up via the pack whereas additionally dwelling up the expectations of any JRM driver. Caruth spent the final three years full-time in Vans, profitable twice and inserting as excessive as sixth within the championship standings. Throughout that point interval, he has made numerous begins within the secondary division, so he does have some expertise with these automobiles. He’ll proceed to have the help of Hendrickcars.com, and Rick Hendrick is a good ally to have for any rising star. However this will probably be an enormous take a look at for Caruth as he takes the following step in his NASCAR journey, abandoning the Truck Collection.

8. Corey Day (20) – #17 Hendrick Motorsports (NOAPS)

Corey Day, Chevrolet

Picture by: Jordan Financial institution / Getty Photos

An acolyte of Kyle Larson and infrequently in comparison with him as a consequence of their related backgrounds, Day will get the possibility to compete full-time within the O’Reilly Auto Components Collection in 2026. He will probably be driving for Hendrick Motorsports, so he could have all one of the best assets at his fingertips as he embarks on a full season marketing campaign. Day has proven flashes of pace up to now in his younger NASCAR profession, however there have been loads of unforced errors as nicely. In eleven begins this previous 12 months with HMS, he completed as excessive as fourth at Las Vegas, however he was very cold and warm, averaging a 15.9 end for the 12 months. He additionally ran 9 Truck races with Spire, inserting as excessive as second at IRP, so once more, the pace is there. 2026 will probably be about placing all of it collectively for Day, and with Hendrick’s full backing, will probably be all about if he can rise to the event. 

9. Chandler Smith (23) – #38 Entrance Row Motorsports (NCTS)

Chandler Smith, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford

Picture by: David Jensen / Getty Photos

Smith’s profession has taken him on an unsure path, however he is nonetheless profitable races, and that is what is basically necessary. The 23-year-old has three wins within the secondary stage of NASCAR, and completed as excessive as fifth within the standings in 2024. Regardless of some uncertainty surrounding the place he would find yourself in 2025, he discovered a experience with FRM within the Truck Collection. Whereas it might appear like a step within the improper course, he made essentially the most of it with two wins, bringing his NCTS profession win whole to seven. If he can step it up and match the extent of efficiency we noticed from his teammate Riggs in 2026, then Smith might nonetheless have a protracted future within the sport.

10. Taylor Grey (20) – #54 Joe Gibbs Racing (NOAPS)

Taylor Grey, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Picture by: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Photos

The youthful Grey brother actually likes Martinsville Speedway. In 2024, he practically received a vital NCTS playoff race there, which might have vaulted him into the Championship 4. As a substitute, he obtained wrecked, and ended the season sixth in factors. The Toyota driver then made the step as much as the Xfinity Collection for 2025, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. He once more obtained wrecked out of the lead at Martinsville, however later within the season, he discovered some redemption and have become a winner on the secondary stage of NASCAR there. He ended the season seventh in factors in a good exhibiting by the rookie. Nonetheless, as a JGR driver, he higher attain that subsequent stage of efficiency in 2026. The potential is there, however time will inform if it leads wherever for the 20-year-old racer.

Honorable point out – Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen

Brenden Queen, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Picture by: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos

He is a bit older than everybody else on this checklist, so he would not match the ‘below 25’ requirement, however that is nonetheless a driver price mentioning. Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen has stolen the hearts of followers, and loads of trophies recently too. The 28-year-old late mannequin star dominated the 2025 ARCA Menards Collection championship, profitable eight races and taking the crown. In 2024, he completed fourth in his Truck Collection debut at North Wilkesboro, which turned some heads as nicely. Since then, he has discovered a house at Kaulig Racing, a staff that signed him as a part of their model new Truck Collection program with Ram. In 2026, he’ll compete for the NCTS title with Kaulig and the Stellantis model. Kaulig has a historical past of being loyal to their drivers, and may he excel within the upcoming 12 months, there’s a potential path for him to Cup if Kaulig had been interested by taking him to the following stage.

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