The subsequent Cup Sequence star within the making is already ready within the wings, and in inventory automobile racing, the ultimate two steps earlier than the massive present on Sunday are the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence (NOAPS) and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence (NCTS)
Final yr, 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 Sequence driver (now O’Reilly Auto Elements). He now heads to the Cup Sequence because the full-time driver of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet.
However who would be the subsequent driver to hitch the celebrities on the game on the Cup grid? Solely contemplating drivers beneath the age of 25, we examined their stats and their outlook for the 2026 season to pick our high prospects for the upcoming yr.
You may also discover our listing specializing in the rising stars of IndyCar HERE.
1. Corey Heim (23) – ???
Corey Heim, TRICON Storage Toyota
Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos
Topping our listing is a driver in a really complicated scenario. He’s with no full-time journey. We anticipate to see him in a part-time Cup journey with 23XI Racing once more (he even completed sixth within the Bristol Night time Race final yr), but it surely’s stunning that the reigning Truck Sequence champion and one of many brightest younger abilities 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? Nicely, we did a complete story about all of the completely different Truck Sequence data he broke, a number of of which have been standing because the Nineteen Nineties. Absolutely, 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 Elements Sequence this yr. 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 gained six of the 17 ARCA races he is entered, and practically turned a Truck Sequence winner this previous yr. He made NCTS ten begins with Tricon, scoring two high fives and three high tens. However on the Charlotte Roval, he led 53 of 70 laps earlier than ending second. He will even be eligible for the NOAPS title in 2026, as he can apply for a playoff waiver for these missed races because it was on account of an age restriction.Â
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 at the least as soon as. The 22-year-old began the yr 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 might be his yr as he’ll inherit the championship-winning No. 11 from Heim. Whereas it is huge footwear to fill, it is also an unimaginable alternative as he may have the quickest truck within the subject at his disposal.Â
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 trend. However simply a few months in the past, he got here out of seemingly nowhere to win the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Sequence title, snatching it away from Zilisch within the season finale. He needed to scratch and claw by each spherical, however shocked us all when he got here out on high. 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 listing. Nonetheless, Love could now really feel he has one thing extra to show as there are some on-line voices that query his standing as ‘champion’ because of the format used, so he will certainly be decided to silence these voices in 2026. He is additionally nearer to Cup than most on this listing, as he ran 5 Cup races with RCR final yr.
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 struggle in opposition to Heim through 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 yr fifth in factors. However if you happen to take away Heim from the equation, Riggs led all different drivers in race wins, laps led, high fives, poles, and common end. He’ll get one other shot with FRM this yr, 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 might have observed that we did not embrace a automobile quantity for Kvapil, and that is as a result of he will probably be driving multiple automobile quantity for JRM in 2026. His duties will probably be cut up between vehicles, and he’ll work with completely different crew chiefs as a part of a singular dynamic with how they pieced collectively his full-time schedule. Kvapil is a driver we anticipated extra out of in 2025, however that ought to 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 robust displaying 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 yr with JR Motorsports is likely to 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 may have a singular means of competing in all 33 NOAPS races this yr. He’ll run 23 races with JRM, and the opposite ten with Jordan Anderson. There’s a giant hole in gear between these two organizations, and will probably be fascinating to look at Caruth navigate that as he tries to drag JAR up by the pack whereas additionally dwelling up the expectations of any JRM driver. Caruth spent the final three years full-time in Vehicles, 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 vehicles. 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 subsequent step in his NASCAR journey, abandoning the Truck Sequence.
8. Corey Day (20) – #17 Hendrick Motorsports (NOAPS)
Corey Day, Chevrolet
Picture by: Jordan Financial institution / Getty Photos
An acolyte of Kyle Larson and sometimes in comparison with him on account of their related backgrounds, Day will get the possibility to compete full-time within the O’Reilly Auto Elements Sequence in 2026. He will probably be driving for Hendrick Motorsports, so he may have all the perfect assets at his fingertips as he embarks on a full season marketing campaign. Day has proven flashes of pace to date in his younger NASCAR profession, however there have been quite a lot of unforced errors as effectively. In eleven begins this previous yr 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 yr. 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.Â
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 actually vital. 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 journey with FRM within the Truck Sequence. Whereas it might seem like a step within the flawed route, he made probably 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 an extended 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 gained a vital NCTS playoff race there, which might have vaulted him into the Championship 4. As an alternative, he acquired wrecked, and ended the season sixth in factors. The Toyota driver then made the step as much as the Xfinity Sequence for 2025, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. He once more acquired 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 displaying 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 listing, so he would not match the ‘beneath 25’ requirement, however that is nonetheless a driver price mentioning. Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen has stolen the hearts of followers, and quite a lot of trophies currently too. The 28-year-old late mannequin star dominated the 2025 ARCA Menards Sequence championship, profitable eight races and taking the crown. In 2024, he completed fourth in his Truck Sequence debut at North Wilkesboro, which turned some heads as effectively. Since then, he has discovered a house at Kaulig Racing, a crew that signed him as a part of their model new Truck Sequence 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 yr, there’s a attainable path for him to Cup if Kaulig have been excited by taking him to the subsequent stage.
Learn Additionally:
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Workforce
