Bob Pockrass
FOX Motorsports Insider
Brenden “Butterbean” Queen received’t be on this record for much longer.
At age 27, he’ll drop off this record of prospect rankings after this season, as one of many situations is {that a} driver is below 28 years outdated.
Queen is getting his first shot at a nationwide sequence this 12 months, as he leads the ARCA standings with 5 victories. His subsequent step could be full-time truck or full-time Xfinity. He is hopeful — however not totally sure — that he’ll attain this aim.
Brenden Queen talks with members of his crew throughout apply for the ARCA Menards Sequence Basic Tire 200 at Talladega
4 or 5 years in the past, somebody of Queen’s age could be thought of too outdated.
“You possibly can type of see the tide turning the place the groups are taking a look at it like generally having an 18-year-old, they’ve obtained an extended profession, possibly,” Queen mentioned.
“However on the similar time, in case you’ve obtained a 27-year-old, 28-year-old that may be good advertising and marketing on your companions and can even go get the job accomplished, there’s nothing fallacious with that.”
Queen ought to thank Josh Berry for possibly a extra hopeful outlook. Berry had related roots, racing late mannequin shares within the Southeast. He obtained his first comparatively full season on a NASCAR nationwide degree at age 30.
Josh Berry waves to followers as he walks onstage throughout driver intros previous to the NASCAR Cup Sequence Iowa Corn 350
Berry mentioned that Queen being 27 “just isn’t that outdated.”
“It’s a actuality that each one of our journeys are a bit bit totally different getting so far,” Berry mentioned. “A few of us, it takes a bit longer. He’s accomplished a extremely good job.
“I really feel like my success coming from a late mannequin primarily straight to the Xfinity automotive opened up folks’s eyes of what is doable, that the late mannequin shares is an effective proving floor to go proper right into a heavier automotive.”
Queen has dropped 15 kilos. He has improved from each a bodily and psychological standpoint via his work within the Chevrolet driver coaching program below former driver Josh Clever. And Queen does acknowledge Berry’s affect in his success.
“I really feel higher now than I did three years in the past,” Queen mentioned. “In the event you’d requested me this query (about my future) once I was 24 or 25, I might have instructed you it is most likely over. I’m simply going to race late fashions due to my age.
“However I feel Josh really modified the trajectory of the groups going, ‘OK let’s take into consideration this for a minute.’ Actually, I really feel higher than I did at 24 so far as maturity, find out how to handle a race and put it collectively.”
Josh Berry strikes down the course through the qualifying session of the NASCAR Cup Sequence Toyota/Save Mart 350
Due to his outgoing persona, Queen resonates with grassroots followers. And a few would say that he has confirmed folks fallacious about whether or not he can do it on a nationwide degree.
Or possibly he extra proved one thing to himself?
“I at all times thought, if I had the fitting alternative, that I may do it — simply off of what I had achieved late mannequin racing. After which additionally seeing folks that I’ve raced with transfer up and be capable of do it, realizing that I went toe-to-toe with them at instances,” he mentioned.
“I feel it was most likely extra essential to me to indicate the world I may do it. I by no means like to present an opinion of myself. I’ll go away it as much as the world or Bean Nation to determine.”
So with all this in thoughts, right here’s my midseason prospect record, primarily based on efficiency and potential.
Whereas advertising and marketing, sponsorship alternatives and funding usually are not main components, they do issue into this record as a result of they will affect if these drivers will make it to Cup.
Some parameters: To be on this record, drivers can not have had a season in Cup and so they have to be youthful than 28 years outdated.
1. Connor Zilisch
Age: 19
Earlier Rating: 2
Zilisch leads the Xfinity Sequence standings with a series-high 5 victories. 4 of these have come within the final 10 races, all high fives for him. He’ll be Cup subsequent 12 months at Trackhosue Racing.
Connor Zilisch prepares to qualify for the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway
2. Corey Heim
Age: 23
Earlier Rating: 1
Heim has dominated the vehicles this 12 months with 5 wins and 10 high fives in 16 begins. He clinched the regular-season factors title with two races left. Already signed with 23XI Racing, he’ll probably have to attend till 2027 to be in a Cup automotive full time. Whether or not he’s in an Xfinity automotive full time in 2026 continues to be TBD.
3. Brent Crews
Age: 17
Earlier Rating: 5
Crews has two wins and a second in 5 ARCA nationwide sequence begins. He additionally has one high 10 in three truck begins. He’ll probably race full time in Xfinity subsequent season at Joe Gibbs Racing after he turns 18 in March.
4. Jesse Love
Age: 20
Earlier Rating: 4
Love sits fourth within the Xfinity standings with one win and 15 top-10 finishes. The motive force is at Richard Childress Racing and the query is that this: Does he keep there for one more season in hopes a Cup trip opens up in 2027?
Jesse Love enters his automotive for the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway
5. Nick Sanchez
Age: 24
Earlier Rating: 9
Sanchez is twelfth within the Xifnity standings and has a win driving for Large Machine Data Racing. He has had a good rookie season and if he continues to enhance, he could possibly be in Cup in 2027.
6. Sam Mayer
Age: 22
Earlier Rating: 12
Mayer is third within the Xfinity standings and has been spectacular with 10 top-five finishes driving for the revamped Haas workforce. He obtained an enormous victory final week at Iowa. Extra runs like that and Cup groups will begin speaking about him.
7. Corey Day
Age:19
Earlier Rating: 6
Day has two high fives in seven truck begins (and no high 10s in 5 Xfinity begins) as he begins making the adjustment to inventory vehicles and pavement racing. It has been a bit little bit of a tough adjustment however these strikes do take some time.
Corey Day waits on the grid previous to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
8. Layne Riggs
Age 23
Earlier Rating: 13
Riggs is third within the truck standings with two wins and 7 high fives this 12 months, driving for Entrance Row Motorsports. One other 12 months in vehicles subsequent season for FRM is kind of doable.
9. Carson drip
Age: 22
Earlier Rating: 8
Kvapil is sixth within the Xfinity standings and has 9 high 10s as a rookie whereas nonetheless searching for his first victory. The JR Motorsports driver is taken into account to have a excessive upside as he had not raced a full season in ARCA or in vehicles earlier than this 12 months.
10. Kaden Honeycutt
Age: 22
Earlier Rating: 17
Honeycutt is on tempo to make the truck playoffs and the previous Neice Motorsports driver is changing Stewart Friesen beginning subsequent week at Richmond. So whereas not introduced, it’s pretty evident he’s now within the Toyota pipeline. A Tricon truck is his probably vacation spot subsequent 12 months.
Kaden Honeycut drives through the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
11. Taylor Grey
Age: 20
Earlier rating: 10
Grey is ninth in his first full season of operating within the Xfinity Sequence. His six high fives and 11 high 10s present potential. Would anticipate him to return to this seat subsequent 12 months.
12. Chandler Smith
Age: 23
Earlier rating: 7
Smith is second within the truck standings and has two wins. He has simply 4 top-five finishes however 12 high 10s driving for Entrance Row Motorsports. He isn’t main a ton of laps however he’s getting his truck to the end. Like his teammate Riggs, he’ll fairly presumably return to the truck subsequent season.
13. Caruth diagram
Age: 23
Earlier Rating: 14
Caruth is eleventh within the truck standings however has certified for the playoffs with a win. Just a little extra was anticipated from Caurth this 12 months. His three top-fives must be increased however he additionally didn’t have a ton of stock-car expertise earlier than starting in vehicles a number of years in the past.
Rajah Caruth waves to followers as he walks onstage throughout driver intros previous to the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway
14. Christian Eckes
Age: 24
Earlier Rating: 3
Eckes didn’t neglect find out how to drive however this has been a protracted 12 months, as he sits fifteenth within the Xfinity standings driving for Kaulig Racing. He wants a turnaround over the ultimate few months of 2025 and/or a fast begin in 2026.
15. Tristan McKee
Age: 15
Earlier Rating: 15
McKee has 4 high fives in seven begins within the CARS Tour late mannequin inventory division. He’s a Spire growth driver.
16. Strong Isabella
Age: 20
Earlier Rating: 18
Robusto is fifth within the ARCA standings with 5 high fives in 12 begins. Her progress has not been as vibrant as some had hoped however there are glimpses of potential that she is going to problem for the ARCA title subsequent 12 months on the revamped Nitro Motorsports (after its buyout of Venturini Motorsports).
Isabella Robusto seems on previous to the Menards Sequence at Charlotte Motor Speedway
17. Keelan Harvick
Age: 13
Earlier Rating: Not Ranked
Harvick is second within the CARS Tour professional late mannequin standings with one win and three high fives in seven begins. The son of NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick, he has proven sturdy capability at a younger age.
18. Jade Avedisian
Age: 18
Earlier Rating: 19
Avedisian has one win and three top-fives in 4 CARS Tour professional late mannequin begins as she begins to concentrate on late mannequin pavement racing. A midget racing champion in 2023, Avedisian was the primary feminine driver to win a CARS Tour race.
19. Brenden Queen
Age 27
Earlier Rating: 20
Queen has 5 wins and 10 high fives in 12 begins and leads the ARCA nationwide sequence standings. It has been a strong season for Queen, who probably must be in a truck or Xfinity automotive subsequent 12 months if he desires to get some seems from Cup homeowners over the following few years.
The helmet of Brenden Queen sits on high of his race automotive previous to the operating of the ARCA Menards Sequence Basic Tire 200
20. Gio Ruggiero
Age: 18
Earlier Rating: 16
Ruggiero is twelfth within the truck standings as a rookie with three high fives and 6 top-10 finishes driving for Tricon. There have been flashes of potential but in addition some disappointing runs. He stays on this record, as many imagine he’ll present important enchancment over the following 12 months.
25 others to observe: Lawless Alan, Tyler Ankrum Luke Baldwin, Austin Beers, Lanie Buice, Cole Butcher, Sheldon Creed, Daniel Dye, Luke Fenhaus, Jake Finch, Jake Garcia, Tanner Grey, Conner Jones, Isaac Kitzmiller, Caden Kvapil, Treyten Lapcevich, Landen Lewis, Ben Maier, Andres Perez de Lara, George Phillips, Tyler Reif, Taylor Reimer, William Sawalich, Lavar Scott, Sammy Smith.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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