Coming off of NASCAR’s off-week and entering the final stretch before the Chase begins in all three series, these 20 drivers are the hottest commodities in NASCAR’s development series…at least according to Above the Yellow Line’s editorial staff.
These drivers were chosen and ranked by multiple ATYL Media contributors based on their perceived likelihood of a successful NASCAR Cup Series career. Several candidates were omitted from consideration. These included drivers seemingly destined for a career in O’Reilly or Trucks (Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones), and those who’ve already had a full season or more racing in Cup (Anthony Alfredo, Daniel Hemric).
Take a look at our picks, and let us know what changes you would make for your personal ranking.
20. William Sawalich
The news of William Sawalich’s return to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2027 provides him a golden opportunity to build on a solid foundation in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. At 19 years old, Sawalich has one win and is close to making the 2026 Chase. Though he’s still a step behind teammates Brandon Jones and Brent Crews, Sawalich has shown marked improvement over his rookie season in 2025.
If Sawalich aspires for a Cup Series seat sooner rather than later, it may be on him next year to outperform Crews, the heir apparent to the next open JGR seat. Either that, or another year of incremental improvement could attract attention outside his current organization. Still, with four years under his belt at JGR, it’s easy to envision both parties working toward another extension in the near future.
– Chris Gollon
19. Tristan McKee
Tristan McKee is the youngest driver on this list at 16 years old. The Spire Motorsports development driver has two ARCA Menards Series wins in nine starts, and is currently in an ARCA Menards Series East title battle with Max Reaves. The speed is undoubtedly there, but the racecraft is a work in progress.
McKee will make his Truck Series debut for Spire at Richmond Raceway this year. It is likely that he’ll drive for the organization part-time until he turns 18, then possibly attempt a full season. McKee has the raw talent and a clear path to the Cup Series, but his stock could rise higher still as he proves himself further and eliminates mistakes. If that materializes, Michael McDowell’s statement that he would retire for McKee might end up coming true.
– Kevin Modeszto
18. Christian Eckes
Christian Eckes has had a topsy-turvy NASCAR career. 2026 saw a return to the team he dominated the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series with, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. While Eckes is winless in 2026, he sits fourth in points and is locked into the Chase. Eckes has also driven for ThorSport, Kyle Busch Motorsports, and in O’Reilly for Kaulig Racing.
Eckes has proven his talent, but has struggled for the funding to move up. If a team takes a chance on the 25-year-old as a development driver, he could prove himself as a potential Cup Series contender. If no Cup team takes a chance, he could end up as this generation’s Todd Bodine or Matt Crafton, which is a more than respectable trajectory.
– Kevin Modeszto
17. Landen Lewis
Landen Lewis is the defending CARS Late Model Stock Tour champion, and is driving a majority schedule in the Niece Motorsports No. 45 truck. While not having won yet, Lewis has three top-fives and four top-10s in six NCTS races this season. Lewis has been making part-time starts in Trucks and ARCA since 2021 despite being only 20 years old.
Lewis has already exhibited both speed and maturity, such as when he refrained from moving Grant Enfinger for the win at Lime Rock Park this year. Lewis could very well be in line for a full season at Niece Motorsports in 2027. If he can continue to contend at Niece, the sky is the limit. Only two drivers have wins for Niece, and both are Cup Series winners as well.
– Kevin Modeszto
16. Austin Hill
Much of Austin Hill’s value as a prospect comes from his existing proximity to full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition. Part of a prospect panning out in the long run is simply making it to Sundays, and Hill is expected by many to make his first campaign for Cup Series points in 2027. Under tragic and unforeseeable circumstances, he’s already gaining experience now driving the No. 33 Chevrolet full-time for Richard Childress Racing.
Though Hill’s 2027 plans are still uncertain, what we do know for sure is his winning track record in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Hill has 16 wins dating back to 2022, including two so far this year. 11 of those wins are on drafting-style tracks, meaning Hill could be a potent Cup Series contender at least a few tracks even before the end of 2026.
– Chris Gollon
15. Sam Mayer
Sam Mayer is in his fifth full O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. In that span he has eight wins. Currently 10th in points for Haas Factory Team, Mayer has had years like 2023 and 2024 where he was inconsistent but winning often. Conversely, there have been seasons like 2022 and 2025 where despite only having one win at most, Mayer has displayed incredible consistency. 2026 has seen neither wins nor consistency. Mayer sits 10th in points with six DNFs, and is on pace for his first winless season since 2022.
If Mayer has a season with multiple wins and consistency, he may prove himself worthy of a Cup Series ride. He is still just 23 years old, and often rivaled Ty Gibbs in their ARCA days.
– Kevin Modeszto
14. Taylor Gray
Taylor Gray is in his second season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He made the Round of 8 in both the 2024 Truck and 2025 O’Reilly playoffs, but currently sits only seven points above the 2026 Chase cutoff. Gray has won two O’Reilly races in about two seasons of races, but consistency has been elusive.
Gray is seemingly well-liked in the Toyota system and brings plenty of funding. It would be unsurprising to see him make part-time Cup starts in 2027 or 2028, with a potential full-time move by the end of the decade if he can pair consistency with more victories.
– Kevin Modeszto
13. Brenden Queen
Brenden Queen has had a respectable rookie Truck Series season for Kaulig Racing. He is the highest Kaulig driver in points, ahead of Cup Series veteran Justin Haley. Ram has had a trying first year back, but Queen has provided four top-10s and remains in Chase contention with two races to go in the regular season.
Like Creed, Queen is an older prospect. The fellow 28-year-old is an ARCA Menards Series champion with multiple strong runs in O’Reilly and Trucks. Staying with Ram could yield a Cup Series seat at Kaulig Racing within the next few years.
– Kevin Modeszto
12. Sheldon Creed
Sheldon Creed finally broke the streak this season, earning his first career NOAPS win after 15 runner-ups. Even with just one win, Creed has consistently been a top-tier driver in his series. On top of that, the 28-year-old has the 2020 Craftsman Truck Series title under his belt.
In recent seasons, 28 has been old for a Cup rookie. However, Josh Berry and Shane van Gisbergen have moved up in their 30s and 32-year-old Austin Hill is a favorite for the RCR No. 33, so Creed’s Sunday ambitions are alive and well. No one Cup destination stands out, as his NOAPS team has their president’s son in their lone seat, but a Cup team that needs a safe pair of hands could view Creed as a strong option.
– Kevin Modeszto
11. Rajah Caruth
Running his rookie season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Rajah Caruth has gradually but markedly adapted to a new type of car. He’s split the year between JR Motorsports and Jordan Anderson Racing, demonstrating an ability to place both cars in the top-10 on multiple occasions.
One top-five through 22 races is a hair shy of what many hoped to see from Caruth, but at times there’s more to a story than a simple stat line. To the keen eye it’s been clear to see Caruth build on early flashes of speed and learn quickly from mistakes. A valuable trait for any development driver is the ability to identify the upper potential of a car, and run the race that’s needed for it to finish there. That ability makes Rajah Caruth appear mature beyond his years and poised for a step up in 2027.
– Chris Gollon
10. Gio Ruggiero
At 19 years old, Gio Ruggiero has wasted no time making himself known on the Truck Series scene. In 2025 he debuted with a second-place finish at Daytona International Speedway, a result he repeated in this year’s season opener. He earned his first career win last fall at Talladega Superspeedway, establishing himself as a budding drafting track ace.
So far Ruggero is fifth in the Truck Series points standings, just five points behind Christian Eckes for fourth. He’s firmly met expectations thus far at Tricon Garage, though many would’ve expected him to have at least one win so far in 2026. Don’t count Ruggiero out as a late-season breakout in the hunt for the championship.
– Chris Gollon
9. Chandler Smith
Front Row Motorsports as a whole are firing on all cylinders in this year’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, but Chandler Smith in particular is coming on strong through the summer. Just a year and change after he nearly started the season unemployed, Smith has developed into one of the only drivers capable of challenging teammate Layne Riggs for the 2026 championship.
Recently we learned Chandler Smith would not be back at Front Row Motorsports in 2027. The 24-year-old has been linked to Richard Childress Racing’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series team, which has at least one opening thanks to Jesse Love’s graduation to the Cup Series. Few free agents have a resume as robust as Smith’s, and his stock would increase even further with a Truck Series championship in November.
– Chris Gollon
8. Parker Retzlaff
Perhaps the biggest surprise and greatest improvement in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season has been Viking Motorsports’ Parker Retzlaff. Entering the season with 15 career top-10 finishes, Retzlaff has stacked another 10 in the first 22 races. Add that to four top-five runs and near-wins in both Atlanta races, and you’ve got an insurgent talent pushing his equipment to new heights.
Though he’s still searching for a breakthrough victory, Retzlaff is turning heads with who he’s consistently outperforming. In the points standings, he ranks above three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers and one from Haas Factory Team – both championship-caliber operations. He’s also 173 points above his Viking teammate Anthony Alfredo, who has several seasons more experience under his belt.
– Chris Gollon
7. Carson Kvapil
In his 64th career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start, Carson Kvapil finally broke through to win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July. Despite almost two seasons of winlessness, no one in the garage ever doubted Kvapil’s ability to get the job done. Even while splitting the season between two JR Motorsports entries and the No. 91 DGM Racing car, Kvapil has surged to second in the standings with two races until the Chase.
Perhaps no one in the garage was more confident in Kvapil’s eventual breakthrough than team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr, a longtime advocate for the 23-year-old’s abilities. Earnhardt has done everything possible to ensure Kvapil ran the full schedule this year, and his prized prospect has turned that into a second-place points ranking after Indianapolis. The sky remains the limit on what kinds of dividends the JR Motorsports organization may see from Kvapil.
– Chris Gollon
6. Kaden Honeycutt
Kaden Honeycutt has had a strong first season in Tricon Garage’s No. 11 Toyota Tundra. He has a win, eight top-fives, and sits comfortably second in the Chase standings. The 23-year-old began racing for small operations, and is now at the pinnacle of the Truck Series.
If Honeycutt continues to excel and stays with Tricon, then talks of a promotion are inevitable. Legacy Motor Club may tap him for a developmental role similar to 23XI Racing’s courting of Corey Heim. Alternatively, Honeycutt could be poached from Toyota for a different OEM’s development system.
– Kevin Modeszto
5. Corey Day
Corey Day currently sits fifth in points in his first full O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season for Hendrick Motorsports. Two wins, six top-fives, and 15 top-10s in 22 races is a great stat line for a driver still new to asphalt racing. Day cut his teeth racing dirt in California, catching the eye of Kyle Larson and Jeff Gordon. Since 2024, Day has been developing in the lower series of NASCAR.
Hendrick’s No. 48 Cup Series ride will be open for 2028, and Day’s name is floating in close proximity. While The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi reports Connor Zilisch as the favorite, Day has been mentioned by Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass as a top candidate. If the No. 48 ride doesn’t materialize, a move to Spire Motorsports could make sense to keep Day aligned with Hendrick.
– Kevin Modeszto
4. Brent Crews
Brent Crews has outperformed all but ten O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers in 2026, despite missing four races due to the series’ age limitations. He has more points scored than Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Taylor Gray and William Sawalich, even with both of the latter drivers having a win this year. Crews has eight top-fives, a total matched or exceeded only by Justin Allgaier and Sheldon Creed. And again…that’s despite missing four starts.
At this stage, Brent Crews is seen as the hottest commodity in the Toyota pipeline not named Corey Heim. He’s viewed by many as the heir apparent to the next open seat on Joe Gibbs Racing’s Cup Series team. Under most circumstances, that would feel premature for an 18-year-old who’s yet to break through with a win. In the case of Brent Crews, it feels like a well-earned inevitability.
– Chris Gollon
3. Jesse Love
Defending NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love is one of two drivers who, as of the writing of this feature, has a full-time Cup Series ride set for 2027. Love will graduate to the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, a team which operates closely alongside Team Penske. It’s not entirely clear why the No. 21 is underperforming this year, but a fresh young talent like Jesse Love may be the right ingredient for a resurgence.
Love himself, meanwhile, is in search of a breakthrough in his 2026 campaign. The 21-year-old has seven top-fives driving for Richard Childress Racing, but no wins yet this year. He’s third in points, 269 points behind O’Reilly Auto Parts Series leader Justin Allgaier. Love has three wins to his name in 88 total starts, so anything short of a multi-win season with a strong championship bid would make this year feel like a lateral prior to his Cup Series promotion.
– Kevin Modeszto
2. Layne Riggs
While not quite on par with Corey Heim’s historic 2025 season, Layne Riggs has been the dominant driver of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. Riggs has five wins this season and 10 in three seasons for Front Row Motorsports. Riggs was second to Heim in 2025 and is establishing himself as a title favorite in 2026; he presently has a 100-point lead in the Chase standings.
Riggs has openly stated that a Cup Series ride is in play for 2027. There have been rumors surrounding FRM’s No. 4, currently piloted by Noah Gragson. If Gragson doesn’t return, Riggs moving up would make sense. If this doesn’t happen, other possibilities include the Kaulig Racing No. 10, the RCR No. 2 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, or a return to the No. 34 truck.
– Kevin Modeszto
1. Corey Heim
Let’s face it: there’s no other driver who could place atop a current NASCAR prospects list. Corey Heim has amassed so much success in such little time, he only barely still meets the definition of a prospect. Two NASCAR Cup Series wins before going full-time including the prestigious Brickyard 400 set expectations sky-high for the 24-year-old 23XI Racing phenom.
Meanwhile, let’s not forget the utter domination of Heim’s 2025 Craftsman Truck Series Season. Driving for Tricon Garage, Heim broke the single-season wins record, led 1,625 laps, and executed at Phoenix Raceway for the championship by making a thrilling seven-wide pass in overtime.
– Chris Gollon
