Off weekends are a time to reflect, grow and speculate for the future in the NASCAR industry, both for the teams on the track, and those of us that right about them.
While race teams analyze their data from the previous months, looking for incremental gains to use going forward, we here at Frontstretch have taken the time to ponder the future stars of the sport.
With a breadth of young talent on display at Iowa Speedway and elsewhere, the off weekend provided plenty of great racing, and a glimpse at the race winners and champions to come. Going off that theme, we here at Frontstretch have come up with what we believe are 10 drivers coming to Victory Lane in the Sprint Cup Series sooner than you may think.
Without further adieu, here are this week’s special power rankings. We’ll be back next week to give you the 10 best drivers after left – and right – turns in Sonoma Raceway
“Like father, like son.” – Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
2. KYLE LARSON
3. ERIK JONES
“We have not seen anyone this strong in years. Name the last driver to dominate the NCWTS and NXS at such a young age like he has.” – Joseph Wolkin, Frontstretch
4. AUSTIN DILLON
5. RYAN BLANEY
“Penske’s third NSCS champion.” – Spencer
6. WILLIAM BYRON
“With three wins in nine Camping World Truck Series starts and a dominant K&N Pro Series East championship already under his belt, this kid’s hard not to sell as a future champion.” – Aaron Bearden, Frontstretch
7. DANIEL SUAREZ
8. RICKY STENHOUSE, JR.
10. JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
“Multiple wins for his father’s team prove Nemechek has the talent. He just needs a route advance and show how great he can be.” – Bearden
A Special List
It’s rare that a person’s contributions cause audible laughter, but such was the case this week with Annoying Race Fan’s contributions. Get a load of this top 10.
“KEELAN HARVICK – I LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING HIM WHEN I’M 50.
CHASE ELLIOTT – IT’LL PROBABLY HAPPEN THIS YEAR.
KYLE LARSON – IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE HE’S STILL ON THIS LIST.
KYLE LARSON’S KID – HE PROBABLY WINS BEFORE KYLE.
CASH BOWYER – I LOOK FORWARD TO THEM INTERVIEWING HIS DAD, CLINT, AFTER HIS FIRST WIN.
DALLAS STENHOUSE – THE FIRST DOG TO WIN IN THE CUP SERIES, SETTING A PRECEDENT FOR ALL DOGS LOOKING TO MAKE THE JUMP TO NASCAR.
DALE EARNHARDT III – IT’LL HAPPEN AT DALEADEGA SPEEDWAY (DALE JR BUYS TALLADEGA AND RENAMES IT)
MIKE HARMON – I STILL HOLD ON TO THAT SLIVER OF HOPE.
TREVOR BAYNE – NEVER MIND, HE WON THE DAYTONA 500.
DANICA STENHOUSE – SHE WINS AFTER SHE GETS MARRIED TO RICKY.”
Contributors
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Dustin Albino | @DustinAlbino |
| Phil Allaway | @Critic84 |
| Aaron Bearden | @AaronBearden93 |
| Summer Bedgood | @SummerBedgood |
| Tom Bowles | @NASCARBowles |
| Greg Davis | @GregMDavis |
| Sean Fesko | @TheWriterSean |
| Michael Finley | @FinleyFactor |
| Bryan Gable | N/A |
| Tony Lumbis | @TonyLumbis |
| Toni Montgomery | @ToniLMontgomery |
| Kevin Rutherford | @surfwax83 |
| Jason Schultz | @NASCARJason |
| Joseph Wolkin | @JosephNASCAR |
| Name | Position/Description | |
|---|---|---|
| AnnoyingRaceFan | @AnnoyingRaceFan | I’M @annoyingracefan ON TWITTER (AND INSTAGRAM). PEOPLE CALL ME ARF. I’M A RELATIVE NOBODY. |
| MatthewDillner | @MatthewDillner | NASCAR |
| Brian Eberly | @beberly18 | Writer, Rubbings Racing, Motor Racing Digest |
| Mike Hembree | @MikeHembree | Writer, USA Today |
| Ben Hinc | @lemonlovr | Owner, The Apex |
| Jerry Jordan | @kicknthetires | Owner, Kicknthetires.Net |
| Pete McCole | @PeteMcCole | NASCAR Writer, AutoRacing1.com |
| The Orange Cone | @TheOrangeCone | I am an orange traffic cone. |
| Kyle Pokrefky | @KPokrefky | Writer, The Fourth Turn |
| Reid Spencer | @Reid_Spencer | Lead Writer, NASCAR Wire Service |
| Doug Turnbull | @DougTurnbull | Announcer, PRN Live, Atlanta Motor Speedway |
| Jim Utter | @jim_utter | NASCAR Editor, Motorsport.com |
How they’re made: Following the conclusion of each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, members of a voting panel, including Frontstretch writers, members of accredited media including Motorsport, NASCAR and USA Today, as well as writers from other sites and social media favorites, submit their top 10 drivers for the Power Rankings. The drivers are then given points based off their position, with first place getting 10 points, and each subsequent driver getting one few point until the 10th-place driver, who gets a lone point. Points are then tallied, and the rankings are created.
Do you agree with our rankings? Think someone got snubbed, or that one of the top drivers is overrated? Let us know in the comments, and tell others what your top 10 would be.
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.