Did You Notice? … A stock car series built on family is patiently awaiting a new generation of NASCAR stars? News this week that Kevin Harvick’s son, Keelan, signed with Toyota’s development program at age 13 was a reminder that new faces are closer than you think.
It’s par for the course for NASCAR, a sport whose pillars were formed by just one family: the Pettys. The foundation was laid by first-ever Daytona 500 winner Lee Petty, perfected by seven-time Cup Series champion Richard, then maintained by eight-time Cup winner-turned NASCAR analyst Kyle. There was even a fourth generation, rising star Adam, his life tragically cut short at 19 in a New Hampshire Motor Speedway accident just over 25 years ago.
Just how many familiar last names are coming soon to NASCAR’s top three series? Let’s look at a half-dozen drivers who have the talent to back up their family connections.
Keelan Harvick
Harvick’s son has become one of the sport’s hottest prospects after winning the prestigious Snowflake 125 last December at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla. At just 13 years old, he became the youngest person to earn the trophy in the Pro Late Model event and outgunned current full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Kaden Honeycutt, among others.
That led to Toyota signing the younger Harvick to a development deal as the teenager runs a busy late model schedule this year with Rackley W.A.R. ExxonMobil is sponsoring the effort, providing financial stability while a connection to TRICON Garage, Toyota’s primary development arm, has been permanently unlocked.
“I think that the effort that Toyota puts into, not only the driving piece of it but the human piece of it, is very important to us as a family,” Keelan Harvick’s father, Kevin, said. “That was really was one of the biggest reasons on why we went this direction.”
There’s also plenty of opportunity. By July 2027, Harvick will turn 15 years old and be eligible to run select ARCA Menards Series short tracks with approval. By mid-2028, he’ll be in position to run Truck races at tracks less than 1.25 miles in length; put Keelan in top-tier equipment and he’ll be an instant contender.
TRICON offers him that chance, coming off the most successful Truck Series season in history with reigning champion Corey Heim. There’s also Joe Gibbs Racing, who just won the ARCA Daytona International Speedway race with Gio Ruggiero and will one day be seeking a long-term replacement for Denny Hamlin.
Compare that to some of the other manufacturers, where options appear more limited, and Keelan seems set for success. Something to watch, too, as the Harvick-Curtis Sutton partnership increases is whether Rackley’s mid-pack Truck program is primed for a switch to Toyota. Will the Harvicks be willing to house their son there, a team that has just one career win at the Truck level, over TRICON?
Brexton Busch
The younger Busch, son of Kyle, turns 11 years old this year and continues his ascent up the ranks. His biggest win last year was in the Tulsa Shootout, leading flag-to-flag to win his first Golden Driller in the prestigious Junior Sprints event.
Brexton is already supported by SportClips and Lucas Oil, among other sponsors, and is one step behind Keelan in his Late Model development.
With 48 race wins just two years ago (2024), it’s clear Brexton has a pathway to NASCAR’s top three divisions in front of him. The question is whether his father, who won the Truck race at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday (Feb. 22), is still destined to join him.
Busch is in the last year of his contract with Richard Childress Racing and will be one of the sport’s coveted free agents of 2027. You wonder if Spire Motorsports, his part-time Truck ride, would be in the running with the link back to Trucks RCR would never have. But the elder Busch would need to race six more seasons, until May 2031, to share a Truck with Brexton. That leaves him slightly older (age 46) than Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon when they retired from full-time Cup competition.
Wyatt Miller
At first glance, the famous last name isn’t there. But don’t be fooled; Wyatt Miller is, indeed, the grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr. Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s nephew (and Kelley’s son) is flashing Cup level talent at age 13, winning a Limited Late Model race at Hickory Motor Speedway last March.
Now 14, more Late Model racing is on the schedule for Miller this year, his success earning him a part-time ride under the JR Motorsports banner. He’s already become a fan favorite, with 40,000 Facebook followers and counting while building his resume for a promotion to ARCA or even Trucks within the next few years.
One thing to consider: Wyatt’s mother has spent a decade-plus nurturing talent, from Tyler Reddick to Noah Gragson. Miller’s in the right pipeline to develop at his own pace; the rides and the sponsorship will be there when he’s ready.
Carter McMurray
Jamie’s son is the oldest in this group, turning 15 years old in November. He’s built up much of his resume in karting and legends cars, winning championships within the last three years at places like Trackhouse Motorplex, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway.
McMurray transitioned to the SMART Modified Tour in 2025 and hit a little bit of a learning curve; he earned just one top-five finish while another racing family connection, Luke Baldwin (son of Tommy Baldwin Jr.) won the title.
His dad’s former sponsor, Bass Pro Shops, has been backing the effort, giving some leeway for Carter to further develop. The connections are certainly there for a Truck or ARCA effort if he’s able to get back to his winning ways in 2026.
Owen Larson
The reigning NASCAR Cup champ’s oldest son is part of a micro-racing effort Kyle Larson‘s putting together for him, 7-year-old daughter Audrey and even 3-year-old son Cooper (someday).
The move follows a strong performance from Owen in the Tulsa Shootout, winning a heat race and following in the footsteps of Brexton Busch. It’s clear the Larson genetics run deep as daughter Audrey also turned heads at the event.
How soon will that lead to bigger and better things? Keep in mind Chase Elliott was just 15 years old when signed to his development deal in February 2011. He was in the Cup Series by 2016. On that timeline, Owen would get signed to a development deal by 2030 and could be in Cup by 2035 — perhaps taking over his dad’s ride as he hits his mid-40s?
Stranger things have happened.
Did You Notice? … Quick hits before taking off…
- It’s hard to glean much from the first two Cup races; drafting tracks are their own form of Russian Roulette. But Connor Zilisch has to be the most disappointed; the lone Cup rookie has the fewest points of any full-time driver so far. He’s already over 30 points behind teammates Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen while the wrecks had him missing out on valuable experience.
- One other driver to watch: Denny Hamlin, who was in the epicenter of multiple wrecks these first two weeks (most not of his making). Down to 27th in points, there’s been nothing on track to shake him free of the struggles since losing out on the Cup championship at Phoenix Raceway in November.
Follow Tom Bowles on X at @NASCARBowles
The author of Did You Notice? (Wednesdays) Tom spends his time overseeing Frontstretch’s 50+ staff members as its majority owner and Editor-in-Chief. Based outside Philadelphia, Bowles is a two-time Emmy winner in NASCAR television and has worked in racing production with FOX, TNT, and ESPN while appearing on-air for SIRIUS XM Radio and FOX Sports 1's former show, the Crowd Goes Wild. He most recently consulted with SRX Racing, helping manage cutting-edge technology and graphics that appeared on their CBS broadcasts during 2021 and 2022.
You can find Tom’s writing here, at CBSSports.com and Athlonsports.com, where he’s been an editorial consultant for the annual racing magazine for 15 years.
Yet they came at the wrong time. Sure they are good drivers but apparently the real test of a driver is can you successfully stay in a house on a reality show and look like Eddie Munster on meth. MIni Tyrell will demand$250-500M per year easily while winning every race he enters, anywhere in the world, just ask the TV experts…