Two years ago, Kyle Larson mentioned that transitioning Jade Avedisian to asphalt racing would be a challenging journey. Now, Avedisian, 19, is in her third year of asphalt racing—her second on oval tracks—and has already made a significant impact, capturing a national midget championship and competing in the Chili Bowl main event in 2023. Like many rising stars, she is steadily learning and pushing to win. Last year, she made history by winning at Coastal Plains Raceway in North Carolina, becoming the first woman to win a professional late model race on the CARS Tour. Her momentum continued with a Super Late Model victory at New Smyrna Speedway during Speedweek, a notable achievement given the tough competition.
Avedisian shared that the win felt perfectly timed, especially after a close contest the previous night, serving as a great way to clear her mind and secure a victory. She has adapted from short, intense 30-lap sprint car races to longer, more strategic stock car contests. While dirt tracks often demand changing racing lines, asphalt tracks typically have one or two best lines that remain consistent. She reflected on her dirt racing days, where driving hard and smart over a relatively short duration usually secured the win, contrasting this with the different style required on asphalt.
Racing this year in a more powerful Late Model at New Smyrna, she values the experience gained during last year’s Speedweek. Though she feels she still needs more track time, as a Toyota Racing Development driver, she recognizes she has a structured plan and support to continue learning. Toyota placed her with Wilson Motorsports for Late Models and Nitro Motorsports for ARCA competitions. Avedisian candidly expressed that while she wishes she had won more last year, the lessons learned helped her gain confidence and improve her speed early this season.
Considering all of this, Avedisian remains on the author’s list of top 20 Cup contenders, based on her performance and potential. While sponsorship and funding are considered, they are not the major factors in this ranking but can influence eligibility for Cup races. Several parameters were set for this list, including excluding drivers with a full or partial Cup season and limiting participants to those under 28.
The article then highlights the top 20 young NASCAR drivers to watch in 2026, including Corey Heim, Jesse Love, Brent Crews, Corey Day, Layne Riggs, Kaden Honeycutt, Carson Kvapil, Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, Raja Carruth, Christian Eckes, Keelan Harvick, Chandler Smith, Tristan McKee, Gio Ruggiero, Jade Avedisian herself, Nick Sanchez, Laney Buis, William Sawalich, and Isabella Robusto. It also mentions 25 other promising talents worth noting.
Fan Take: This update showcases the promising future of NASCAR with a fresh wave of young, talented drivers like Jade Avedisian making headlines and breaking barriers. Their development and success not only bring exciting new storylines but also demonstrate the sport’s ongoing evolution and commitment to diversity and growth, which is crucial for keeping NASCAR vibrant and appealing to new generations of fans.
