Brenden “Butterbean” Queen has not appeared on this list for quite some time. At 27, he’s fallen off the lead ranking list this season because the criteria require drivers to be under 28. This year, Queen has earned his first opportunity in the national series and currently leads the ARCA rankings with five wins. His next goal is to race full-time in either the ARCA or Xfinity series, though his future remains uncertain.
Drivers who emerged four or five years ago, like Queen, are often considered too old under current standards. Queen highlights that younger drivers often have longer careers ahead, but marketing partners may still find value in a 27-year-old driver. Drawing inspiration from Josh Berry, who had similar beginnings and broke into NASCAR’s national level at age 30, Queen remains hopeful. Berry points out that each racer’s journey is different, and success can come later.
Queen has improved physically and mentally, shedding 15 pounds through the Chevrolet Driver Training Program, learning from former driver Josh Weisse. He feels better now than he did at 24 and credits Berry for positively influencing his career trajectory. Queen resonates well with grassroots fans and has proven himself on the national stage, possibly more importantly, he has shown his own resilience and potential.
The article then lists the current top young NASCAR prospects under 28 who haven’t yet spent a full season in the Cup Series:
1. Connor Zilisch (19) leads the Xfinity Series with five wins and will join Trackhouse Racing next year.
2. Corey Heim (23) dominates ARCA with five wins and tops in regular-season titles, set to join 23XI in 2027 with his Xfinity status for 2026 undecided.
3. Brent Crews (17) has two wins in the ARCA National Series and will race full-time in Xfinity next season with Joe Gibbs Racing.
4. Jesse Love (20) holds fourth in Xfinity standings with one win and 15 top-10 finishes in Richard Childress Racing.
5. Nick Sanchez (24) is 12th in Xfinity standings with a rookie win, a potential 2027 Cup contender.
6. Sam Mayer (22) performed well in Xfinity with several top finishes and a recent big win in Iowa.
7. Corey Day (19) has begun adjusting to stock cars with a few top-fives, though still adapting.
8. Rajah Caruth (23) drives for Front Row Motorsports Trucks with two wins and multiple top-fives.
9. Carson Kvapil (22) is sixth in Xfinity standings as a rookie with nine top-10 finishes but no wins yet.
10. Kaden Honeycutt (22) is on track for the playoffs and expected to be in the Toyota pipeline next year.
11. Taylor Gray (20) performs well in his first full Xfinity season with six top fives.
12. Chandler Smith (23) has two wins and twelve top-10 finishes in Xfinity with Front Row Motorsports.
13. Rajah Caruth (23) qualified for playoffs with one win but had mixed results overall.
14. Christian Eckes (24) is 15th in Xfinity standings and needs a strong finish to the year for 2026 prospects.
15. Tristan McKee (15), a Spire development driver, has four top fives in late model tours.
16. Isabella Robusto (20) ranks fifth in ARCA with steady progress, with potential to challenge for the title next year.
17. Keelan Harvick (13), son of NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick, has shown promise in late model tours.
18. Jade Avedesian (18) has one win and historic first female victory in car tour races.
19. Brenden Queen (27) leads ARCA standings and may need to run trucks or Xfinity next year for Cup consideration.
20. Gio Ruggiero (18) is 12th in ARCA with some strong runs and room for improvement.
The article also mentions 25 other young drivers worth watching, including Tyler Ankrum, Luke Baldwin, and Sammy Smith.
Fan Take: This midseason ranking highlights the fresh talent poised to shape NASCAR’s future, showing that the sport remains vibrant with emerging stars. For fans, tracking these young drivers offers a glimpse into the next generation of champions and the evolving dynamics within NASCAR’s competitive landscape.
