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fastfordfan
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There have always been young guns in NASCAR. Many rookie drivers throughout the years have made their marks quite early on, leading to successful careers. Trevor Bayne, just 20 years old, followed that course in 2011 when he won the Daytona 500. Whether it was Tony Stewart in 1999 or Jeff Gordon in 1993, young or rookie drivers have had a major impact on the sport. It's unlikely that trend will ever slow down. In fact, the best young drivers in NASCAR are often learning and improving their skills on the smaller circuits.
Trevor Bayne may be one of the hottest young stars in a sport that continually adds youth to its resume. But who else is on the rise in the sport of Nascar? Who are the best young drivers of NASCAR?
Here is my list of five young drivers you need to keep an eye on in the next few years.
1) Colin Braun
You may have never heard of this guy who pronounces his last name "Brown." In fact, Colin Braun has lived in relative obscurity despite boasting a very promising resume that includes several karting championships and a Formula car win at age 14. Now that he is 22 years old, Braun is currently racing on the NASCAR Nationwide Series and cutting his teeth for what could be an incredible career with the big boys. Colin Braun isn't just a rising star in the motor sports world-he's one of the best young drivers who could be a Hall of Famer when all is said and done.
2) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
Much like Braun, Stenhouse, Jr. is spending time developing on the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Stenhouse and Braun are teammates for Roush Fenway racing who are similarly blessed with loads of potential. It won't be long before Stenhouse, Jr. is blazing a path on the senior circuit. He is a rising star in the sport of Nascar who could pull off Trevor Bayne type wins in the next 2-3 years. Stenhouse, Jr, who was born in 1987 according to his team website, has certainly paid his dues on the smaller tracks and that will probably pay off once he does go NASCAR Sprint Cup full time.
3) Austin Dillon
If his name doesn't say it all, Austin Dillon is just the kind of persona that breathes Nascar. Dillon is currently spending his hours racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In 2008, Dillon earned Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Camping World Series and finished 2nd. Dillon, who was born in 1990 according to the bio on his team website, is a quick rising star who inevitably will have a shot at earning a ride with the big boys within the next few years.
4) Ty Dillon
Ty is 2 years younger than brother Austin but he's already building up his own resume. Ty and Austin are the grandsons of Sprint Cup Series owner Richard Childress so the kids definitely have connections in the industry. Their dad is also the Director of Competition for Richard Childress racing so it seems likely Ty and Austin are destined to fit into the future plans of this already impressive Sprint Cup Series team. Ty Dillon is another strong young driver we can expect to see on the Sprint Cup Series in the near future. Could the Dillon brothers rival the Busch brothers or even the Waltrips? It's definitely a possibility that they will get that opportunity.
5) Justin Allgaier
Allgaier may be one of the more familiar names of this group of great young drivers. Allgaier has accomplished a lot already including 20 Top ten finishes on the Nationwide Series in 2010. That led to Allgaier being named "Rookie of the Year." Can Allgaier translate his success on the Nationwide Series into a full time ride on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series? It seems inevitable that this top young driver will be a hit once he makes that transition given his credentials on the smaller stages. Born in 1986, Allgaier isn't exactly a young gun but that doesn't mean he won't be a very special rookie.
That's my list of the 5 best young drivers in NASCAR. What happens between now and the time these incredibly talented young drivers make it to the circuit is always a variable that is unpredictable. Needless to say, these young drivers will all at least have the opportunity to prove their worth on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series because of their connections, talent and experience.
Trevor Bayne may be one of the hottest young stars in a sport that continually adds youth to its resume. But who else is on the rise in the sport of Nascar? Who are the best young drivers of NASCAR?
Here is my list of five young drivers you need to keep an eye on in the next few years.
1) Colin Braun
You may have never heard of this guy who pronounces his last name "Brown." In fact, Colin Braun has lived in relative obscurity despite boasting a very promising resume that includes several karting championships and a Formula car win at age 14. Now that he is 22 years old, Braun is currently racing on the NASCAR Nationwide Series and cutting his teeth for what could be an incredible career with the big boys. Colin Braun isn't just a rising star in the motor sports world-he's one of the best young drivers who could be a Hall of Famer when all is said and done.
2) Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
Much like Braun, Stenhouse, Jr. is spending time developing on the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Stenhouse and Braun are teammates for Roush Fenway racing who are similarly blessed with loads of potential. It won't be long before Stenhouse, Jr. is blazing a path on the senior circuit. He is a rising star in the sport of Nascar who could pull off Trevor Bayne type wins in the next 2-3 years. Stenhouse, Jr, who was born in 1987 according to his team website, has certainly paid his dues on the smaller tracks and that will probably pay off once he does go NASCAR Sprint Cup full time.
3) Austin Dillon
If his name doesn't say it all, Austin Dillon is just the kind of persona that breathes Nascar. Dillon is currently spending his hours racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. In 2008, Dillon earned Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Camping World Series and finished 2nd. Dillon, who was born in 1990 according to the bio on his team website, is a quick rising star who inevitably will have a shot at earning a ride with the big boys within the next few years.
4) Ty Dillon
Ty is 2 years younger than brother Austin but he's already building up his own resume. Ty and Austin are the grandsons of Sprint Cup Series owner Richard Childress so the kids definitely have connections in the industry. Their dad is also the Director of Competition for Richard Childress racing so it seems likely Ty and Austin are destined to fit into the future plans of this already impressive Sprint Cup Series team. Ty Dillon is another strong young driver we can expect to see on the Sprint Cup Series in the near future. Could the Dillon brothers rival the Busch brothers or even the Waltrips? It's definitely a possibility that they will get that opportunity.
5) Justin Allgaier
Allgaier may be one of the more familiar names of this group of great young drivers. Allgaier has accomplished a lot already including 20 Top ten finishes on the Nationwide Series in 2010. That led to Allgaier being named "Rookie of the Year." Can Allgaier translate his success on the Nationwide Series into a full time ride on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series? It seems inevitable that this top young driver will be a hit once he makes that transition given his credentials on the smaller stages. Born in 1986, Allgaier isn't exactly a young gun but that doesn't mean he won't be a very special rookie.
That's my list of the 5 best young drivers in NASCAR. What happens between now and the time these incredibly talented young drivers make it to the circuit is always a variable that is unpredictable. Needless to say, these young drivers will all at least have the opportunity to prove their worth on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series because of their connections, talent and experience.