The Future Of NASCAR Is Very Bright
By John Harlow
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The future of NASCAR looks great with all of the young talent coming through the NASCAR feeder series.
When you look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, drivers like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Greg Biffle are in their 40s and are closer to retirement than their rookie years. There is plenty of talent down on the farm to take NASCAR well into the 2020s.
Ryan Blaney: He will be the first of the next generation of NASCAR to drive more than the one-off races. He will step into the Wood Brothers #21 next year. Blaney who has won the last two races he has entered (Nationwide at Bristol and Trucks in Canada) will benefit from the new alliance the Wood Brothers have with Team Penske.
Chase Elliott: The Nationwide Series points leader has been a Hendrick Motorsports development driver for the past few years racing in the K&N East series and this season with JR Motorsports. The son of Bill Elliott is just 18 years old, but has the composure of someone who has been in the sport for 18 years. The development of Elliott may be the determining factor of whether or not Kasey Kahne stays at Hendrick or Jeff Gordon retires. With NAPA sponsorship, Elliott is very attractive at the Cup level.
Darrell Wallace Jr.: Bubba Wallace has spent the past two seasons driving in the Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports and has three wins to his credit. A product of the NASCAR Drive to Diversity program has been a Joe Gibbs Racing development driver. The plan for 2015 is for Wallace to drive Nationwide (Soon to be Xfinity Series) for JGR.
Ty Dillon: He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Austin and join Pop Pop’s (Richard Childress) stable of drivers at RCR. Dillon made his first Sprint Cup start at Atlanta. Ty finished three laps down in 25th position, but got some quality seat time in a Cup car. If the progression follows Austin’s path, expect Ty in an RCR entry in 2016.
Others to Watch: There are many next generation drivers on the way. Ganassi development driver Dylan Kwasniewski has struggled in his first Nationwide season, but Chip Ganassi can spot talent (see Kyle Larson). Chris and James Buescher have quality Nationwide rides with Roush Fenway and RAB Racing. James is a Camping World Truck Series Champion and could be someone you see driving in the Sprint Cup series in the not too distant future.
There’s Jeb Burton (son of Ward Burton), John Hunter Nemechek (son of Joe Nemechek) and Corey Lajoie (son for former Nationwide Champion Randy Lajoie) who are following in their fathers footsteps. Brandon McReynolds (son of Fox Sports’ Larry McReynolds), Brian Scott, Ryan Reed and Dakoda Armstrong are names to watch over the next few years that could be filling Sprint Cup rides.
Predictions: Chase Elliott moves to Hendrick in 2015 to replace Kasey Kahne who will move to Stewart-Hass to replace Danica Patrick. Bubba Wallace will get a ride with Michael Waltrip Racing when they return to three full-time Cup teams. Kwasniewski will run for Ganassi because he has a locked in sponsor with Rockstar Energy. Brian Scott could move to Richard Petty Motorsports to replace Marcos Ambrose who is rumored to be heading back to Australia. The final prediction, there is a 50/50 chance I am not right on any of these.