Beyond the Flag
Fansided

Should NASCAR hold an annual draft for upcoming drivers in the sport?

By Tyler Callaway

CONCORD, NC - NOVEMBER 07: The 2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Class was announced to the media and those drivers are from left, Nick Sanchez, Ryan Vargas, Isabella Robusto, Chase Cabre, Erni Franis, Jr. and Ruben Garcia, Jr. on November 7, 2017 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
CONCORD, NC - NOVEMBER 07: The 2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Driver Development Class was announced to the media and those drivers are from left, Nick Sanchez, Ryan Vargas, Isabella Robusto, Chase Cabre, Erni Franis, Jr. and Ruben Garcia, Jr. on November 7, 2017 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 20: Next NASCAR drivers, Harrison Burton, Chase Purdy, Zane Smith and Hailie Deegan answer questions from fans during a question and answer session at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 20, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – JANUARY 20: Next NASCAR drivers, Harrison Burton, Chase Purdy, Zane Smith and Hailie Deegan answer questions from fans during a question and answer session at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 20, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Bob Leverone/Getty Images) /

Which drivers are eligible?

Like with all drafts in professional sports, the only restriction is age. Seeing as 16 is how old you must be to compete in the lowest division of NASCAR, the K&N Pro Series, I suppose any driver above the age of 16 is eligible for enrollment in the draft.

Anyone is eligible. No specific resume or experience would be required. Whether they get drafted is up to the teams themselves.

More than likely, younger drivers, possibly in the NASCAR Next program, would be the most likely prospects.

I’ve gone ahead and made a mock draft of what this year’s draft would look like taking the up-and-coming drivers in NASCAR.

2018 NASCAR Mock Draft:

  1. Front Row Motorsports – Todd Gilliland, 17, Sherrills Ford, NC
  2. Leavine Family Racing – Harrison Burton, 17, Huntersville, NC
  3. JTG Daugherty Racing – Zane Smith, 18, Huntington Beach, CA
  4. Germain Racing  – Dalton Sargeant, 19, Boca Raton, FL
  5. Richard Petty Motorsports – Thad Moffitt, 16, Trinity, NC
  6. Roush-Fenway Racing – Ty Majeski, 23, Seymour, WI
  7. Richard Childress Racing – Riley Herbst, 18, Las Vegas NV
  8. Wood Brothers Racing – Chase Purdy, 18, Meridian, MS
  9. Chip Ganassi Racing – Hailie Deegan, 16, Temecula, CA
  10. Hendrick Motorsports – Chase Cabre, 20, Tampa, FL
  11. Team Penske – Cayden Lapcevich, 18, Ontario, Canada
  12. Stewart-Haas Racing – Tyler Dippel, 17, Wallkill, NY
  13. Joe Gibbs Racing – Nicole Behar, 20, Spokane, WA
  14. Furniture Row Racing – Ruben Garcia Jr., 20, Mexico City, Mexico
Home/NASCAR