NASCAR Midseason Prospect Checklist: Will 'Butterbean' Be Subsequent Older Driver To Make It?

Bob Pockrass

FOX Motorsports Insider

Brenden “Butterbean” Queen gained’t be on this checklist for much longer.

At age 27, he’ll drop off this checklist of prospect rankings after this season, as one of many situations is {that a} driver is underneath 28 years outdated.

Queen is getting his first shot at a nationwide collection this 12 months, as he leads the ARCA standings with 5 victories. His subsequent step could be full-time truck or full-time Xfinity. He is hopeful — however not totally sure — that he’ll attain this aim.

Brenden Queen talks with members of his crew throughout apply for the ARCA Menards Sequence Basic Tire 200 at Talladega

4 or 5 years in the past, somebody of Queen’s age could be thought-about too outdated.

“You’ll be able to form of see the tide turning the place the groups are taking a look at it like generally having an 18-year-old, they’ve obtained an extended profession, perhaps,” Queen stated.

“However on the identical time, in case you’ve obtained a 27-year-old, 28-year-old that may be good advertising and marketing on your companions and also can go get the job carried out, there’s nothing flawed with that.”

Queen ought to thank Josh Berry for perhaps a extra hopeful outlook. Berry had comparable roots, racing late mannequin shares within the Southeast. He obtained his first comparatively full season on a NASCAR nationwide stage at age 30.

Josh Berry waves to followers as he walks onstage throughout driver intros previous to the NASCAR Cup Sequence Iowa Corn 350

Berry stated that Queen being 27 “isn’t that outdated.”

“It’s a actuality that every one of our journeys are a bit of bit totally different getting so far,” Berry stated. “A few of us, it takes a bit of longer. He’s carried out a very good job.

“I really feel like my success coming from a late mannequin primarily straight to the Xfinity automotive opened up individuals’s eyes of what is potential, that the late mannequin shares is an efficient proving floor to go proper right into a heavier automotive.”

Queen has dropped 15 kilos. He has improved from each a bodily and psychological standpoint by means of his work within the Chevrolet driver coaching program underneath former driver Josh Smart. And Queen does acknowledge Berry’s affect in his success.

“I really feel higher now than I did three years in the past,” Queen stated. “For those who’d requested me this query [about my future] once I was 24 or 25, I’d have instructed you it is in all probability over. I’m simply going to race late fashions due to my age.

“However I feel Josh actually modified the trajectory of the groups going, ‘OK let’s take into consideration this for a minute.’ Actually, I really feel higher than I did at 24 so far as maturity, methods to handle a race and put it collectively.”

Josh Berry strikes down the course through the qualifying session of the NASCAR Cup Sequence Toyota/Save Mart 350

Due to his outgoing character, Queen resonates with grassroots followers. And a few would say that he has confirmed individuals flawed about whether or not he can do it on a nationwide stage.

Or perhaps he extra proved one thing to himself?

“I all the time thought, if I had the suitable alternative, that I might do it — simply off of what I had achieved late mannequin racing. After which additionally seeing people who I’ve raced with transfer up and be capable of do it, figuring out that I went toe-to-toe with them at occasions,” he stated.

“I feel it was in all probability extra essential to me to indicate the world I might do it. I by no means like to provide an opinion of myself. I’ll depart it as much as the world or Bean Nation to determine.”

So with all this in thoughts, right here’s my midseason prospect checklist, based mostly on efficiency and potential.

Whereas advertising and marketing, sponsorship alternatives and funding will not be major elements, they do issue into this checklist as a result of they’ll affect if these drivers will make it to Cup.

Some parameters: To be on this checklist, drivers can not have had a season in Cup they usually should be youthful than 28 years outdated.

1. Connor Zilisch Age: 19Previous Rating: 2

Zilisch leads the Xfinity Sequence standings with a series-high 5 victories. 4 of these have come within the final 10 races, all prime fives for him. He’ll be Cup subsequent 12 months at Trackhosue Racing.

Connor Zilisch prepares to qualify for the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway

2. Corey Heim Age: 23Previous Rating: 1

Heim has dominated the vans this 12 months with 5 wins and 10 prime fives in 16 begins. He clinched the regular-season factors title with two races left. Already signed with 23XI Racing, he’ll seemingly have to attend till 2027 to be in a Cup automotive full time. Whether or not he’s in an Xfinity automotive full time in 2026 remains to be TBD.

3. Brent Crews Age: 17Previous Rating: 5

Crews has two wins and a second in 5 ARCA nationwide collection begins. He additionally has one prime 10 in three truck begins. He’ll seemingly race full time in Xfinity subsequent season at Joe Gibbs Racing after he turns 18 in March.

4. Jesse Love Age: 20Previous Rating: 4

Love sits fourth within the Xfinity standings with one win and 15 top-10 finishes. The driving force is at Richard Childress Racing and the query is that this: Does he keep there for an additional season in hopes a Cup trip opens up in 2027?

Jesse Love enters his automotive for the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence HyVee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway

5. Nick Sanchez Age: 24Previous Rating: 9

Sanchez is twelfth within the Xifnity standings and has a win driving for Huge Machine Data Racing. He has had a good rookie season and if he continues to enhance, he could possibly be in Cup in 2027.

6. Sam Mayer Age: 22Previous Rating: 12

Mayer is third within the Xfinity standings and has been spectacular with 10 top-five finishes driving for the revamped Haas crew. He obtained a giant victory final week at Iowa. Extra runs like that and Cup groups will begin speaking about him.

7. Corey Day Age:19Previous Rating: 6

Day has two prime fives in seven truck begins (and no prime 10s in 5 Xfinity begins) as he begins making the adjustment to inventory vehicles and pavement racing. It has been a bit of little bit of a tough adjustment however these strikes do take some time.

Corey Day waits on the grid previous to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

8. Layne Riggs Age 23Previous Rating: 13

Riggs is third within the truck standings with two wins and 7 prime fives this 12 months, driving for Entrance Row Motorsports. One other 12 months in vans subsequent season for FRM is kind of potential.

9. Carson Kvapil Age: 22Previous Rating: 8

Kvapil is sixth within the Xfinity standings and has 9 prime 10s as a rookie whereas nonetheless searching for his first victory. The JR Motorsports driver is taken into account to have a excessive upside as he had not raced a full season in ARCA or in vans earlier than this 12 months.

10. Kaden Honeycutt Age: 22Previous Rating: 17

Honeycutt is on tempo to make the truck playoffs and the previous Neice Motorsports driver is changing Stewart Friesen beginning subsequent week at Richmond. So whereas not introduced, it’s pretty evident he’s now within the Toyota pipeline. A Tricon truck is his seemingly vacation spot subsequent 12 months.

Kaden Honeycut drives through the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park

11. Taylor Grey Age: 20Previous rating: 10

Grey is ninth in his first full season of working within the Xfinity Sequence. His six prime fives and 11 prime 10s present potential. Would count on him to return to this seat subsequent 12 months.

12. Chandler Smith Age: 23Previous rating: 7

Smith is second within the truck standings and has two wins. He has simply 4 top-five finishes however 12 prime 10s driving for Entrance Row Motorsports. He isn’t main a ton of laps however he’s getting his truck to the end. Like his teammate Riggs, he’ll fairly presumably return to the truck subsequent season.

13. Rajah Caruth Age: 23Previous Rating: 14

Caruth is eleventh within the truck standings however has certified for the playoffs with a win. Somewhat extra was anticipated from Caurth this 12 months. His three top-fives should be larger however he additionally didn’t have a ton of stock-car expertise earlier than starting in vans a number of years in the past.

Rajah Caruth waves to followers as he walks onstage throughout driver intros previous to the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway

14. Christian Eckes Age: 24Previous Rating: 3

Eckes didn’t neglect methods to drive however this has been an extended 12 months, as he sits fifteenth within the Xfinity standings driving for Kaulig Racing. He wants a turnaround over the ultimate few months of 2025 and/or a fast begin in 2026.

15. Tristan McKee Age: 15Previous Rating: 15

McKee has 4 prime fives in seven begins within the CARS Tour late mannequin inventory division. He’s a Spire improvement driver.

16. Isabella Robusto Age: 20Previous Rating: 18

Robusto is fifth within the ARCA standings with 5 prime fives in 12 begins. Her progress has not been as vibrant as some had hoped however there are glimpses of potential that she’s going to problem for the ARCA title subsequent 12 months on the revamped Nitro Motorsports (after its buyout of Venturini Motorsports).

Isabella Robusto seems to be on previous to the Menards Sequence at Charlotte Motor Speedway

17. Keelan Harvick Age: 13Previous Rating: Not Ranked

Harvick is second within the CARS Tour professional late mannequin standings with one win and three prime fives in seven begins. The son of NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick, he has proven sturdy potential at a younger age.

18. Jade Avedisian Age: 18Previous Rating: 19

Avedisian has one win and three top-fives in 4 CARS Tour professional late mannequin begins as she begins to give attention to late mannequin pavement racing. A midget racing champion in 2023, Avedisian was the primary feminine driver to win a CARS Tour race.

19. Brenden Queen Age 27Previous Rating: 20

Queen has 5 wins and 10 prime fives in 12 begins and leads the ARCA nationwide collection standings. It has been a strong season for Queen, who seemingly must be in a truck or Xfinity automotive subsequent 12 months if he desires to get some seems to be from Cup house owners over the subsequent few years.

The helmet of Brenden Queen sits on prime of his race automotive previous to the working of the ARCA Menards Sequence Basic Tire 200

20. Gio Ruggiero Age: 18Previous Rating: 16

Ruggiero is twelfth within the truck standings as a rookie with three prime fives and 6 top-10 finishes driving for Tricon. There have been flashes of potential but additionally some disappointing runs. He stays on this checklist, as many consider he’ll present important enchancment over the subsequent 12 months.

25 others to observe: Lawless Alan, Tyler Ankrum Luke Baldwin, Austin Beers, Lanie Buice, Cole Butcher, Sheldon Creed, Daniel Dye, Luke Fenhaus, Jake Finch, Jake Garcia, Tanner Grey, Conner Jones, Isaac Kitzmiller, Caden Kvapil, Treyten Lapcevich, Landen Lewis, Ben Maier, Andres Perez de Lara, George Phillips, Tyler Reif, Taylor Reimer, William Sawalich, Lavar Scott, Sammy Smith.

Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent a long time protecting motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.