The NASCAR Cup Series is led by some of the best drivers in racing, such as William Byron, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell. While they’ll be the faces of the sport for years to come, the next wave of NASCAR prospects could eventually take the places of Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch.
Fortunately, fans have already seen glimpses of the next wave of talent coming to the Cup Series, thanks to appearances at the highest level from Connor Zilisch and Corey Heim. They are the headliners of the new era of NASCAR prospects who will be battling for wins in the years to come.
Corey Heim, Truck Series
There isn’t a single driver in NASCAR dominating his level right now more than Corey Heim. Heim’s five wins are more than double the total of the next-closest driver (Chandler Smith), and his win total could be even higher if not for incidents where competitors wrecked him or he suffered engine failures. In 2025, Heim has led 986 laps through 15 races—more than the combined laps led by the next eight closest drivers (978). He’s already 10th in all-time Truck Series wins (16), despite having just 79 starts at this level.
23XI Racing, Heim’s development team, has already given him several runs in the Cup Series to help him acclimate to the Next Gen car. He is certainly talented enough to thrive in the Xfinity Series, but that level is often more about sponsorships and financial backing than driver ability. Heim is likely to become a full-time driver with 23XI Racing in 2027, when he will be the favorite for Rookie of the Year.
- Corey Heim stats (Truck Series): 690 points, 5 wins, 11 top 10s, 9 top ts, 3 poles, 988 laps led, 5.4 average starting position, 7.4 average finishing position in 15 races
Related: NASCAR reporter sheds light on Corey Heim’s future with 23XI Racing
Jesse Love, Xfinity Series
Driving for Richard Childress Racing in the Xfinity Series, 20-year-old Jesse Love is demonstrating this season why he is one of the top NASCAR prospects. Already an ARCA champion and the reigning Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year, Love has been a top-five driver this season. He earned his first taste of the Cup Series level this year, although he finished at the back of the field. What’s most important is his improved consistency in Xfinity, where he’s tied for the most top-10 finishes (12). He’s likely still two years away from becoming a regular in the Cup Series, but Love is proving he’ll have earned that opportunity when it arrives, and there should be a few more Cup races on his docket in 2026.
- Jesse Love stats (Xfinity Series): 582 points, 1 win, 12 top 1s, 4 top 5s, 2 poles, 2 DNFs, 170 laps led, 8.632 average starting position, 12.111 average finishing position in 19 races
Related: NASCAR schedule for Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series
Connor Zilisch, Xfinity Series
If you can go toe-to-toe with Shane van Gisbergen on a road course twice, beating him once, you clearly have a future in the NASCAR Cup Series. At just 18 years old, Connor Zilisch is one of the youngest drivers in the sport, and he’s already making history. In 2025, he became the youngest driver to win five poles in the Xfinity Series (18 years, 10 months, and 23 days), and he’s one of the youngest ever to run multiple races in the Cup Series. This year in Xfinity, Zilisch has the third-most top-five finishes (eight) and the second-most laps led (329) among full-time drivers. He’ll become a full-time Cup Series driver next season for Trackhouse Racing, replacing Daniel Suárez, and is already the odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year—all before he turns 20.
- Connor Zilisch stats (Xfinity Series): 617 points, 3 wins, 10 top-10s, 8 top-5s, 4 poles, 329 laps led, 7.667 average starting position, 11.222 average finishing position in 18 races
Layne Riggs, Truck Series
Corey Heim is in a class by himself in the Truck Series, but fellow driver Layne Riggs is certainly establishing himself as one of the top rising NASCAR prospects in 2025. The 23-year-old earned Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors last season after a strong finish to the year, winning in both August and September, along with a second-place finish at Kansas. He has followed that up in his second season by recording the fourth-most top-five finishes (six) and posting the fifth-best average finishing position (10.7). Racing regularly against Heim is beneficial for Riggs’ development, allowing him to improve against a Cup-caliber driver. Once Heim moves up, Riggs could become the best driver at the Truck level, with a full-time spot in the Cup Series becoming a possibility a few years later.
- Layne Riggs stats (Truck Series): 525 points, 1 win, 8 top 10s, 6 top 5s, 1 pole, 103 laps led, 11.6 average starting position, 10.667 average finishing position in 15 races
Related: NASCAR standings for Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series
Carson Kvapil, Xfinity Series
It’s easy for Carson Kvapil to get a bit overshadowed in the Xfinity Series with Justin Allgaier, Connor Zilisch, and Austin Hill dominating, while others like Jesse Love and Christian Eckes are on the radar for future spots in the Cup Series. However, Kvapil is still getting noticed. That’s proven by the fact that Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic stated earlier this season that big teams are high on Kvapil, especially when it comes to his ability to manage races. While the 22-year-old still hasn’t won a race in the Xfinity Series, he’s delivered four top-five finishes and 10 top-10s in 17 races this season. He’s demonstrated that he’s ready to be a development driver for a top team as soon as next year, perhaps even with Team Penske.
- Carson Kvapil stats (Xfinity Series): 554 points, 8 top 10s, 4 top 5s, 72 laps led, 11.6 average starting position, 13.6 average finishing position in 19 races
Christian Eckes, Xfinity Series
Rounding out our list for some of the top NASCAR prospects to watch is Christian Eckes. The 24-year-old is a full-time driver in the Xfinity Series for the first time this season, driving the No. 16 car for Kaulig Racing. While the results haven’t been phenomenal so far, he recorded a pair of top-five finishes this summer. Eckes knew there would be an adjustment period to this level and this season has demonstrated why he’s a few years from reaching the Cup Series.
- Christian Eckes (Xfinity Series): 399 points, 7 top 10s, 3 top 5s, 26 laps led, 16.474 average starting position, 18.947 average finishing position
