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The 2024 season is coming to a close, and drivers are moving both up and down the developmental ladder. With spots opening in all three National Series, who will be the new faces of NASCAR’s lowest National Touring Series?
Andres Perez currently races for Rev Racing in the ARCA Menards Series. Perez is part of the NASCAR Driver for Diversity Program, a program that helped develop drivers like Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson, and Nick Sanchez.
A native of Mexico, Perez is in his second full-time season in ARCA. Since debuting in 2022, he is yet to win in ARCA. However, this losing streak isn’t due to poor performance, as in 37 career ARCA starts, Perez has 18 top-fives.
The 19-year-old even started his first Truck Series race this season at Gateway, driving the No. 7 for Spire Motorsports. A ninth-place finish showed promise for the young driver, who will be full-time in the series soon.
Lavar Scott is a fellow NASCAR Drive for Diversity member entering his first full-time season of ARCA competition. A native of New Jersey, Scott finished third in the ARCA Menards Series East standings last season.
Like his REV Racing teammate Perez, Scott has yet to win in ARCA. However, Scott came up short this year at Elko Speedway, finishing second to William Sawalich after leading 100 of 250 laps.
While Scott may be the next first-time winner in ARCA, he has yet to start a NASCAR Truck Series race. However, if he keeps his performance up, it may be sooner rather than later.
Dawson Sutton is an 18-year-old standout on the East Coast Late Model scene. The son of Curtis Sutton, President of Rackley Roofing, Dawson looks primed for a full-time spot in Rackley WAR’s No. 25 Truck.
Despite his family name, Dawson has proven himself outside of the Truck Series, earning and building a reputation in several Late Model Series. This season, Dawson has won seven features at tracks like Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, the Milwaukee Mile, and New Smyrna Speedway.
Dawson also made his Truck Series Debut this season at North Wilkesboro for Rackley WAR in the No. 26. While a 28th place at Wilkesboro was disappointing for Dawson, he recovered in his second start at Nashville Superspeedway, finishing 18th.
With rumors that No. 25 will be without its driver, Ty Dillon, next season, Dawson’s promotion will likely happen soon.
Sean Hingorani, at age 17, is one of Toyota’s top long-term prospects. Racing in ARCA, both the main series and the East and West Series, Hingorani has made a name for himself.
A six-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series West, including a four-win championship campaign last season, Hingorani could make the jump past full-time ARCA competition and into the Trucks once he turns 18.
Age did not prevent Hingorani from starting two Truck Series races last season at age 16, though his two short track entries produced minimal results.
Some may find Kaden Honeycutt’s inclusion on a list shocking. However, Honeycutt may have one of the most diverse developmental ladders to the top levels of NASCAR to thank for not being full-time in a Truck.
One of a few Texas natives climbing through the NASCAR ranks. Honeycutt has raced will in every series he has entered.
That long list of entries includes:
Honeycutt is racing part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this season with Niece Motorsports. Despite solid runs early this season, Honeycutt is looking to end the schedule strong. When he eventually makes it to the Truck Series, he will be a contender week in and week out.
Toni Breidinger made her very anticipated Truck Series debut last season at Kansas with Tricon Garage.
Like Honeycutt, Breidinger has taken her time working through the NASCAR developmental ladder rather than rushing through. She has competed in ARCA part-time since 2018 and is fifth in points in her first full-time ARCA season.
Like others on this list, Breidinger has not won in the three levels of ARCA. However, she has four starts in the Truck Series with Tricon Garage.
Her most recent race, at Daytona in February, showed that she is adjusting well to the Truck Series. She qualified a career-best 13th before encountering a late-race accident.
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