The 2023 Junior class will be the same size as last season’s group. The level of talent is no less impressive when we examine their racing resumes, in fact, this may be the most talented junior class in a long time. We’ve got some very seasoned young Xfinity Series drivers who are making the transition next season, and they’re not entirely familiar with the NASCAR Cup Series cars. In addition to our full-time rookies we have some young drivers who are making some part-time forays into the world of NASCAR Cup Series racing from the sport’s lower divisions. Moving from the Xfinity Series or the Camping World Truck Series to NASCAR’s top division is always a big adjustment for young drivers. However, as last season showed, drivers love Austin Cendrick And the Harrison Burton They will have their highlights to go along with their struggles. We’ll take a look at the ROTY candidates and some of the up-and-coming young drivers who will be starting part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, and give you some in-depth analysis on which rookie drivers you should watch closely this season.
Junior drivers’ ratings and profiles
No. 54
Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing
Manufacturer: Toyota
| NASCAR career stats | races | Wins | columns | top 5 | top 10 |
| ARCA series | 47 | 18 | 17 | 38 | 42 |
| K&N Pro Series East | 16 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 15 |
The 2023 Junior class will be the same size as last season’s group. The level of talent is no less impressive when we examine their racing resumes, in fact, this may be the most talented junior class in a long time. We’ve got some very seasoned young Xfinity Series drivers who are making the transition next season, and they’re not entirely familiar with the NASCAR Cup Series cars. In addition to our full-time rookies we have some young drivers who are making some part-time forays into the world of NASCAR Cup Series racing from the sport’s lower divisions. Moving from the Xfinity Series or the Camping World Truck Series to NASCAR’s top division is always a big adjustment for young drivers. However, as last season showed, drivers love Austin Cendrick And the Harrison Burton They will have their highlights to go along with their struggles. We’ll take a look at the ROTY candidates and some of the up-and-coming young drivers who will be starting part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, and give you some in-depth analysis on which rookie drivers you should watch closely this season.
Junior drivers’ ratings and profiles
No. 54
Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing
Manufacturer: Toyota
| NASCAR career stats | races | Wins | columns | top 5 | top 10 |
| ARCA series | 47 | 18 | 17 | 38 | 42 |
| K&N Pro Series East | 16 | 6 | 5 | 15 | 15 |
| K&N Pro West Series | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Xfinity series | 51 | 11 | 6 | 25 | 33 |
| cup chain | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
The 20-year-old prodigy has been on a fast track to superstardom since hitting the ARCA Menards Series in 2019. Gibbs notched up two wins that season in just 11 starts and has given notice that he will be a face to watch in the years to come. He will not be disappointed to grab 10 ARCA wins in 2021 and capture that racing series championship. That would propel Gibbs straight into the Xfinity Series, completely overtaking the Camping World Truck Series in the blink of an eye. His season and a half in the Xfinity Series will see Gibbs win Class 11 and walk away with the 2022 Xfinity Series Championship. The young driver will get a taste of last season’s Cup Series cars due to a season-ending injury Kurt Busch in 23XI Racing, but his 15 Cup starts will yield little results and will give him some valuable time before his 2023 promotion. Gibbs will drive the No. 54 Toyota that was Kyle Bushteam for the past several years and has brought his crew chief, Chris Gayle, with him to the top level in NASCAR. Gibbs is poised to succeed, although it may take some time for him to fully adapt to the new generation of cars.
2. Noah Gragson
No. 42
Owner: Petty GMS Motorsports
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
| NASCAR career stats | races | Wins | columns | top 5 | top 10 |
| ARCA series | 10 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| K&N Pro Series East | 17 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| K&N Pro West Series | 28 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 25 |
| Truck series | 47 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 30 |
| Xfinity series | 135 | 13 | 2 | 62 | 96 |
| cup chain | 18 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
After two seasons of racing in the Camping World Truck Series and four full seasons of competing in the Xfinity Series, Gragson is finally poised to make his full-time debut in the NASCAR Cup Series. Gragson is getting a good taste of cup games in 2022 with 18 starts spread among three different teams. It was a good start for the 24-year-old talent. He has been incredibly successful in the lower divisions of NASCAR with 15 victories combined between the Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series. Gragson finished inside the top three in the last two point battles in the Xfinity Series. He’ll transfer all that experience to the No. 42 Chevrolet from Petty GMS Motorsports where Gragson will replace the outgoing Ty Dillon. A lack of performance could hold Dillon back in this team, so there will be some immediate pressure on Gragson to produce. GMS Petty Fellow, Eric Joneshad one win and 13 top 10s last season and finished 18th in the driver points standings, so there is potential for production within this team.
3. Austin Hill
No. 62
Owner: Beard Oil Racing
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
| NASCAR career stats | races | Wins | columns | top 5 | top 10 |
| ARCA series | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| K&N Pro West Series | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| K&N Pro Series East | 39 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 24 |
| Truck series | 121 | 8 | 3 | 27 | 54 |
| Xfinity series | 48 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 25 |
| cup chain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Hill will not be eligible for Rookie of the Year honors, but he will run well part-time in NASCAR’s top division in 2023. The young driver just completed a two-win campaign in the Xfinity Series and finished sixth in the final drivers’ standings for that racing series. Hill will now drive a Beard Oil Racing Chevrolet part-time next season. He has been tasked with making six starts that will include all four superspeedway events (Daytona & Talladega) as well as the Michigan and Chicago Street Course. This highly capable team will give the 28-year-old driver good cars and exposure to NASCAR’s top division. Beard Oil has been in the top 10 on a few occasions over the past five seasons, so Hill will have that potential. While Hill’s influence will be limited by the ultra-light schedule, he’s a driver to watch closely as he heads into the future. The 2023 season could be the revelation that boosts Hill to the full-time rookie list with another racing team in 2024.
4. Kaz Grala
No. 50
Owner: The Money Team Racing
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
| NASCAR career stats | races | Wins | columns | top 5 | top 10 |
| ARCA series | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| K&N Pro West Series | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| K&N Pro Series East | 38 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 24 |
| Truck series | 48 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 18 |
| Xfinity series | 44 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| cup chain | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
While nothing has been announced at the time of writing, Grala could be slated for another part-time season in the Cup Series in 2023. He raced each of the last three campaigns at NASCAR’s top level and in those seven starts he impressed with a pair of Top 10 finishes. The 24-year-old talent is signed to race one of two Toyotas from Sam Hunt Racing in the Xfinity Series this season, so he will be full-time in that division of NASCAR. However, we do not rule out that Grala will duo start in the Cup series, possibly with TMT Racing. He made three starts with that team last season in the No. 50 Chevrolet and had a pair of top 25 finishes. The possibilities are limited by the relatively new racing team’s small budget, but Grala’s talents are undeniable. He has a good feel for the new generation of cars and has good skills in both highway racing and super fast ovals.