This article is part of our NASCAR Draft Kit series.
The 2021 rookie class will be a lot smaller than last season's group. The level of talent is no less impressive when we examine their racing resumes. We have some very seasoned, young Xfinity Series drivers who will be making the transition this season, and they're not entirely unfamiliar with NASCAR Cup Series cars.
In addition to our full-time rookies we have some young drivers that will be making some part-time forays into the world of NASCAR Cup Series racing from the lower divisions of the sport. The transition from the Xfinity Series or Camping World Truck Series to the top division of NASCAR is always a big adjustment for young drivers.
However, as last season showed, drivers like Christopher Bell and John Hunter Nemechek will have their highlights to go along with their struggles. We'll take a look at the ROTY candidates and some of the young, up-and-coming drivers who will make part-time starts in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, and give you some in-depth analysis on which rookie drivers are the ones to watch closely this season.
Rookie Drivers
Chase Briscoe
Car: No. 14
Team: Stewart Haas Racing
Manufacturer: Ford
| NASCAR Career Stats | Races | Wins | Poles | Top 5 | Top 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARCA Series | 22 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 20 |
| K&N Pro Series West | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Truck Series | 25 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 16 |
| Xfinity Series | 83 | 11 | 2 | 30 | 52 |
He may not have won the Xfinity Series championship this past season, but Briscoe posted arguably
