Fast Facts: 2017-18 NASCAR Next class

credit: NASCAR Media
Where is the next group of up-and-coming drivers coming from? Chances are you’ll find a few of them in the 2017-18 NASCAR Next class, a diverse group of young drivers coming from varying racing backgrounds. These nine drivers were selected because NASCAR officials believe they are primed for success and will impact the sport in the future. Learn a little more about these drivers in this week’s Fast Facts.
  • Harrison Burton – In his second season in NASCAR Next, this 16-year-old second-generation driver from Huntersville, NC, is the son of former Cup Series driver and current broadcaster Jeff Burton. Burton is currently competing full-time in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and part-time in the ARCA Racing Series for MDM Motorsports, as well as part-time in the Camping World Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
  • Chase Cabre – This 19-year-old was also a member of the NASCAR Drive 4 Diversity program, racing in the K&N Pro Series East for Rev Racing alongside his brother, Collin.
  • Hailie Deegan – The 15-year-old is the youngest driver in the program for the 2017-18 season, the only female in the group, and the daughter of an action sports legend: 10-time X Games motocross medalist Brian Deegan. Deegan has competed in the Lucas Oil Off-Road Series as well as Legends cars.
  • Todd Gilliland – Another second-year driver in the program, third-generation driver Gilliland is the son of Cup Series veteran David Gilliland and grandson of 1997 Winston West Series champ Butch Gilliland. The 17-year-old from Sherrills Ford, NC, currently competes full-time in the K&N Pro Series West and East for Bill McAnally Racing and part-time in the Truck Series and CARS Late Model Stock Tour for KBM.
  • Riley Herbst – The 17-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing development driver from Las Vegas is competing in the ARCA Racing Series and K&N Pro Series West. He is a third-generation racer, with his father and grandfather both veterans of the Baja 500 off-road race.
  • Cayden Lapcevich – The Grimsby, Ontario, Canada native became the youngest Pinty’s Series champion in 2016. The 17-year-old is also a third-generation driver and grew up racing Quarter Midgets and Super Stocks, having won two championships at Sunset Speedway in Ontario.
  • Ty Majeski – The 23-year-old from Seymour, WI, is also a second-year driver in the program, currently racing part-time for Roush-Fenway Racing in the Xfinity Series and part-time in the ARCA Racing Series for Cunningham Motorsports. As of March 2017, Majeski was the No. 1 ranked iRacing.com driver in the world; the website also serves as his sponsor in the Xfinity Series.
  • Chase Purdy – This 17-year-old was the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Rookie of the Year in 2016, when he was also the South Carolina champion. He is currently racing in the K&N Pro Series East.
  • Zane Smith – The 18-year-old is competing in the ARCA Racing Series and K&N Pro Series East, with a resume that includes driving Legends and Super Late Models.


Learn more about the program and the drivers at next.nascar.com
Fast Facts: 2017-18 NASCAR Next class Fast Facts: 2017-18 NASCAR Next class Reviewed by Paula on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 Rating: 5