NASCAR's 2017 season has wrapped up, but there is still a lot to talk about for the upcoming season. Here is a list of 10 rookies who have proven they are a group to recon with.
1. Chase Elliott
In the 2017 season Elliott has 20 Top 10 finishes, in which five were second place finishes. He also made it into the round of eight for the 2017 Monster Energy Championship. This is Chase's second year as a Monster Energy driver, and next season he is changing from the 24 car to 9 in honor of his father, NASCAR legend, Bill Elliott.
2. Ryan Blaney
Blaney earned his first Monster Energy win at Pocono in 2017. In his two years as a Monster Energy driver he has eight Top 5 finishes, 25 Top 10's, and has won two poles. Next season he will be driving the 12 car for Team Penske alongside Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.
3. Bubba Wallace (Darrell Wallace Jr.)
In the Xfinity Series Wallace has six Top 5's, 35 Top 10's, and has won two poles. In 2017 Wallace drove the 43 car in four races during the Monster Energy Series when Aric Almirola injured his back. His average finish was 17th. Next season Wallace will replace Almirola in the 43 car at Richard Petty Motorsports with an alliance with Richard Childress Motorsports.
4. Kyle Larson
In the three years Larson has been racing in the Monster Energy Series, he has 35 Top 5's, 62 Top 10's, and has won four poles. He has earned five wins in the 2016 and 2017 season.
5. Erik Jones
Jones has five Top 5 finishes and 14 Top 10 finishes in his two seasons of being a full-time Monster Energy Series driver.
6. William Byron
In the Xfinity Series Byron has won four races, 12 Top 5's, 22 Top 10's, and won two poles. He is also the current series champion. Next season Byron will be driving the 24 car for Hendrick Motorsports as a full-time Monster Energy Series driver.
7. Alex Bowman
Bowman has one win in the Xfinity Series, three poles, and six Top 5's. When racing in the Monster Energy Series, he has three Top 10's and one pole win. Next season Bowman will replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the 88 car, as a full-time driver for Hendrick Motorsports, in the Monster Energy Series.
8. Austin Dillon
With Dillon's third year as a Monster Energy Series driver, he has nine Top 5's and 26 Top 10's. Dillon earned one win advancing him to the round of eight in the Monster Energy Series Championship.
9. Ty Dillon
In the Xfinity Series Dillon has 32 Top 5's, 86 Top 10's, and won one race. In his first year racing full-time in the Monster Energy Series, Dillon has an average of finishing in the Top 20.
10. Daniel Suarez
With his first year in the Monster Energy Series Suarez has one Top 5, and 12 Top 10's. His average finish is 16th.
