Current NASCAR Superstars

The Who's Who Of NASCAR

Are you looking to chat with that one guy at the office who’s really into professional racing? Well, consider a primer so you speak with at least some level of authority. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest names in NASCAR right now.

Carson Hocevar

The concept of the rookie remains very important to organized sports. Think of it as being like a promising stock you want to invest in, which applies to the breakout racer Carson Hocevar.

Carson Hocevar on track Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Carson Hocevar

Racer Carson Hocevar is, at this moment, the most promising rookie in NASCAR, coming in 22nd place in the standings. If you have an autographed rookie trading card for him, we recommend hanging onto it.

Carson Hocevar beside his #28 Chevrolet SS ARCA car at Madison International Speedway. Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Daniel Suarez

Mexican-American driver Daniel Suarez made a name for himself by becoming the first foreign-born racer to win a NASCAR National Series championship. His success in the sport has been representative of NASCAR becoming far more diverse in recent years.

Daniel Suarez NASCAR DRIVER Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Daniel Suarez

A particularly thrilling moment for fans of Suarez was when he beat out fellow racers Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch by 0.007 seconds at an Atlanta race in February 2024. We have a feeling he’ll be a driver for the record books.

Daniel Suarez NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kyle Larson

Driver Kyle Larson was the undeniable superstar of the 2024 NASCAR season, even if there weren’t a ton of championship wins to his name. For someone like Larson, it’s more about consistent performance, as represented in his points scoring.

Kyle Larson NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kyle Larson

Currently the sixth-highest points scorer in NASCAR for the 2025 season, Larson is the kind of driver who fans enjoy watching due to his strong style. His photo-finish by 0.001 seconds in May 2004 at Kansas was a particularly exciting moment to witness.

Kyle Larson NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Christian Eckes

Christian Eckes achieved early success by winning the prestigious Snowball Derby in 2016 at only 16 years of age. From that young age, he’s been a consistently strong performer in NASCAR.

Christian Eckes NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Christian Eckes

Eckes made headlines after getting into a physical and verbal altercation with racer Ben Rhodes after a spinning incident at the 2020 Talladega cut-off race. From there, people have kept a close eye on him, wondering if something that dramatic will happen again.

Christian Eckes stands beside the #15 Toyota Camry ARCA car at Madison. Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Jesse Love

At only 20 years of age, Jesse Love certainly earns the title of Rookie of the Year. People began to notice his impressive skills after a number of strong performances throughout the 2024 NASCAR season.

Jesse Love 2020 Luis Torres, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Jesse Love

If you observe the wild history of F1, many of the racers were children of privilege who pursued the sport as an almost hobby. The same goes for NASCAR and Love, whose father is a prominent figure in California real estate.

Jesse Love 2024 Nascar9919, Wikimedia Commons

Joey Logano

A two-time Cup Series champion, Joey Logano is one of the most consistently great racers in NASCAR. This is despite a perception that he was beginning to fall off in 2024.

Joey Logano NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Joey Logano

As of the moment, Logano is the eighth-highest-ranked points scorer in NASCAR. This is a considerable comeback for the racer, who has a big fanbase even if he’s not a big personality per se.

Joey Logano NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chase Elliott

Chase Elliott is recognized as NASCAR’s most popular driver, having been awarded that title for five consecutive seasons. Despite not having a bold personality like Kyle Busch or Denny Hamlin, Elliott still boasts a substantial fan base, proving that a section of fans relate more to laidback drivers.

Chase Elliott NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chase Elliott

While he might not enjoy the same level of fame outside NASCAR as some past superstars, his popularity within the sport remains unparalleled. Additionally, Elliott's achievements extend beyond popularity, as he is also a Cup Series Champion, meaning he’s got the skill to back it up.

Chase Elliott NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Noah Gragson

After a slow rookie season, expectations were low for Noah Gragson as he transitioned to a new manufacturer, yet he’s since become one of the most promising racers in the league. The Las Vegas native has amassed a strong track record, with 15 wins and three Championship 4 appearances across other series from 2017 to 2022.

Noah Gragson Driver Introductions Las Vegas Fall 2024 TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Noah Gragson

Gragson has been particularly impressive since the 2024 season, which included better performances than popular veterans like Ross Chastain and Joey Logano. We expect him to be one of the league’s most popular racers in no time.

Noah Gragson - K&N West Series 2016 Rob Street, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kyle Busch

Every sport needs a bad boy, and Kyle Busch fits the bill for NASCAR. This means something additional in the age of social media, where public figures are given extra room to play themselves up as personalities.

Kyle Busch NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kyle Busch

Known as a very aggressive driver on the track, Kyle Busch seems to be someone who’s deliberately acting out while competing. If anything, this is the kind of personality that thrives beyond just sports, as recent politics points to.

Kyle Busch in his Rowdy Energy suit and car RE1851, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Denny Hamlin

Speaking of controversial and aggressive NASCAR drivers, Denny Hamlin had made himself a considerable name in the sport for his brash personality. Maybe it could be said that professional racing draws both a certain kind of driver and fans that feed off of it.

Denny Hamlin NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Denny Hamlin

Part of Hamlin’s off-track persona has been amplified by his podcast Actions Detrimental, in which he often mouths off. But he matches it with his strong performance as a racer, currently being the 12th-highest points scorer in the league.

Denny Hamlin NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kevin Harvick

A veteran driver, Kevin Harvick stands out amongst a crop of younger racers. Not as brash as the Denny Hamlin’s or Kyle Busch’s of racing, he represents an old trope of the stoic driver, someone who has their eyes on the track, so to speak.

Kevin Harvick NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Kevin Harvick

While past his glory days as a high points scorer, Harvick still has a strong fan base thanks to older fans of the sport. It can be said the older fans likely remember when NASCAR was more about the driving than the personality of who was doing it.

Kevin Harvick NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bubba Wallace

This driver is a highly recognizable figure, familiar even to the general public. In the 2020 season, as NASCAR took steps toward greater inclusivity, Wallace frequently emerged as a leading voice in those efforts, being one of the most prominent African Americans in the sport.

Bubba Wallace NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bubba Wallace

He’s certainly turned himself into a brand and ranks just behind Busch, Logano, and Elliott among drivers with the highest social media engagement. Despite mixed opinions about his occasionally aggressive driving style, Wallace commands attention, even if he isn’t necessarily the best racer out there.

Bubba Wallace NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

William Byron

Currently the highest points scorer in NASCAR, William Byron has impressed many fans of the sport. Still in his late 20s, he’s additionally still got his whole career ahead of him.

William Byron Driver Introductions Las Vegas Fall 2024 TaurusEmerald, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

William Byron

Holding a considerable point lead over the next competitor, it’ll be exciting to see where the season will end for him. Some impressive victories and sponsorships likely await.

William Byron NASCAR Driver Mike Kalasnik, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Christopher Bell

Currently in second place for points is racer Christopher Bell, who, like a great character from fiction, has earned the nickname of “The Iceman”. It seems he’s maintained a calm and composed demeanor, which is considered rather old-school for racers.

Christopher Bell NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Christopher Bell

Will Bell overtake Byron in the standings for the 2025 NASCAR season? There’s a gap, certainly, but knowing Bell’s strength as a driver, it’s highly possible.

Christopher Bell NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0., Wikimedia Commons

Tyler Reddick

Racer Tyler Reddick was something of a driving prodigy, having begun his career technically at age four in Outlaw Karts. He went on to set several records for his age until hitting the big leagues in adulthood.

Tyler Reddick NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Tyler Reddick

Definitely the biggest achievement of his career was winning back-to-back NASCAR Xfinity Series championships in 2018 and 2019. Additionally impressive that it was for different teams, JR Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing respectively.

Tyler Reddick NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Alex Bowman

One of many flamboyant drivers in NASCAR, this racer has earned the nickname of “Bowman the Showman”. Just from this alone, you can deduce he’s someone with both a lot of fans and haters.

Alex Bowman NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Alex Bowman

Bowman’s fellow drivers, like Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch, have been public critics of Bowman, flat-out calling him “a hack” for his aggressive driving style. But as they say, all publicity is good publicity.

Alex Bowman NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ryan Blaney

Racer Ryan Blaney’s greatest glory was perhaps winning the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2023, driving the No 12 Ford Mustang for Team Penske. He achieved his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in 2017 at Pocono Raceway.

Ryan Blaney NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ryan Blaney

Beyond racing, Blaney has extended his brand by voicing a character in the 2017 animated film Cars 3. Racing comes in his blood, as his father Dave Blaney was a former NASCAR driver.

Ryan Blaney next to his car. Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chris Buescher

Making a strong mark on racing ever since his career started in 2005, Chris Buescher is one of the most consistently popular drivers in NASCAR. Part of it can be credited to the strong mentorship he received from racer David Ragan.

Chris Buescher NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chris Buescher

Some other things that distinguish Buescher include his lineage, as he’s cousins with James Buescher, another NASCAR champion. He also survived a dramatic barrel roll crash completely uninjured at Talladega in 2016.

Chris Buescher First Cup Series Win Zach Catanzareti, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ross Chastain

Is Ross Chastain the first NASCAR racer to predominantly associate his brand around watermelons? That food being prominent in the south where the sport is especially popular, it makes sense.

Ross Chastain NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ross Chastain

Of course, what made him famous in the first place was his “hail melon” move at the Martinsville Speedway in 2022 where he drove his car into the outside wall of the track to gain speed. He claimed that the move was inspired by a NASCAR video game from his youth.

Ross Chastain at Talladega Superspeedway in 2018 Zach Catanzareti, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Josh Berry

For all the sons of privilege in professional racing, Josh Berry serves as an inspirational story of where you can rise to NASCAR glory from. Before racing, he was a community college student and bank teller.

Josh Berry NASCAR Driver Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Josh Berry

Just recently, Berry had his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, winning the 2025 Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas. He’s a message to never give up on your dreams.