This article is part of our NASCAR Draft Kit series.
The 2018 rookie class will be a bit thinner than last season's group. However, the level of talent is still considerable when we examine their racing resumes. We have some very seasoned, young Xfinity Series drivers who will be making the transition in the upcoming season, and they're not entirely unfamiliar with Monster Energy 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 Monster Energy 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 Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez wasted little time adjusting and had almost immediate impact. 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 Monster Energy Cup Series this season, and give you some in-depth analysis on which rookie drivers are the ones to watch closely this season.
William Byron
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
The 2017 Xfinity Series champion gets the immediate promotion to NASCAR's top division in
William Byron
Car: 24
Owner: Hendrick Motorsports
Manufacturer: Chevrolet
| SERIES | RACES | WINS | POLES | TOP 5s | TOP 10s |
| ARCA | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| K&N Pro West | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| K&N Pro East | 14 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
| Camping World Truck | 24 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 16 |
| Xfinity | 33 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 22 |
The 2017 Xfinity Series champion gets the immediate promotion to NASCAR's top division in
