NASCAR Cup Series

Vote now: Which young driver will show most improvement in 2017?

Published Dec. 14, 2016 8:44 a.m. ET

Tim Durr

The youth movement in NASCAR has been in full force over the past few seasons and we saw two rookies -- Chase Elliott and Chris Buescher -- make the Chase for the first time ever in 2016.

Elliott put together one of the most impressive rookie seasons in NASCAR history and was a consistent contender in the Chase. Buescher used strategy to win a rain-shortened Pocono race but put together a solid season with the small Front Row Motorsports team.

Along with Elliott and Buescher, Ryan Blaney put together a very strong rookie campaign with three top-five and nine top-10 finishes as he finished 20th in the points standings.

Joining them are the likes of Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, and Trevor Bayne who have sprung onto the scene in the past few seasons. Both Larson and Dillon made the Chase in 2016 and Larson won his first Premier Series race at Michigan this year.

Bayne has been waiting in the wings for a few seasons after winning the Daytona 500 for Wood Brothers Racing in 2011. He finished 29th in the points standings in his first full-time Cup Series season with Roush Fenway Racing in 2015 and improved seven spots to 22nd this year.

The drivers have had different levels of success and it wouldn't be a surprise if more than one has a breakthrough season with multiple wins and a deep Chase run in 2017.

Now's your chance to make your voice heard on which young driver will make the biggest leap forward in 2017.