NASCAR Cup Series

Brink of a breakout? Carl Edwards, Kyle Larson could turn it up in 2015

Published Dec. 3, 2014 5:36 p.m. ET

Jeff Hammond

As we all look forward to, get excited about and anticipate the start of the 2015 season, I think the one driver at the top of my list that I anticipate having a breakout season is Kyle Larson. In his rookie season this year, he had eight top-five finishes and 17 top-10 finishes. Those were some pretty strong runs he had, and more than once he was close to getting his first win.

I see no reason why any of that should change in 2015. In fact, now that he has the experience under his belt, I can see him obviously being even stronger next year. I really believe Victory Lane is right around the corner for this young man.

Probably second on my list for a breakout year -- even though he's a veteran -- is Carl Edwards. The 2015 season will mark his first year driving Toyotas for Joe Gibbs Racing. We saw two years ago what that meant for former and once-again teammate Matt Kenseth, who won seven races in 2013 for JGR.

So both Kyle and Carl are the two I have earmarked as my top two candidates for a breakout season in 2015. One is young with only a year of experience, while the other one is a proven commodity with all the experience in the world. Both are hoping to have the kind of breakout season that all drivers dream about, and I really think it can happen for them both.