NASCAR Sprint Cup: 8 Up and Comers Who've Shown They're Ready

Since the economic downturn sapped much of the sponsorship money out of NASCAR in the latter part of the past decade, rookies have been harder and harder to come by on the Sprint Cup circuit.

In fact, there haven't really been any significant rookie contenders since Joey Logano joined Joe Gibbs Racing at the sport's highest level in 2009. And that hasn't paid off in the way that most people hoped.

But that's not to say that there's a lack of talent in the pipeline. There are plenty of talented drivers in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series just waiting for their chance to take the Sprint Cup Series by storm. Any of these drivers could be the next big thing at the top, much in the way that Trevor Bayne was 2011's hottest prospect.

The question is: which one will make it big first?

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

If the defending Nationwide champion doesn't deserve a shot at the Sprint Cup big time, then the series simply isn't doing its job.

But Stenhouse used last season to improve his consistency as a driver and became a worthy champion. He won his first two career races, both at Iowa Speedway, and scored 26 Top-10s in 34 starts.

If Stenhouse and Roush Fenway Racing can put together a decent sponsorship program, he could be one of the strongest rookie contenders in years.

Justin Allgaier

Allgaier landed on his feet last season after losing a well-funded ride with Penske Racing, taking his Turner Motorsports ride to third place in the 2011 Nationwide championship.

He scored one win at Chicago and 17 Top-10s with only three DNFs. He's developed steadily in his Nationwide career and has certainly earned his shot to move up.

Aric Almirola

Almirola has had a handful of chances in Sprint Cup, bouncing around with a few teams. But he has done most of his work in the Nationwide Series. Last year, in his first full season in Nationwide, he finished fourth in points with 18 Top-10s.

This came after a 2010 Camping World Trucks campaign that saw him finish second in points with two wins. He's got the talent, he just needs the ride and the consistent support behind him after years of jumping from seat to seat.

Austin Dillon

The 2011 Camping World Trucks champion will move to Nationwide in 2012, but his time in Sprint Cup may not be far off.

Grandfather Richard Childress has made a point of giving Austin and brother Ty the best equipment he possibly can, and it's paid off so far, as both are steadily ascending the ranks and heading towards lengthy careers in racing.

But with blazing speed (his average start was 4.8 in 2011) and consistency beyond his years (average finish: 9.3), Austin will be a force to be reckoned with in Sprint Cup soon enough.

James Buescher

Another Turner Motorsports driver with a ton of raw talent, Buescher could have challenged for the Camping World Trucks championship in 2011 if not for a DNQ in the second race of the season.

Regardless, he still led the standings briefly in the middle of the year, and scored 19 Top-10s in his 24 starts to place third overall when all was said and done.

If sponsor Exide Batteries ever wants to return to Sprint Cup, they could do worse than to bring Turner and Buescher along for the ride.

Timothy Peters

Peters has found a home in the Camping World Trucks, winning a race in each of the past three seasons and improving his points finish every year.

Last season, he set career highs in Top Fives (seven) and overall finish (fifth in points). After two early DNFs at Dover and Charlotte, Peters kept the truck running at the end of the final 18 consecutive races of 2011, showing that he can keep out of trouble.

For many owners employing Sprint Cup rookies, that's the only thing they can ask for.

Steve Wallace

When Rusty Wallace Inc. announced that they'd be entering Steve in the 2011 Daytona 500, many criticized his immaturity on the track and wondered whether he could keep the car off the wall. In response, he finished 20th, completing every lap and defying his critics.

He backed it up by finishing 10th in Nationwide points.

Wallace is only 24 and has plenty of time to keep improving, provided that he can replace his sponsor, 5 Hour Energy. And there's no doubt that his father would love to take him full-time to the Sprint Cup level someday.

Danica Patrick

Look, you knew this was coming. And I knew I had no choice when I signed up for this gig. But it's less of a popularity pick than you might think.

For the disproportionate amount of attention that Patrick may get for publicity reasons, it's not as if she's an untalented driver. In limited Nationwide starts last year, Patrick made some serious strides compared to her 2010 effort, and now that she'll be in stock cars full time in 2012, she can focus on getting even better.