Grading NASCAR's rookies through the beginning of the season

With three full-time NASCAR Cup Collection rookies taking the monitor this yr, it is time to grade the first-year drivers with six races below their belt. Let’s check out the rookie class up to now. 

Josh Berry, No. 4 Ford Mustang Darkish Horse, Stewart-Haas Racing: C

Berry’s twenty eighth place factors standing might need individuals pondering it has been all unhealthy for the 33 year-old rookie, however one race stands out: Bristol, the place Berry led 25 laps and completed twelfth in a race that was as a lot within the drivers’ fingers as any race ever. 

The remainder of his races have been slightly mundane, however followers ought to maintain out hope for Berry’s subsequent couple races on the Virginia quick tracks — he completed second at Richmond final season whereas filling in for Chase Elliott, and received his first profession Xfinity Collection win at Martinsville in 2021. 

Zane Smith, No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro, Spire Motorsports: D

When Smith hasn’t been concerned in incidents, he is been fairly strong, ending thirteenth within the Daytona 500 and nineteenth in a COTA race the place he ran inside the highest 15 at instances. The issue is the opposite 4 races, wherein he is been concerned in incidents each single time. 

Smith has three finishes of thirty fifth or worse, and with 36 vehicles beginning week in and week out within the NASCAR Cup Collection, that is not a flattering statistic. Smith confirmed his driving prowess within the Truck Collection, however must keep away from the wrecks if he desires to carve out a Cup Collection profession. 

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro, Spire Motorsports: C+

If Hocevar wasn’t concerned in a crash on lap 5 of the Daytona 500, he’d probably be forward of his teammate, Corey Lajoie, in factors. Hocevar at present sits twenty fifth, highest of all of the rookies up to now. He put collectively three consecutive high 20 finishes from Atlanta to Phoenix, with Las Vegas and Phoenix each being fifteenth place runs. 

If Hocevar can sustain his strong begin, he could also be a darkish horse to make the playoffs. Hold your eye out for him at Gateway on June 2 — Hocevar made his method into the highest 20 in his first Cup Collection begin final June earlier than a failing brake rotor took him out of rivalry.