NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Youth Movement

Photo - Getty Images

Photo – Getty Images

NASCAR’s Camping World Truck Series is home to seasoned veterans and rising stars.

From NASCAR Next members to second generation drivers and fresh faces looking to make a name for themselves, take a look at the younger ‘drivers to watch’ this weekend at Martinsville Speedway

Saturday’s Kroger 250 marks the first Camping World Truck Series race of the season that drivers between the ages of 16 and 18 can compete. Wheelmen from that age group can only race on road courses or tracks 1.25 miles or less in length.

Seventeen year olds Cole Custer, Gray Gaulding and John Hunter Nemechek will all make their 2015 Camping World Truck Series debuts this weekend. Although the youngest, they are not the only youthful drivers in the series. Erik Jones, Cameron Hayley, Brandon Jones and Matt Tifft, all 18 years old, are also entered at Martinsville. Series points lead Tyler Reddick turned 19 in January.

Here’s a by the numbers look at drivers 18 and under:

1 – Cameron Hayley is the only Canadian born driver (birthday 7-21-96)

2 – Most 21 Means 21 pole awards – Erik Jones (birthday 5-30-96), Cole Custer (birthday 1-23-98)

3 – NASCAR NEXT members, Cole Custer, Gray Gaulding (birthday 2-10-98), Erik Jones

4 – Most Wins, Erik Jones

16 years, 7 months, 28 days – Youngest NASCAR National series winner, Cole Custer

17 years, 1 month, 18 days – Youngest active Camping World Truck Series driver, Gray Gaulding, (age as of Martinsville race day)

One cool aspect of the Camping World Truck Series is that it is a proving ground for young drivers to test their skills. Watch the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on Fox Sports 1 on March 28, 2015 at 2:30 pm ET.

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