The Top 10 Most Underrated Drivers In NASCAR

Every NASCAR fan is familiar with the series' biggest stars. The Kyle Larsons, the Chase Elliotts, and the Ryan Blaneys of the world are constantly racking up wins and making headlines, and often have their greatness taken for granted.

There's also the more overlooked drivers in American stock car racing, though -- those who don't run as close to the front (or even at the Cup Series level) yet consistently punch above their weight. Here are 10 of the most underrated drivers in NASCAR, ranked in reverse order.

10. Bret Holmes

Holmes is a regular in the Truck Series, the lowest of the three rungs on the national NASCAR touring series ladder. He drives for an independent, family-run organization that operates on a shoestring budget, yet he's been known to string together some solid runs, particularly on the superspeedways. Holmes most notably should have won the 2022 Talladega race as he crossed the finish line first, but because a caution came out before the checkered flag, Matt DiBenedetto was instead awarded the victory.

9. Todd Gilliland

The rise of Front Row Motorsports into a formidable Cup Series team has been one of the best feel-good stories in NASCAR in recent years. Veteran Michael McDowell has gotten most of the attention at Front Row, but it's Gilliland who is currently the team's top driver this season. Gilliland is enjoying a career year in 2024 with 120 laps led (he had 11 total in his first two seasons) and a 20th-place points ranking.

8. Kyle Weatherman

One of the more prominent underdogs in NASCAR's Xfinity Series, Weatherman has constantly overachieved with every one of the many teams he's driven for. That includes Mike Harmon Racing, Jesse Iwuji Motorsports, Johnny Davis Racing, and currently DGM Racing owned by former competitor Mario Gosselin. He's never run a full season before but that's on pace to change in 2024. Weatherman sits tied for a career-best 22nd place in points despite his team's limited resources.

7. Anthony Alfredo

Alfredo is another Xfinity competitor, and one who has redefined himself after a disastrous Cup Series rookie campaign in 2021, in which he was simply not ready for NASCAR's top level. He's proven himself to be a worthy challenger in the series just below it, though, and seems to only be improving. He currently sits 15th in points in 2024 and has often put the underfunded Our Motorsports No. 5 machine inside or near the top 10.

6. Carson Hocevar

Josh Berry will likely be the 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year, but it's arguable that Hocevar has had the more impressive season while driving for a slower team in Spire Motorsports. Hocevar is considered one of the most promising young drivers in NASCAR, but because he's never driven for a powerhouse team at any level, it seems like people undersell just how good he can be. If he can do a better job of harnessing his talent, he could be a future Cup champion with the right opportunity.

5. Parker Kligerman

One of NASCAR's top prospects in the late 2000s, Kligerman never quite found his footing after being cut from Team Penske's developmental program. He has instead spent his career as a journeyman in all three of the top series, most notably earning three career Truck Series wins -- two of which were with part-time team Henderson Motorsports.

He's moved to the Xfinity Series the past two seasons, qualifying middling Big Machine Racing for the playoffs in 2023, and he is on pace to do so once again in 2024. Kligerman deserves a Lifetime Achievement award for his perpetual underratedness.

4. Grant Enfinger

Enfinger is one of the few Truck Series drivers who can be considered a refreshing throwback to the series' former identity, as a home for journeyman drivers who never quite made it in Cup. He was nearly the series champion in 2023 as part of a wild finish to the title race and remains a playoff-level competitor, even while now driving for the lesser-funded CR7 Motorsports.

3. Justin Haley

Haley has been the biggest overachiever in the Cup Series in 2024, taking a Rick Ware Racing team that was formerly the punchline of the grid and giving them their best year ever. He currently sits 29th in points, ahead of drivers such as John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Dillon, and Harrison Burton in much more heavily funded equipment. Haley's move to RWR was considered perplexing at the time, but by betting on himself, his stock has skyrocketed.

2. Erik Jones

Jones sits only 26th in Cup Series points right now, but it's worth noting that he has missed two races due to an injury sustained in a crash at Talladega . He was solidly in the top 20 in points prior to that, which is very impressive for a Legacy Motor Club team that has struggled to find speed the past two years. The once highly touted prospect has become a victim of circumstances, but he can still run near the front when his cars are capable of it.

1. Kaden Honeycutt

When it comes to the Truck Series this season, all the talk has been about the dominance of Corey Heim and Christian Eckes. They've combined to win eight of 14 races, and yet there's an argument that the most talented driver in the series is Honeycutt, who isn't even running full-time.

In six races in 2024, Honeycutt's only finish worse than 12th was due to a mechanical problem at Nashville. More impressively, he's done this with a Niece Motorsports team whose two full-time drivers Bayley Currey and Matt Mills are respectively 18th and 21st in points. Niece has been known to find diamonds in the rough before with Hocevar and Ross Chastain, and at only 21, Honeycutt could be next in line for Cup Series stardom provided he gets the right opportunities. For now, though, he's the most underrated driver in NASCAR.