NASCAR Regional 2024 preseason power rankings

The NASCAR Regional platform features the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series, and the drivers who compete in those series are, in many cases, the future of NASCAR's national series.

With the 2024 season all but underway, the time has come to examine who's the best of the best across the NASCAR Regional landscape.

As selected by the NASCAR Regional editorial team, here are the top 10 NASCAR Regional drivers entering a new season of ARCA, Mods and Weekly Series action.

10. Matt Hirschman

Despite suffering an injury that sidelined him for a few weeks, Matt Hirschman had another Matt Hirschman-like year in 2023. That included three NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour wins, a World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing title at Florida's New Smyrna Speedway and a big win to close the year at NASCAR-sanctioned Riverhead Raceway in the Islip 300. Expect more of the same in 2024.

9. Gio Ruggiero

The 2023 season was a breakout year for Gio Ruggiero, who won championships in the ASA Southern Super Series and ASA/CRA Super Series for Super Late Models. His 2024 schedule includes more Super Late Model racing in addition to 16 ARCA platform events, including the full East Series schedule.

8. Austin Beers

The breakout star of the 2023 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season, Austin Beers won twice, at Richmond Raceway and Lancaster Motorplex. He finished third in the series standings in his second full season. Expect him to build off that as he returns to KLM Motorsports for his third NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season in the No. 64. 

7. Kaden Honeycutt

Versatility should be Kaden Honeycutt’s middle name. The driver from Texas raced a little bit of everything in 2023, starting with the Chili Bowl and ending at Phoenix Raceway in the ARCA Menards Series West. He won two West Series races and a CARS Tour Pro Late Model event and is among those expected to be a regular late model competitor this year.

6. Kris Wright

Better known for his prowess on road courses, Kris Wright is set to take on the entire ARCA Menards Series schedule for the first time in 2024 with Venturini Motorsports. At the wheel of some of the best cars in the series, there is no reason to believe Wright can't win races and contend for a championship.

5. Justin Bonsignore

Falling just short of his fourth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title in 2023 should do nothing but motivate Justin Bonsignore. He won five times one season ago, and there is no reason to believe he can’t win that many races or more in 2024 as well as contend for a championship.

4. Ron Silk

Justin Bonsignore’s chief rival for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour title is again expected to be Ron Silk, the reigning series champion. He equaled Bonsignore in the win column in 2023 but outpaced him in most other categories. He’ll be a hard man to beat again in 2024.

3. Andres Perez

Following a strong rookie season in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023 that saw him finish the season ranked second, Andres Perez is back with Rev Racing and looking for more in 2024. Expect Perez to win races and potentially compete for the series championship in his sophomore season.

2. Connor Hall

Not many would have had Connor Hall on their bingo card as the 2023 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National champion, but he made it happen, anyway. This year, Hall enters a new partnership with Nelson Motorsports that will see him tackle the entire zMAX CARS Tour schedule. And a run at a second NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series title isn’t out of the question.

1. William Sawalich

William Sawalich in 2023 proved what many already knew: He is very good at driving a race car. The Minnesota teenager won races in all three ARCA platform series as well as the ARCA Menards Series East championship. Expect a similar schedule and success rate from him again in 2024 in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18.