NASCAR stars who got their starts in the K and N Series

Todd Gilliland and Harrison Burton are two K&N Pro Series drivers on their way to stardom. The two drivers have been battling on track all season long with a total of eight East wins between them -- four each. Currently, Gilliland leads Burton in the standings by just eight points. Gilliland also has six wins and leads the K&N Pro West standings, where he is the defending series champion. Only one race remains in the K&N Pro Series East (at Dover on Sept. 29), and three races are left in the Pro Series West (finishing at California's Kern County on Nov. 4). Scroll through and look at current NASCAR stars who got their starts in the K&N Series.

Kyle Larson: Driving for Rev Racing as a member of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program, a 19-year-old Larson found Victory Lane twice and won the championship in his K&N Pro Series East season debut in 2012. He also made one start in the K&N Pro Series West (Sonoma, 2014), which resulted in a win.

Darrell Wallace Jr.: Darrell Wallace Jr. won his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East debut in 2010 at Greenville, driving for Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. He became the first African-American driver to win a race in series history en route to Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. Wallace went on to pick up five more wins between 2010-12 before moving up the NASCAR ladder.

Joey Logano: In 2007, Logano drove for Joe Gibbs Racing and started the wave of young talent in the series, becoming the first NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver to win Sunoco Rookie of the Year and the championship in the same season at 17. Logano also won two K&N Pro Series West races over the years, and twice won the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown.

Chase Elliott: Elliott started racing in the K&N Pro Series East in 2011 at 15 years old. He earned his first NASCAR victory in 2012 at Iowa Speedway, and also took a 2016 trip to Victory Lane in the K&N Pro Series West at Sonoma.

Ben Kennedy: Kennedy's K&N experience has paved the way for opportunities in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The Daytona Beach, Florida, native has 42 starts in the K&N Pro Series East since 2010, with his first start coming at age 18. He's won twice during that time, both coming in a 2013 full-time season that saw him finish fourth in the series standings. Kennedy also has made seven career starts in the K&N Pro Series West.

William Byron: Just two years ago, William Byron made his name known through the K&N Pro Series East; four wins in the division propelled him to earn the 2015 K&N Pro Series East title, paving the way for a Camping World Truck Series ride with Kyle Busch Motorsports the following season. The future Hendrick Motorsports driver also made two starts in the West division in 2015.

Kevin Harvick: The California native has run 23 events in the K&N Pro Series West over a span of eight seasons, including his full-time season in 1998 when he won the series championship. Harvick has seven wins in the K&N Pro Series West, his most recent trip to Victory Lane occurring earlier this season at Sonoma.

Austin Dillon: Dillon ran a full season in the K&N Pro Series East in 2008, earning one win at Greenville and finishing second in the championship standings. He raced three additional East events in 2009 and 2014, as well as three K&N Pro Series West races in 2009, 2014 and 2015.

Daniel Suarez: The 2016 XFINITY Series champion made 43 starts in the K&N Pro Series Series East, notching three wins in 2013 and 2014 while driving for Rev Racing as a member of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. He also has four starts in the West Series, his most recent start coming this season at Sonoma Raceway.

Ryan Blaney: A young Ryan Blaney made eight starts in the K&N Pro Series East and West in 2011 and 2012, earning his first NASCAR win in the 2011 West finale at Phoenix. Blaney also ran the K&N Pro Series West race at Sonoma this season.

Ty Dillon: Dillon made 11 starts in the K&N Pro Series East in 2009-2010, recording a win at Gresham Motorsports Park at the age of 18. He also two starts in the West Series in 2010 and 2011.

Trevor Bayne: The 2011 Daytona 500 winner, Trevor Bayne scored his first NASCAR victory at Thompson in 2008 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc., Bayne also won two poles and finished fourth in the championship standings.

Martin Truex Jr.: The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points leader, Martin Truex Jr. made his NASCAR debut in the K&N Pro East in 2000 at 20, running three full seasons and then a partial schedule in 2003. He collected five wins and 13 pole awards in that span before moving up to the NASCAR XFINITY Series in 2004 and winning the first of back-to-back championships.

Alex Bowman: Before being tabbed to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. next year, Alex Bowman transitioned from sprint cars to stock cars with a season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2011. Bowman finished sixth in the championship standings and edged Chase Elliott and Corey LaJoie for the series’ Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.