Top breakout candidates for the 2023 season

Each season, talented drivers put together remarkable performances in all three NASCAR national series. For drivers looking to climb the ranks, or hold serve in their current situation, nothing will set them up better for long-term success than having a breakout season.

Scroll through the gallery to see which drivers are the top candidates to make some noise and have career years in the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.

Michael McDowell

Racing in the Cup Series since 2008, McDowell finally found more solid footing this previous season. Looking at his 23rd-place finish in the overall standings doesn't accurately tell the story of how competitive he was. McDowell finished inside the top 10 for one-third of the races and found noteworthy success at every track type — superspeedways (third at Talladega), intermediate ovals (sixth at Darlington and Pocono), short tracks (11th at Bristol) and road courses (third at Sonoma).

It is too early to tell how much the historic parity seen in 2022 will carry over to the second year of the Next Gen car, but if McDowell can erase the big mistakes and sub-25 finishes, he has a solid chance at making the Round of 16 again. Overall, Front Row Motorsports made big strides and can continue to charge forward behind their Daytona 500-winning workhorse.

AJ Allmendinger

For longtime fans of NASCAR, Allmendinger's full-time return to the premier series comes with a ton of history and 394 Cup Series starts under his belt dating back to 2007. His last full-time season came in 2018 with JTG Daugherty Racing, a shaky experiment that sent the veteran back to the Xfinity Series to chase championships.

But with Kaulig Racing on the rise, all eyes turned back to the road-course ace to help develop their two-car operation into a powerhouse. On a part-time schedule in 2021 and 2022, Allmendinger won a race, secured five top fives and 11 top-10 finishes, proving he is still capable of competing on the big stage.

Look for the No. 16 driver to be a playoff darkhorse and in the mix at a handful of races.

Ty Gibbs

Of all the moves made this offseason, Gibbs' ascension to the Cup Series is among the most eye-catching story lines in quite some time. The phenom conquered the Xfinity Series in just two seasons and at just 20 years old, the sky is the limit.

Gibbs is likely the frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race and is likely a serious contender to win multiple races in Year 1. Based on his track record, talent and incredible situation with an already-established team, Gibbs can hit the ground running. His role filling in for Kurt Busch at the tail end of the 2022 season provides him with a solid head start.

John Hunter Nemechek

Nemechek's talent is unquestionable, proven by his 15 national series wins and overwhelming success in the Craftsman Truck Series. After short stints in the Cup Series and Xfinity Series shuffled him back down to Trucks, Nemechek should be more eager than ever to prove he has mastered his craft.

A handful of exceptional Xfinity Series runs with Sam Hunt Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing over the past two seasons showed just how successful Nemechek can be at this level. Don't expect his trajectory to slow down.

Chandler Smith

Smith inherits a very competitive seat, landing the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet after Allmendinger's promotion to the Cup Series. Smith made his first three starts in the Xfinity Series in 2022, earning a respectable 17.0 average finish and best result of seventh at Homestead-Miami.

The fast-rising star is still raw talent at this level but his success in the Truck Series should carry over well and be molded by a veteran garage led by 2021 champion Daniel Hemric, leading him to be one of the top Rookie of the Year contenders.

Parker Kligerman

Kligerman has been waiting in the wings for a consistent chance behind the wheel since his last full-time NASCAR season in 2013. Kligerman has gone through a variety of rides since, but made a big statement after his electric 2022 win at Mid-Ohio in the Truck Series driving for Henderson Motorsports.

Now, Kligerman has a full-time opportunity with Big Machine Racing in the Xfinity Series. In 56 starts at the level, he has a respectable 20 top-10 finishes and should quickly shake off the rust. He won't take this opportunity for granted.

Carson Hocevar

Time and time again in 2022, most thought Hocevar was finally going to achieve his first national series victory. Of his seven top-five finishes, he finished inside the top three positions five times, including a heartbreaking three runner-ups.

Even without a trip to Victory Lane, Hocevar made the playoffs and finished 10th overall in the season standings. If he can figure out how to capture that first checkered flag in 2023, the 19-year-old rising star could be a serious contender for the championship.

Hailie Deegan

Deegan struggled with consistency in her two years with David Gilliland Racing, suffering from a mix of inexperience and bad luck. Moving to a championship-winning organization in ThorSport Racing should come as a breath of fresh air and change of pace for the third-year driver. But with that also comes higher expectations.

Deegan finished the 2022 season 21st in the standings and only racked up two top-10 finishes. Expect her to make a big improvement on her overall performance and cut down on the seven DNFs, leading to more competitive opportunities at tracks throughout the year.

Nick Sanchez

Even after winning the 2022 ARCA Menards Series championship, Sanchez's name has still flown under the radar. The talented young driver reeled off three wins, nine top-five finishes and 16 top 10s in 20 starts during his title-winning campaign. He graduates to the Truck Series with his same team, Rev Racing, and also benefits from a technical alliance with Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Sanchez has never made a start in the Truck Series, but don't be surprised if he and the team continue to ride their momentum in pursuit of the Rookie of the Year honor.