Fox Sports Analyst Tags Joe Gibbs Racing Rookie as Top Cup Prospect

With the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season winding down, attention is shifting toward the future stars of the sport. While Toyota has enjoyed a dominant year and Ty Gibbs has emerged as a standout performer, a prominent insider has identified the next potential star poised for the premier series.

Bob Pockrass of Fox Corporation has named 18-year-old Brent Crews as his top Cup Series prospect for the 2026 season. Crews, currently competing full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, has delivered a strong rookie campaign despite not yet securing a victory. Pockrass highlighted the driver’s performance in his midseason evaluation of rising talent.

Industry observers are closely watching Crews as he nears his first career win and attempts to secure a position in the Chase. Speculation is already mounting regarding his future in the Cup Series, with many suggesting he could fill a seat at Joe Gibbs Racing once veteran Denny Hamlin steps away from full-time competition. For now, the rookie remains focused on demonstrating his capabilities on the track.

Fox Corporation, the media giant behind the sports coverage, trades in the Communication Services sector with a current market capitalization of approximately $24.44 billion.

What to watch

• Brent Crews’ performance in the final three regular-season races as he chases his first win and a Chase berth.
• Official announcements from Joe Gibbs Racing regarding Denny Hamlin’s retirement timeline and future driver lineups.
• Future coverage and analysis from Fox Sports regarding driver development pipelines.

Source: original release