The Fallon Corner - August 2027
Out with the old, and in with the new: a fresh generation of young ASCA superstars has arrived at the top level of the sport.
Off the heels of arguably the most exhilarating title decider in series history, 23 drivers return for their opportunity to take the grand prize away from newly minted reigning Cup champion Braeden Bennett.
A second year with the radical new V6 turbo hybrid regulations, one of the sport’s most iconic tracks now completely reconfigured, and the return of a Hall of Fame surname to the grid full time - 2027 provides storylines galore to follow for the next four months.
As I always do in this annual column, here’s some of the top stories I’ll be keeping track of from August 23rd to the campaign’s conclusion on December 17th:
The Arrival of the ASCA’s Next Generation
The dawn of a new era is finally upon us.
With household names such as Randle Woods, Nick Orkedi, and Jimmy Hood over the past half decade having departed full time ASCA competition, room has opened for new faces to shine and make their mark at the top level of the sport.
Arguably the two biggest stars of the bunch both belong to the blue ovals - Graham Daugherty and Caden Dunham.
Daugherty is a talent that needs no introduction: the newest driver of the No. 2 has a trophy case that already speaks for itself prior to his 21st birthday.
The youngest winner and champion in the sport’s history, Daugherty further backed up the hype in his debut campaign at the Cup level a year ago by being the first rookie in over a decade to take their maiden victory; only having to fend off the likes of Colin Ward to do so.
Posting the fastest time in testing last month to boot, there’s no doubt the sophomore driver will be one to watch in 2027 - as will his Ford Development Program successor Caden Dunham.
One of the most polarizing young talents the industry has ever seen; Dunham most certainly made his mark on the sport and then some in his debut full time campaign at the Craftsman level.
4 wins and 401 laps led in just 14 races more than speaks for itself.
While Dunham ruffled a few feathers along the way and lost his surefire title bid for doing so, CJ Barrymore Racing hope they can reign the teenager in as their long term answer to fill the void left behind by Ryan Dixon in the iconic No. 6.
As Ford continues to stock up on their young talent cupboard, that doesn’t mean Chevrolet and Toyota have been sitting around quietly in their own right.
The reigning Craftsman Series champion Gunner Thorson makes the step up to the Cup Series for the bow ties this season with the help of Taylor Motorsports, replacing the now retired Norm Lester as the man who looks destined to carry the NDRL powerhouse organization well into the 2030’s.
Thorson doesn’t been the flashiness and excitement someone like a Dunham does, but what he lacks in charisma is backed up by consistency - which is ultimately what brought home the hardware a year ago.
Toyota also have been grooming their young phenom for the better part of a decade in preparation for this opportunity: Tony Del Valle II.
The successor to first ballot Hall of Famer Randle Woods, while the 20 year old may not have the accolades of his counterparts it doesn’t mean he’s not deserving of his opportunity; fellow all time great Jimmy Hood referring to him as ‘the greatest thing since sliced bread.’
Welcome to the ASCA, young bucks. We hope you enjoy your stay.
Braeden Bennett vs. Todd Kidd - Act II?
The finish that the industry still can’t stop talking about even over a year later - is it possible we see the title protagonists right back at it again competing for the grand prize in 2027?
At the age of 26, Braeden Bennett is only just now entering the prime of his career as a Cup Series champion.
Toyota as a whole proved a season ago that they did their homework after back to back down years in 2024-25, nailing the new regulations right out the gate and giving their talented young driver equipment that could race for wins and a championship for the first time in his career.
Bennett responded at the first time of asking by delivering Michael White Racing its first championship in half a decade, albeit in controversial fashion, and has now firmly cemented himself as the team’s flagship star with the official retirement of Randle Woods.
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s Todd Kidd.
Having been doing this for over a decade now, Kidd has grown right before our eyes from wunderkind, to veteran, to a Cup Series champion after defeating Diego Orkedi by tiebreaker in 2025.
The No. 9 team got off to a slow start with the new regulations early last year, but once them and Ronnie Woods Motorsports figured things out the driver and team were borderline unstoppable down the stretch - storming from dead last in points to pushing the title decider to the final corner of the final lap.
Kidd was obviously not happy with the conclusion to last year, and with an off-season to reset and recharge reports say the 31 year old is in the ‘best shape of his life’ as he embarks on a second championship bid.
With MWR and RWM once again projected to be towards the top of the pecking order this season, it’s only right to expect their franchise drivers both fully immersed in their respective championship windows will clash again at some point in 2027.
Season 13 Breakout Star: Graham Daugherty
Sometimes the only logical choice is the most obvious one, right?
While Graham Daugherty technically already ‘broke out’ last year taking his maiden Cup win at his home race and finishing top 10 in points as a rookie, 2027 will be the year he becomes the next to complete the ’sophomore surge’.
In case you’re new to the ASCA, the ‘sophomore surge’ is something that in recent years has seemingly replaced the ‘slump’ generally seen by second year drivers at the top level of the sport.
A couple major recent examples of this include Braeden Bennett in 2025 and Colin Ward in 2026 - both drivers coming off winning Rookie of the Year honors parlaying their momentum into multiple race wins and respective top 5 points finishes.
Even at just the age of 21, Daugherty seems almost destined to follow this trajectory based on the promise he showed on debut plus the track record of his brief career thus far.
Posting the quickest time in testing to boot, the dynamic duo of Daugherty and crew chief Liam Hightower could have this iconic No. 2 back in championship contention if Ford and Orkedi Bros Racing provide them the equipment to do so.
And the 2027 Ajax Cup Champion will be…….
This may be one of the most difficult predictions I’ve had to make yet.
While the obvious choices such as Braeden Bennett, Todd Kidd and Shane Park certainly look appealing on the surface - why not look outside the box for once?
That is precisely why I have Diego Orkedi coming back seemingly out of nowhere to take his record fifth Cup Series title.
I already can see the comments now concerning how the newly minted elder statesman of the sport is now ‘washed’ at age 36, and judging solely on how last season went that could be an accurate assessment.
However, context is everything.
Orkedi Bros Racing went all in to chase Diego’s fifth title in 2025, and were a tiebreaker away from capturing it.
This put them behind the eight ball for prep with the radically different new regulations implemented last year, which meant pace was lacking for the team out the gate and it put Orkedi in a spot he hadn’t been in for nearly a decade: driving equipment that simply didn’t have the pace to compete.
It became rather apparent early that Diego was having to overdrive in an attempt to compensate, which led to uncharacteristic mistakes from the 29 time Cup winner, more DNF’s, and more turmoil in the No. 22 camp as a whole.
This year though - early returns dictate the pace issues for the organization seem to be a thing of the past.
Orkedi looked extremely comfortable in the car posting the second fastest time to only his teammate in the July Computer Motor Speedway test, and afterwards was so confident he guaranteed a fifth championship this year to the media.
A brash and confident Diego who’s one with his machinery is something the ASCA landscape needs to fear - and if rookie crew chief Seth Fowler can handle his driver’s frequent mood swings, watch out.
And the 17th Annual Windows 300 winner will be…..
Based on the results to last year’s 300, the testing times posted last month at Computer Motor Speedway may be a much bigger harbinger of future success in the sport’s biggest race than you may think.
Remember Ross Jackson?
The fastest man in testing during 2026, in Flores Motorsports equipment the ASCA’s Most Popular Driver qualified top 5, received a mid race pit penalty and still drove his way back through the field to finish runner up at night’s end.
With that in mind, as bullish as I’ve been on Orkedi Bros Racing this off-season it’s time for Todd Kidd to match Diego Orkedi’s all time record as a three time 300 winner.
Posting the fourth fastest time in the exhibition session and being the quickest Chevrolet, it’s clear the 2025 champion’s revenge tour is already off to a rapid start with the No. 9 camp coming out the gates much quicker than they did a year ago.
While Kidd finished outside the top 10 in the ASCA’s most prestigious event a year ago due to a poor final restart, his previous two 300 outings: both wins.
What better way to energize a title push than yet another win in the sanctioning body’s ultimate test of endurance heading into the back half of the campaign?
All in all, regardless of what happens: the 2027 season will be one to remember.
Tune into the 13th Annual Intel Shootout on August 23rd at 3 PM EST as the ASCA’s best get another campaign kicked off at the newly reconfigured Ajax Superspeedway!
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