If there is one thing that NASCAR has proven time and again, it is that age is just a number. Be it Jeff Gordon winning his first Cup Series title at the young age of 24, or Bobby Allison becoming the oldest so far to get his hands on the Cup title while almost being 46 years old.
However, there is no doubt that youngsters have taken center stage as the sport has progressed. Where, now, for a driver to be in his mid-20s or late 20s is being considered old. Especially if that’s the age of their National Series debut. Recently, this is being said in the case of ARCA Series star, Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen. But he himself has a rather unique outlook on it.
Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen Might Not Be “Too Old” for NASCAR Debut
Queen is now 27 years old and turning 28 this November; however, he has yet to get a proper start on any one of NASCAR’s national series. Queen is currently leading the ARCA Menards Series points ranking with five wins under his belt. Moreover, he was the 2024 CARS Tour Late Model champion. He also has four NASCAR Truck Series race starts to his name, where his best finish was a P4 at North Wilkesboro last season.
So clearly, he’s got enough stock car racing experience to bag a full-time ride in the Truck Series or the Xfinity Series. However, the big question is whether he is too old to make his national series debut.
Well, maybe a decade ago, this question would have seemed ridiculous. But today, with sports advancements, drivers have the tools to be ready sooner for the big stage. Look at 19-year-old Connor Zilisch. The Carolina native got his maiden Xfinity win last season in his very first race when he was just 18.
This had him get a full-time ride this season. And he’s currently leading the points ranking with five wins to his name. Given his performance, it is also possible to see him get a promotion to the Cup Series next year. Zilisch is just one such example among many. Look at Brent Crews, at just 17 years old, he is now a Truck Series team owner, and his team, Brent Crew Motorsports, is debuting in Watkins Glen soon.
Regardless, Queen doesn’t feel he’s too old to start in the national series now. As reported by NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass, Queen said, “You can kind of see the tide turning where the teams are looking at it like sometimes having an 18-year-old, they’ve got a longer career, maybe But at the same time, if you’ve got a 27-year-old, 28-year-old that can be good marketing for your partners and can also go get the job done, there’s nothing wrong with that.”
NASCAR Midseason Prospect List: Will ‘Butterbean’ Be Next Older Driver To Make It Big? @NASCARONFOX https://t.co/md8JPUp2lo
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 7, 2025
Also, Queen won’t be the only one starting in his late 20s. If you recall, after a long campaign in the CARS Tour, Josh Berry made his national series debut when he was 30. Naturally, even Berry believes that Queen isn’t “too old.”
“It’s a reality that all of our journeys are a little bit different getting to this point,” Berry said. “Some of us, it takes a little longer. He’s done a really good job.”
According to Berry, Queen, with Late Model experience, can jump directly into the Xfinity Series and also achieve success there rather than first starting in the Truck Series, which is usually the case.
If you recall, even Chris Buescher skipped the Truck Series. He became an ARCA champion in 2012, and then directly got a Xfinity Series start, and even won a championship in only his second full season.
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Well, only time will tell if Queen gets a ride for 2026, and if so, in which series.
