Bowles atop NASCAR Hunter Index Preseason Top 10

Jason Bowles won the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown last month and earned the No. 1 spot in the Hunter Index preseason poll.
Bowles, a driver from Ontario, tallied six first-place votes among the 14 Hunter Index panelists. He is the top driver on my top 15.
Keith Rocco was the No. 2 driver, collecting one fewer point than Bowles. Rocco won the NASCAR Whelen All-American national championship in 2010.
Bobby Santos, the reigning NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion, was third in the Hunter Index. DJ Kennington, the runner-up in the Toyota All-Star Showdown and the reigning NASCAR Canadian Tires Series champion, was fourth, followed by Burt Myers, from the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, in fifth.

Go to NASCAR Home Tracks for the complete Hunter Index Preseason Top-10.

Here’s a look at my top 15:

1. Jason Bowles

2. DJ Kennington

3. Derek Thorn

4. Burt Myers

5. Travis Pastrana

6. Philip Morris

7. Jonathon Gomez

8. Craig Preble

9. Bobby Santos

10. Dale Quarterley

11. Greg Pursley

12. Keith Rocco

13. Luis Martinez Jr.

14. Johnny Borneman

15. Ryan Partridge

Photo: Jason Bowles won the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown in Irwindale last month and claimed the top spot in the Preseason Hunter Index for NASCAR developmental drivers. (Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)