CONCORD, N.C. -- Never has this happened in NASCAR history. North Carolina, which gave the sport Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, could go winless this season.

That's 0-for-Dale Earnhardt Jr.

0-for-Dale Jarrett.

0-for-Kyle Petty.

0-for-Brian Vickers.

0-for-Scott Riggs.

Struggling teams and mechanical issues have slowed them this year, but such woes are not new for the South. Although Virginia has two wins this year, it has been shut out twice since 2003. Georgia's last win came in 2003; Tennessee's in 2002.

Six years ago, North Carolina and Virginia natives won more than a third of the Cup races.

Since, the two states have combined to win 11.9 percent of Cup races.

Can North Carolina bounce back? Will Virginia be a factor again?

A talent scout says yes.

"I think the future is going to be fine for Carolina and Virginia," said David Smith, whose Web site, davidsmithmotorsports.com ranks young drivers.

"Every now and then a lull comes up. I think Carolina and Virginia will be fine because it remains a hotbed."

Smith notes a number of North Carolina drivers who could make an impact in Cup if they can reach the series.

He mentions 21-year-old Alex Yontz of Walnut Cove.

Yontz has two UARA Late Model wins, including a victory at Bristol. He also won the Bailey's 300 Late Model race last season at Martinsville Speedway.

Then there's Drew Herring, a 20-year-old from Benson, who won South Boston Speedway's title last year.

Other names Smith mentions are familiar. Coleman Pressley, 19, is the son of former Cup driver Robert Pressley. Chrissy Wallace, 19, is the daughter of Busch driver Mike Wallace.

Smith ranks 16-year-old Jake Crum of Statesville as one of the nation's best in that age group. Smith ranks Greensboro's Lucas Ransone as among the nation's top 17-year-old racers.

Although Virginia claims Denny Hamlin, Jeff Burton, Elliott Sadler, Ricky Rudd and Ward Burton, Smith sees a few drivers from the commonwealth who might join that crowd.

Adam Barker of Hurt, Va., won the Late Model title at South Boston this season. The track offered $1,000 to any driver who could beat Barker after he won six in a row there. Barker won again.

Another Virginia driver that Smith likes is Virginia Beach racer C.E. Falk, a 19-year-old racing late models. He's fourth in the points at South Boston Speedway.

That's the future. What about next year?

Earnhardt moves to Hendrick Motorsports and he could give North Carolina its first win since his Richmond victory in May 2006.

North Carolina drivers used to dominate, winning 25 series titles, so why the drought?

The sport grew. It passed Indy car racing as the country's top racing series.

Drivers began to point toward NASCAR. Car owners, no longer satisfied with picking a local late model driver, expanded their search.

There are more Cup drivers from California (seven) than any other state.

California-born Jimmie Johnson sees how the sport has changed internationally. He says foreign-born drivers would "frown at us" a few years ago when he raced in international events. Now, they pay close attention, Johnson said.

With Jarrett expected to announce today that he'll retire early next season, there could be as many foreign-born drivers in Cup as North Carolina natives.

Car owner Chip Ganassi has signed two foreign-born drivers since last year -- Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) and Dario Franchitti (Scotland).

"I don't care where the drivers come from, when good drivers are available, I think you have to look at them and take them," Ganassi said.

Montoya and Franchitti will be joined next season by Canadians Jacques Villeneuve and Patrick Carpentier.

Hamlin, who came through the late model ranks, says there's still a place for the short track star.

He admits it's not as easy to get there.

"All this influx of drivers, we're starting to lose opportunities for rides," Hamlin said of local late model racers.

"There's no shortage of drivers out there for sure that are good enough to do it here, but it's just finding the one that the sponsor likes, the team likes, that whole package is where that gap kind of closes."