They were supposed to be part of V8 Supercars' "generation next".
But it appears young guns Scott McLaughlin and Chaz Mostert are ready to challenge now judging by their heroics at Ipswich on Sunday.
Holden's 20-year-old McLaughlin began the day by upstaging four-time V8 champ Jamie Whincup to claim race two honours.
And the form guide was thrown out the window again in race three when 21-year-old Mostert flew the Ford flag to notch a remarkable maiden victory.
"I had been watching Scotty getting a couple of wins and thinking 'gees that guy is lucky'," Mostert said.
"This is what you strive for as a young fellow, and you think about getting to the top of the league and versus the best guys in the country.
"I'll pinch myself in the morning and make sure it wasn't all a dream."
McLaughlin was going to be a hard act to follow after backing up from his runner-up placing behind Whincup in Saturday's sprint race opener to claim his second win of the year in race two.
It added another chapter to his already remarkable story.
McLaughlin became the youngest winner of a V8 race this year, claiming line honours still 58 days shy of his 20th birthday at Pukekohe in his native New Zealand.
The youngest to ever get behind the wheel in the second tier Dunlop Series at just 16 years of age, McLaughlin was the category's champion by 19 last year - another record.
But Mostert stole the show in race three, jumping pole sitter Will Davison at the start of the 100km race and defied wet conditions and oil on turn three to grab Ford team's Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) their first win in three years.
He finished ahead of Ford teammates Davison and Mark Winterbottom in race three, marking the first Blue Oval trifecta since the 2012 Phillip Island round.
Incredibly Mostert started the season without a V8 drive.
He did not get a nod until round four in Perth when DJR dumped Jonny Reid and took a chance on the Dunlop Series driver.
By the time he arrived for round eight at Ipswich, he had already notched eight top 15 finishes including three top 10s.
"He really has got what it takes. He always had the potential. I am just glad we were able to give him the opportunity," Mostert's team boss, the legendary Dick Johnson said.
In what looks set to be the start of a great V8 rivalry, McLaughlin kept Mostert honest in race three before he became one of the unfortunate victims of a spate of punctures, dropping from second to 20th.
Another high-profile victim was Whincup who blew a tyre on lap 10 while in the top 10, ensuring he finished third last in race three.
Whincup (1803 points) still leads the series ahead of Holden teammate Craig Lowndes (1674) and Davison (1592).
The next round will be held at Winton from August 23-25.
Mostert's sensational win was a timely shot in the arm for team boss and five-time V8 champion Johnson who had recently revealed he was all but broke and battling ailing health after losing $9.1 million in dodgy deals over his 36-year career.
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