The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie Class Could Be One of The Best Yet
What’s Happening? As the Silly Season Domino’s continue to fall late into the year, one thing was very clear about the…
The 2025 NASCAR National Series season begins soon, and of the over 100 drivers competing both full-time and part-time in 2025, some stand out more than others. Be it their resume in and out of NASCAR or just pure skill, here are the top NASCAR prospects entering 2025.
Chevrolet has top prospects for almost all their major teams. At JR Motorsports, Carson Kvapil is racing full-time after an impressive part-time 2024 season. Hendrick Motorsports recently signed 19-year-old dirt racing phenom Corey Day to run in multiple series in 2025. HMS also has Truck Series standout Rajah Caruth waiting for his shot at the next level. Finally, Richard Childress Racing has Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year Jesse Loves waiting in their wings.
What’s Happening? As the Silly Season Domino’s continue to fall late into the year, one thing was very clear about the…
However, the most impressive of all the young Chevrolet drivers is 18-year-old Connor Zilisch. Last season, Zilisch made a splash in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas, setting a blazing pole lap of 2:11:983. He would blow through turn one during the race but recover for a solid finish.
Zilisch made a real splash in his Xfinity Series debut in JRM’s part-time No. 88 at Watkins Glen, taking the pole and the win. This win was a glimpse into the future as JRM and Trackhouse Racing announced that Zilisch will take over the No. 88 full-time this season.
As a road course ace, fans are worried about Zilisch’s skill on ovals. Though he had four ARCA wins on ovals last season, he struggled at times in a handful of Truck and Xfinity Series starts in 2024. Regardless, the stats suggest once he gets comfortable in the car, he runs well.
Toyota, as usual, has a long list of notable prospects. In 2025, William Sawalich, a 13-time ARCA Menards Series winner for Toyota, will race full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. Isabella Robusto, who started on the pole in her last ARCA race, gets full-time ARCA action with Venturini Motorsports in 2025. Meanwhile, 16-year-old Brent Crews, a driver at the top of many lists, will make his truck series debut in 2025.
What’s Happening? Tricon Garage has finalized its 2025 driver lineup by announcing an all-star cast of drivers for its No. 1…
However, Corey Heim, somehow still just a prospect at Toyota, looks to be the best thing going for Toyota in the lower levels of NASCAR. Heim is entering his third season at TRICON Garage in the Craftsman Truck Series, and with nine wins in that short amount of time, fans are wondering when Heim will get called up.
Last season, Legacy Motor Club awarded Heim with two starts in the NASCAR Cup Series following an injury to Erik Jones; while Heim didn’t exactly set the world on fire, LMC signed him on as a reserve driver. Following these two starts, 23XI Racing entered Heim in a one-off start. 23XI is likely the landing place for a time, as the team’s ongoing lawsuit with NASCAR revealed they had some form of contract for 2025.
The main problem limiting Heim to the Truck Series is the lack of full-time rides in the Xfinity Series. While JGR won’t give Heim a start, the only other Toyota team, Sam Hunt Racing, has signed Dean Thompson for their full-time effort in 2025. In the future, if something opens up at the top level, Heim could jump the Xfinity Series.
What’s Happening? Wednesday, a North Carolina Judge ruled that 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are allowed to race as Chartered…
Ford is in a tough spot entering 2025; while they have a packed Cup Series roster, their developmental ranks are empty for young talent following the departure of Hailie Deegan to IndyNXT. To compensate, Ford teams have signed young yet experienced talent to fill their limited Xfinity Series rides.
What’s Happening? Hailie Deegan is leaving NASCAR after what was a difficult 2024 season. Deegan is transitioning her talents to the…
These drivers are former JRM driver Sam Mayer and former RCR and JGR driver Sheldon Creed at the Haas Factory Team. Mayer is entering his third full-time Xfinity Series season with seven wins under his belt, including a knack for road course racing. Creed is leaving his solo season at Joe Gibbs Racing following two seasons at RCR. Despite going winless yet again, Creed had an amazing 2024 season.
By far, Ford’s best option is Front Row Motorsport’s Chandler Smith. Last season, Smith put together a championship-caliber season with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. However, his departure and demotion to the Truck Series follow reports of slimming funding for Smith.
While he may not have a spot on FRM’s Cup Series team, his place in a relatively empty Ford developmental system makes him a prime target for any team that could have an opening.
What do you think about all this? Let us know what you think on Discord and X, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
