NASCAR’s rising stars to watch in 2025

Identical to another sport, tomorrow’s champion is all the time ready within the wings and within the pinnacle of inventory automotive racing, the ultimate two steps earlier than the large present are the NASCAR Truck and NASCAR Xfinity Sequence.

We regarded on the most promising drivers below 25 from these two divisions, selecting the ten brightest prospects based mostly on their historical past of on-track successes, their backing, but additionally their rapid future as a number of have lined up new rides for 2025. Some names are ones you may already know and acknowledge. The remaining — you may need to bear in mind.

1. Connor Zilisch (18)

Placing Zilisch on the very prime was among the many best selections when compiling this record. The Trackhouse signee is barely 18 years outdated and but, he is already achieved greater than some who’ve been racing for many years. It will in all probability be simpler to record off what the teenaged sensation hasn’t received in, however his present win-list consists of IMSA, ARCA, Mazda MX-5 Cup, Trans-Am, and even the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence. Yep, Zilisch received in his very first Xfinity begin at Watkins Glen earlier this 12 months, and it wasn’t even his largest accomplishment of the 2024 season. He additionally earned LMP2 class victories within the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Sebring 12 Hours for Period Motorsport. He is since been made an official Crimson Bull athlete, which is all the time firm to have behind you.

Zilisch is already below contract to Trackhouse Racing and has secured a full-time Xfinity journey for 2025 with JR Motorsports — a corporation led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister Kelley, and one which has received 4 driver’s titles with 4 completely different drivers over the past decade. There’s actually no query that this driver will probably be in Cup in the future.

Race winner Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports, Carolina Carports Chevrolet Camaro

Photograph by: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

2. Corey Heim (21)

Heim is about to spend his third consecutive 12 months within the NASCAR Truck Sequence, which is stunning, however not unparalleled for Cup prospects. Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar took the same path, with each skipping the Xfinity Sequence earlier than becoming a member of on the Cup degree. And Heim has a head begin because the 21-year-old has really run three Cup races already — all with 23XI Racing. Within the Truck Sequence, he is but to safe a title, however he is made the Championship 4 in back-to-back years and has 11 wins in simply 64 begins. He has some begins within the Xfinity Sequence too, incomes a career-best results of third at Iowa earlier this 12 months.

In 2025, he’ll stay below the Toyota umbrella as he maintains his place as a driver for TRICON Storage. Nevertheless, the trail forward of him is unclear. Might he soar to Cup in 2026 if a Toyota journey opens? Doubtlessly, however proper now, there’s not many nice choices that seem like obtainable. Hopefully Heim would not find yourself on the shedding facet of a recreation of musical chairs as he is completely able to competing on the Cup degree. Toyota does have a historical past of transferring drivers up a bit too quick although, so maybe they’re being extra affected person with pushing Heim ahead so when it is lastly ‘Heim time,’ he’ll be prepared to return out of the gate swinging.

Race winner Corey Heim, TRICON Storage, Safelite Toyota Tundra

Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

3. Christian Eckes (24)

Eckes actually discovered his groove in 2024, dominating a number of Truck races and making the Championship 4 with over 1,000 laps led (almost 400 greater than his closest competitors). Trying on the full 23-race season, he scored 15 prime fives and 22 prime tens! He was quick, but additionally extremely constant. Eckes can also be a former winner of the Snowball Derby (2016) — a formidable inclusion on a rising star’s resume.

In 2025, he’ll lastly get the possibility on the second tier of NASCAR’s three nationwide divisions, piloting the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, which AJ Allmendinger simply drove to a Championship 4 look. Eckes has no expertise within the Xfinity Sequence, however he has loads of expertise on the nationwide degree with 100+ Truck races below his belt.

Race winner Christian Eckes, McAnally Hilgemann Racing, Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet Silverado

Photograph by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

4. Carson Kvapil (21)

Older NASCAR followers could acknowledge this surname. Sure, Carson is the son of Travis Kvapil, who raced in Cup for over a decade with almost 300 begins. Carson has but to win in 9 begins as an Xfinity driver, however his first two begins had been sufficient to show heads with a fourth-place end at Martinsville and a runner-up consequence at Dover. Kvapil can also be a two-time CARS Late Mannequin Inventory Automobile champion, which is not any simple feat.

Carson may have a really robust automotive below him as he embarks on his first full-time season within the NASCAR Xfinity Sequence, driving for JR Motorsports as a teammate to Zilisch.

Carson Kvapil, JR Motorsports, Clarience Applied sciences Chevrolet Camaro

Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

5. Jesse Love (19)

Like Zilisch, Love is one other driver that has climbed the ladder somewhat shortly. In 2023, he collected the ARCA title by profitable half of the races (10 of 20). In 2024, he primarily skipped Vehicles to run Xfinity full-time with Richard Childress Racing. He left the crowded Toyota Racing Improvement camp, and with RCR managed to win at Talladega, inserting eighth in factors and incomes Rookie of the Yr honors over Shane van Gisbergen.

RCR will hold Love behind the wheel of the No. 2 Chevrolet as he focuses ahead on his second 12 months as an Xfinity Sequence driver. Oh, all this, and he is not even 20 years outdated.

Jesse Love, Richard Childress Racing, WAT Chevrolet Camaro wins

Photograph by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

6. Rajah Caruth (22)

Caruth is a driver with a stable basis below him who has proven marked enchancment in his younger profession. After a tough 2023 within the Truck Sequence with flashes of brilliance, he returned stronger in 2024, profitable from pole place at Las Vegas for his maiden Truck victory. In doing so, he turned simply the third Black driver to win on the nationwide degree of the game, becoming a member of Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace. Wallace has been a little bit of mentor to Caruth, even giving him some very public recommendation after a disappointing race. And the help would not cease there. Caruth additionally has the backing of Rick Hendrick himself, sponsored by HendrickCars.com. He went on to position seventh within the championship standings with Spire Motorsports in 2024, 9 positions greater than the earlier 12 months.

Caruth has re-signed with Spire for the 2025 Truck season and there isn’t any cause to suppose that he will not proceed his upward trajectory.

Rajah Caruth, Spire Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado

Photograph by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

7. Nick Sanchez (23)

Sanchez’s younger profession hasn’t been with out its setbacks, together with some unforced errors and even a fistfight. Nevertheless, the pace has all the time been there. The 2022 ARCA champ has been exceptional in qualifying as a NASCAR Truck Sequence driver with seven poles and 13 entrance row begins, nevertheless it wasn’t till his second full-time season that Sanchez lastly discovered Victory Lane.

Subsequent 12 months, he strikes as much as the Xfinity Sequence with Huge Machine Racing, driving full-time within the No. 48 automotive vacated by Parker Kligerman. He already has a handful of begins within the Xfinity Sequence, ending as excessive as seventh at Martinsville — and that was two years in the past. Sanchez has noticeably improved since then.

Nicholas Sanchez, Rev Racing, Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado wins

Photograph by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

8. William Sawalich (18)

Sawalich earned back-to-back ARCA East titles in 2023 and 2024, notably beating Zilisch to the crown this 12 months. His age restricted the tracks he may run, however he was in a position to make three begins within the Xfinity Sequence and ten in Vehicles. His outcomes aren’t something spectacular simply but, however he did earn pole place for the Xfinity title-decider at Phoenix.

Effectively, JGR nonetheless sees the potential. Sawalich will probably be full-time with Joe Gibbs Racing within the Xfinity Sequence, driving the No. 18 Toyota in 2025. That’s championship-caliber tools and Sawalich will probably be one in every of many in a fully stacked rookie class.

William Sawalich, Joe Gibbs Racing, StarkeySoundgear Toyota Supra

Photograph by: Ben Earp / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

9. Kaden Honeycutt (21)

A driver typically missed, however should not be. Honeycutt is the newly topped winner of the Snowball Derby and a transparent expertise behind the wheel of his Niece Motorsports truck. The crew has a behavior of bringing forth proficient drivers who haven’t got the normal funding/backing that others often have. Ross Chastain and Carson Hocevar are good examples of that, and they’re the one drivers to have ever received races for Niece. Honeycutt may possible be the subsequent, as he showcased his uncooked pace a number of instances whereas part-time this 12 months.

Honeycutt’s efficiency was greater than sufficient for Niece to carry him on for a full-season effort in 2025 the place he’ll get the possibility to presumably win that first race and even compete for a championship.

Kaden Honeycutt, Niece Motorsports, Georgia Governor’s Workplace of Freeway Security Chevrolet Silverado

Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

10. Taylor Grey (19)

To not be confused together with his brother Tanner — Taylor Grey has but to win a NASCAR Truck Sequence race in over 50 begins, however he nonetheless discovered his method onto this record. One cause is the progress he confirmed this 12 months, almost profitable his method into the Championship 4 at Martinsville. After, he dealt with a really emotional second somewhat nicely, confronting a rival with out it coming to blows. He greater than doubled his prime fives and prime tens between 2023 and 2024, the place he additionally went from fifteenth to sixth within the last standings. He additionally made his Xfinity debut this 12 months, ending third in his very first race at Richmond, which actually made folks take discover.

However the principle cause for Grey’s inclusion is the potential alternative in entrance of him. He has secured a full-time Xfinity Sequence journey, driving the all the time quick No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.