NASCAR’s 2025 season is full of fresh talent in the Xfinity Series and the Craftsman Truck Series. These are the national-level series below the top Cup level, where many young drivers compete. The early races have been exciting. By late April – up through the Talladega Xfinity race on April 26, 2025 – several young drivers had already made a big impact.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Rising Stars
In the Xfinity Series, veteran Austin Hill has dominated with three wins in the first 11 races. But many young drivers are also shining. For example, 18-year-old Sammy Smith of Joe Gibbs Racing captured a win at Rockingham. After the race, Smith said, “We raced hard and I’m happy with how we made it at the end”. That win is part of a hot streak – he also had a 9th-place finish at Darlington and 4th at Bristol – putting him high in the standings.
Another rising star is Nick Sanchez, a 23-year-old rookie at Big Machine Racing. Sanchez earned his first career Xfinity Series top-five finish (5th place) at Atlanta in February and won a stage at Rockingham. He praised his team’s effort: “Just really proud of my whole team…we fought back and made something happen”. These results show Sanchez’s car stayed competitive even after damage and pit stops, helping him race near the front.
NASCAR’s points standings highlight these young talents. As of Talladega (race 11 of 33), Hill leads with three wins. The standings show 19-year-old Connor Zilisch (JR Motorsports) and 18-year-old Sammy Smith each have one win. Smith earned his win when older champion Jesse Love was disqualified at Rockingham. Connor Zilisch has also been fast, winning a pole position at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and leading many laps, though he narrowly missed a victory at Talladega.
Talladega’s spring Xfinity race was a thriller. Austin Hill won in a three-wide photo finish. He described how hard it was: “Man, we really had to work for that one,” Hill said after the race. Jeb Burton and Jesse Love finished a close 2nd and 3rd behind him. This race underlined Hill’s dominance and gave context for the younger drivers chasing him.
Other young drivers to watch include Carson Kvapil (19, driving part-time) and Daniel Dye (18, in a full-time ride). Kvapil has multiple top-10 finishes so far, and Dye scored a top-10 at Talladega. Overall, the Xfinity Series shows a mix of experienced racers and fresh faces, with rookies proving they can run up front.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rising Stars
The Craftsman Truck Series has also seen young talent shine early in 2025. The points leader after the first seven races is Corey Heim (22 years old, driving the No. 11 TRICON Toyota). Heim has already won twice (Daytona and Las Vegas) and leads the standingsespn.com. After winning at Las Vegas, Heim said, “It feels amazing…kicking it off the right way, winning two out of three” and added that he’s “very thankful” for his team. He has set a fast pace and looks like a favorite for the championship.
Behind Heim is Chandler Smith (20 years old, No. 38 Ford for Front Row). Chandler earned his first 2025 win at the Bristol dirt track in April. Talking about that success, he said, “I’m more excited for this team than I am for myself…we hired my crew chief like three weeks before Daytona, just take that in for a second – this group just got assembled literally in January”. His point is that the team came together recently, and their quick win shows how strong they are as a unit. Chandler’s excitement reflects his new status: he’s a young driver proving himself full-time after driving part-time before.
Another youngster is Jake Garcia (20, No. 13 Ford for ThorSport Racing). Jake has not won yet, but he is consistently fast. At Rockingham he won the pole, led 43 laps, and finished 2nd, marking “the second runner-up of his career”. After that race, he praised his team: “I’m proud of our guys. We brought a really fast truck to the race track”. Jake also noted that their average finish has improved from last year – he said, “I was getting to doubt myself a little bit… I’m happy to have fast trucks”. This shows confidence building as he adapts to the series.
Other young trucks are also making noise. Tyler Ankrum (mid-20s) won at Rockingham by saving fuel, snapping a six-year winless streak. That win showed veteran savvy, and Tyler said it felt “surreal” to finally win again. Layne Riggs (21, driving part-time for DGR) has scored stage points and is often fast in smaller tracks. Overall, Corey Heim and Chandler Smith’s strong start – 2 wins by Heim and 1 by Smith – stand outespn.com, but drivers like Garcia and Riggs are proving they can compete every week.
As the season moves past Talladega, fans should keep an eye on these rising stars. They are not only winning races and earning stage points, but also adding personal excitement to NASCAR’s races. Even for someone new to NASCAR, it’s clear the future of the sport looks bright with these up-and-coming drivers leading the way.
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