With the 2025 NASCAR season progressing past its halfway point, several under-the-radar talents have been quietly altering expectations in the garage and on the track. This year’s roster of Underrated NASCAR drivers in 2025 has delivered standout efforts, with names like Nick Sanchez and Zane Smith breaking through for teams who rarely see the spotlight.
Nick Sanchez Delivers Big Moments for Big Machine Racing
Nick Sanchez, after clinching the 2022 ARCA championship, made his mark by moving to the Truck Series with his ARCA squad, Rev Racing. Sanchez’s entry coincided with Rev Racing’s only two seasons competing in the trucks, where he posted multiple top-10 finishes and took sixth place in points as a rookie. In 2024, he upped his game, securing two wins and further establishing himself on the scene, though he moved just one spot up to finish fifth in points.
The real breakthrough came this year, as Sanchez took on the responsibility of sustaining Big Machine Racing’s momentum after a strong year led by veteran Kligermann. Sanchez not only matched expectations but also delivered Big Machine Racing’s first ever victory at Atlanta, cementing his value to a mid-tier team.
Sanchez’s inconsistent results aren’t surprising given his relative inexperience and Big Machine’s status as a mid-pack team. However, his high points have been frequent. Heading into the closing races, Sanchez is poised to surpass the team record for top-five finishes—with 10 opportunities remaining, he needs only three more to break Kligermann’s 2023 record of eight, a mark well within reach after scoring five already this season.
AJ Allmendinger Proves His Worth in a Challenging Year for Kaulig
Even as Kaulig Racing faces hurdles in both the Cup and Xfinity Series in 2025, AJ Allmendinger has quietly been a crucial contributor. Despite the struggles, Allmendinger has earned more top-10 finishes than Hemric, the team’s former full-time Cup driver, and has regularly shown up when it matters most. His efforts have not gone unnoticed, with high praise coming from established figures in the paddock.
Allmendinger currently sits 18th in Cup Series points, outperforming his predecessor’s average finish—Hemric’s 22.4 to Allmendinger’s 19.6. His lone top-five finish came at Charlotte, which is a significant achievement given the team’s equipment compared to larger operations. If the season ended today, his standing would represent the team’s best-ever points result in the Cup Series.
Carson Kvapil Makes a Strong Case for Rookie of the Year
Carson Kvapil’s season has unfolded under the looming shadow of Connor Zilisch’s dramatic resurgence this summer, but his rookie performance deserves its own attention. Kvapil nearly captured two victories, finishing second at both Bristol and Atlanta, and his consistency has kept him competitive throughout the campaign.
After a rocky start in the early weeks, Kvapil rebounded with a run of reliable results—missing the top 20 only once from the fifth to the twenty-third race of the year. That string demonstrates both maturity and resilience, often attributed to more seasoned drivers, marking him as a standout rookie in 2025.
Harrison Burton Reinvigorates AM Racing With Quiet Excellence
Following an unremarkable Cup stint, Harrison Burton’s return to the spotlight has been largely overlooked by fans who may have written him off. Still, his 2025 campaign has helped AM Racing bounce back from a poor year, especially after the turbulent stint with Hailie Deegan.
Burton has already matched former Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt’s total of top-10 finishes achieved in 2023, but in 10 fewer races—23 instead of 33. Additionally, Burton has posted two top-five results, compared to Moffitt’s one the previous season. Point standings highlight Burton’s upward trajectory as well; he currently sits eleventh, bettering Moffitt’s fifteenth-place result, and boasts a 13.8 average finish versus Moffitt’s 17.9. These statistics show just how much Burton is quietly contributing to AM Racing’s resurgence in 2025.
Zane Smith Quietly Outpaces Expectations at FRM
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) was predicted to build on previous successes, but setbacks in 2025 left expectations unmet for some team members. However, amid those struggles, Zane Smith has managed to outperform fellow drivers TG and Gragson, who both fared better last year. Smith, after an admittedly challenging rookie season, now leads his group in the standings. He stands alone within the top 30, currently in twenty-seventh place, and averages a finish of 20.8—a substantial margin ahead of the next FRM driver.
Smith’s results have come in a year when positive attention at FRM has been scarce, making his progress a key storyline as the season moves toward its final stretch.
The steady, sometimes spectacular, performances from these five underrated NASCAR drivers in 2025 are shaking up long-standing narratives about established teams and perceived favorites. As Sanchez, Allmendinger, Kvapil, Burton, and Smith continue to surpass expectations, they are changing perceptions within the paddock and may well influence team strategies and fan attention as the season draws to a close.
