Five to Watch: Breakout candidates for 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series

The 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season is primed to feature multiple breakout stars. Justin Allgaier is the only member of last year's Championship 4 returning, so he's bound to be the early favorite. But as time goes on and other drivers begin to get comfortable, others will surely emerge.

Read on for five drivers who could really make their names known this 33-race season, which starts Feb. 15 at Daytona International Speedway.

Noah Gragson

JR Motorsports has not made an announcement yet, but it is likely Noah Gragson returns to the Xfinity Series in the team's No. 9 Chevrolet, the same car he steered to an eighth-place finish in his rookie season last year. Gragson had nine top-five and 22 top-10 showings in 2019. Expect him to build on those results in 2020. A first career win isn't a stretch considering he came in second at Michigan International Speedway, only behind eventual series champion Tyler Reddick. Maybe Gragson will even knock out two victories. He'll be in the playoff picture again and should make it as far as last season (Round of 8), if not further.

Ross Chastain

Kaulig Racing has provided Ross Chastain a full-time Xfinity Series role in its No. 10 Chevrolet. Chastain competed as a part-timer for Kaulig Racing last year after switching his championship eligibility midway through the season to the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, where he ultimately finished second in the final standings. Prior to that, though, Chastain had already completed four full seasons in the Xfinity Series. He has two victories under his belt – Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2018 and Daytona International Speedway in 2019. Don't be the least bit surprised when Chastain makes a deep playoff run.

Harrison Burton

Joe Gibbs Racing has pegged Harrison Burton to fill the void Christopher Bell left behind when he moved up to the Cup Series, and obviously the team wouldn't pick just anyone to take over a ride that placed within the top four the past two seasons. Burton has limited experience in the Xfinity Series – nine starts with a top-five and five top-10 runs in 2019. He was full time in the Gander Trucks last year, notching seven top fives and 11 top 10s. Though he is not alone in the running – can't forget about Riley Herbst – safe to say Burton enters the new season as the Sunoco Rookie of the Year favorite.

Chase Briscoe

Stewart-Haas Racing has brought back Chase Briscoe as its full-timer in the Xfinity Series, unsurprisingly so considering Briscoe took home the Rookie of the Year honor last season. He drove the No. 98 Ford to Victory Lane at Iowa Speedway in 2019, along with a total tally of 13 top-five and 26 top-10 performances, and wound up fifth in the final standings after making it to the Round of 8 in his first playoff showing. The Championship 4 could very well be in Briscoe's future.

Austin Cindric

Team Penske hasn't announced Austin Cindric’s return to the No. 22 Ford in the Xfinity Series, though it's likely he does just that. Cindric wrapped up his second full-time season last year with two first career wins (Watkins Glen International and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course), along with eight top-five and 16 top-10 finishes overall. Both of those victories came on road courses, but he also had three runner-up performances, two of which were on ovals. It's only a matter of time before more checkered flags are collected. Cindric made it to the Round of 8 in the playoffs. There's a good chance he makes the Championship 4.