DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Eager anticipation for the NASCAR Xfinity Series season includes an intriguing subplot — a talented class of contenders for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors. The list of first-year phenoms includes eight young drivers with solid credentials, all setting sail for 33 races — beginning with Saturday’s United Rentals 300 (5 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Daytona International Speedway. Here’s a look at each of the eight drivers vying for top rookie laurels.
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CARSON KVAPIL
Age: 21
Hometown: Mooresville, N.C.
Team: No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Championship odds: 22-1 (DraftKings)
The lowdown: The next-generation driver has built his own reputation as a force on the CARS Tour, and he gets the call-up to the national-series ranks from JRM’s Late Model program. He’s already made an impression with nine Xfinity Series starts last season, notching top-five finishes in three of his first four appearances.
DANIEL DYE
Age: 21
Hometown: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Team: No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Championship odds: 100-1 (DraftKings)
The lowdown: Dye slots into Kaulig’s full-time roster after making 10 Xfinity Series starts with the organization last year, with a best finish of seventh at Indianapolis. He comes in with two years of Craftsman Truck Series seasoning, plus roughly a season and a half of ARCA Menards Series competition in his portfolio.
CHRISTIAN ECKES
Age: 24
Hometown: Greenville, N.Y.
Team: No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Championship odds: 28-1 (DraftKings)
The lowdown: Eckes — the oldest of the rookie class — has spent either part or all of the last seven seasons in the Craftsman Truck Series, accumulating nine victories and landing in last year’s Championship 4. His partnership with Kaulig is a multiyear deal, and he’ll make his Xfinity Series debut at Daytona.
WILLIAM SAWALICH
Age: 18
Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minn.
Team: No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Championship odds: 30-1 (DraftKings)
The lowdown: The JGR development driver enters the Xfinity Series fray after landing two consecutive titles in the ARCA Menards Series East and assembling a decorated Late Model career. Sawalich has already tested the national series waters and registered one pole position in the Xfinity and Truck Series last year.
DEAN THOMPSON
Age: 23
Hometown: Anaheim, Calif.
Team: No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota
Championship odds: 100-1 (DraftKings)
The lowdown: The former West Coast Late Model standout joins the growing efforts of team owner Sam Hunt, who put 10 different drivers in his No. 26 entry last year. Thompson competed in two Xfinity races for SHR last year and has spent the last three seasons in the Craftsman Truck Series.
NICK SANCHEZ
Age: 23
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Team: No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet
Championship odds: 12-1 (DraftKings)
The lowdown: The former ARCA Menards Series champ (2022) was a qualifier for the Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs the last two seasons, finally breaking through with two victories last year with Rev Racing. Sanchez joins a Scott Borchetta-owned team that has made the Xfinity Series postseason field two straight years with Parker Kligerman.
TAYLOR GRAY
Age: 19
Hometown: Denver, N.C.
Team: No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Championship odds: 12-1 (DraftKings)
The lowdown: Gray stays in the Toyota family but jumps from Tricon Garage — his home the last two seasons — to JGR’s full-time lineup. He’s been a winner in CARS Tour and ARCA Menards Series competitions, and he aims for his first NASCAR national series win this year in top-flight equipment after making 19 Xfinity starts as a part-timer in 2024.
CONNOR ZILISCH
Age: 18
Hometown: Mooresville, N.C.
Team: No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet
Championship odds: 7-1 (DraftKings)
The lowdown: The highly regarded Trackhouse Racing prospect has already broken through with a victory in his Xfinity Series debut last year, and his stellar 2024 campaign also included wins in IMSA competition and all three variants of the ARCA Menards Series. His budding talent, paired with the organization that’s fresh off the 2024 Xfinity title, has all the makings of a successful rookie season ahead.