{"id":80944,"date":"2025-07-21T15:35:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T15:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/80944\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T15:35:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T15:35:15","slug":"5-nascar-drivers-having-breakout-seasons-in-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/80944\/","title":{"rendered":"5 NASCAR Drivers Having Breakout Seasons in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The 2025 <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsnaut.com\/nascar\/nascar-today-tv-schedule-race-highlights-rankings\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">NASCAR schedule<\/a> is flying by, with just a few races remaining before the playoffs begin. There have been 21 races in the Cup Series this year, 20 in the Xfinity Series, and 15 at the Truck level. That\u2019s more than enough to highlight some drivers who are making names for themselves this year.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s examine the top NASCAR drivers enjoying breakout seasons, including one each from the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series.<\/p>\n<p>Connor Zilisch<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/NASCAR-Xfinity-NASCAR-Xfinity-Series-Race-at-Dover-26670557-788x525.jpg\" alt=\"NASCAR drivers\" class=\"wp-image-1321466\"  \/>Credit: Matthew O\u2019Haren-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p>His performance at the Xfinity Series level should erase any doubts. Recognized as one of the best road course racers in all of NASCAR, he came through immediately at COTA. However, Zilisch then had a bit of an acclimation period on the ovals against veteran Xfinity drivers. In the last eight weeks, he\u2019s shown why he\u2019s replacing Daniel Su\u00e1rez at Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series next season.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Connor Zilisch stats (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nascar.com\/drivers\/connor-zilisch#stats\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">Xfinity Series<\/a>)<\/strong>: 674 points, 4 wins, 11 top-10s, 9 top-5s, 4 poles, 406 laps led, 7.421 average starting position, 10.684 average finishing position in 19 races<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Zilisch is\u00a0the only driver\u00a0at either level\u00a0who put up a\u00a0great fight against\u00a0Shane van Gisbergen on road\u00a0courses, beating\u00a0him once (Sonoma) and\u00a0finishing a close\u00a0second (Chicago). Just\u00a0as impressive, Zilisch has\u00a0a 2.25 average\u00a0finishing position\u00a0in the last eight\u00a0races, delivering\u00a0three wins (Pocono, Sonoma, and Dover). It\u2019s\u00a0obvious at this\u00a0point that Zilisch is a superstar.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/sportsnaut.com\/nascar\/nascar-prospects-2025-cup-series-future\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NASCAR Prospects Who Could be Future Cup Stars, including Connor Zilisch<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Chase Briscoe<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/NASCAR-Grant-Park-165-Cup-Practice-and-Qualifying-26591210-788x525.jpg\" alt=\"NASCAR drivers\" class=\"wp-image-1321468\"  \/>Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p>There are big shoes to fill when you are chosen to replace Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19 car at Joe Gibbs Racing. While Chase Briscoe has been in the Cup Series for a long time, the 30-year-old faced massive expectations and pressure. He\u2019s risen to the moment and made the most of his opportunity with JGR. Coming off a second-place finish at Dover, just a week after placing second at Sonoma, Briscoe is now tied with teammate Christopher Bell for the second-most top-5 finishes (eight) on the team. He\u2019s done this, mind you, just a few weeks after a DNF at Atlanta (35th) that came after one of the hardest crashes into the wall in the Next Gen era. Briscoe is putting it together lately, evidenced by three top-5s in the last five weeks, and he\u2019ll be dangerous in the playoffs.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chase Briscoe stats (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nascar.com\/drivers\/chase-briscoe#stats\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">Cup Series<\/a>)<\/strong>: 570 points, 1 win, 10 top 10s, 8 top 5s, 4 poles, 192 laps led, 11.238 average starting position, 14.048 average finishing position in 21 races<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Related:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sportsnaut.com\/nascar\/nascar-surprises-disappointments-2025\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">Biggest Surprises, Disappointments in NASCAR this season, including Chase Briscoe<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Shane van Gisbergen<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/NASCAR-Toyota-Save-Mart-350-26637574-788x525.jpg\" alt=\"NASCAR drivers\" class=\"wp-image-1321482\"  \/>Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p>With his only competition being Riley Herbst, Shane van Gisbergen was the heavy favorite to win Rookie of the Year in the Cup Series. Trackhouse Racing made him a full-time driver, believing he could win a road course race and guarantee himself a spot in the playoffs. He won three. It\u2019s not just that SVG\u2019s expertise on road courses leads him to victories where his peers lack experience (Mexico City) or where he historically dominates (Chicago Street Race). It\u2019s also the fact that, despite being one of the least-experienced drivers at Sonoma, he went out there and essentially raced himself to victory. Plus, SVG is showing real progress on ovals now. He\u2019s going to be a perennial playoff driver for years to come.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nascar.com\/drivers\/shane-van-gisbergen\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">Shane van Gisbergen stats<\/a>\u00a0(2025):<\/strong>\u00a0374 points, 3 wins, 4 top 10s, 3 top 5s, 4 poles, 208 laps led, 22,238 average finishing position in 21 races this season<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Related:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sportsnaut.com\/nascar\/shane-van-gisbergen-nascar-stats-road-course-dominance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Insane Shane van Gisbergen Stats from his Incredible Run<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ryan Preece<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/NASCAR-Cup-Practice-and-Qualifying-26668988-788x525.jpg\" alt=\"NASCAR drivers\" class=\"wp-image-1321484\"  \/>Credit: Matthew O\u2019Haren-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p>If you aren\u2019t one of the top NASCAR drivers with JGR, Hendrick Motorsports, or Team Penske, it\u2019s easy to get overshadowed. That\u2019s especially true if one of your best finishes of the season is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nascar.com\/news-media\/2025\/04\/28\/cup-series-2025-talladega-post-race-inspection-team-penske-rfk-racing\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">wiped out<\/a> for having three shims instead of two. At 34 years old, Ryan Preece is having a career-best season. <\/p>\n<p>Preece finished second at Talladega, only to have that outstanding points day disqualified. It might end up costing him a playoff spot, but he\u2019s still delivered 10 top-20 finishes and five top 10s in the last 11 races. Preece\u2019s average finishing position (17.10) is well above his previous career-best from 2023 (20.83) and he has more top 10s this year (eight) than he did in the last two seasons combined. Through 21 races, he (17.1) is neck-and-neck with Ty Gibbs, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano in average finishing position (17.0)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nascar.com\/drivers\/ryan-preece#stats\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">Ryan Preece stats<\/a><\/strong>: 484 laps led, 8 top 10s, 1 top 5, 56 laps led, 18.286 average starting position, 17.095 average finishing position<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Kaden Honeycutt<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/NASCAR-Truck-Series-Qualifying-25484646-788x533.jpg\" alt=\"NASCAR drivers\" class=\"wp-image-1321489\"  \/>Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p>In his first season as a full-time driver in the Truck Series, Kaden Honeycutt has proven he belongs at this level. While the 22-year-old is still seeking his first win as a NASCAR driver, he\u2019s gotten close several times this season. Through 15 races, Honeycutt is fifth in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/sportsnaut.com\/nascar\/nascar-standings\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"(opens in a new tab)\">NASCAR standings<\/a>, and he\u2019s tied with Tyler Ankrum for the fifth-most top-10s (nine). He\u2019s certainly found a home at the Truck Series level and might even earn himself another shot to appear in an Xfinity Series race or two next season.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/sportsnaut-tracks.png\"  class=\"avatar avatar-70 photo\" height=\"70\" width=\"70\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\t\tNFL,  MLB  &amp;  college  football  writer  for  Sportsnaut.  Graduated  from  San  Diego  State  University  with  BA  in  Journalism,  2019.  &#8230; More about <a class=\"more-bio\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsnaut.com\/author\/wisconsinboymakesgoodincali\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Matt Johnson<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 2025 NASCAR schedule is flying by, with just a few races remaining before the playoffs begin. There&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":80945,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[1406,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-80944","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nascar","8":"tag-nascar","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-united-states","11":"tag-unitedstates","12":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114891962799731277","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80944"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80944\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}