Xfinity Series rookies show out in season opener at Daytona

Daytona is no easy spot to begin your rookie season, but the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie class didn't seem too fazed in Saturday's United Rentals 300. 

In fact, two rookies finished inside the top-five, three finished inside the top-10 and four finished inside the top-15 in a chaotic season-opening race. 

After being involved in an early crash and suffering damage to the rear of his Chevrolet, Carson Kvapil persevered to earn a fourth-place finish in his Daytona debut. 

The 21-year-old only had an average running position of 18.7 on the day, but found a way to get to the front when it mattered. 

Taylor Gray was the most consistent rookie throughout the race. After being awarded the second-place starting spot after qualifying was rained out, Gray battled for the lead early in the race before finishing 10th in Stage 1. In Stage 2, Gray finished seventh, and by the end of the race, he was right in the thick of the battle for the win. 

When the caution flag on the final lap ended the race, Gray ended up with a fifth-place finish and a solid points day to begin his rookie season. 

Dean Thompson finished eighth on a relatively quiet day. The most under-the-radar rookie in the field collected nine stage points and stayed out of the trouble, which is perhaps the most important thing a driver can do at Daytona. 

Christian Eckes was the final rookie to end up in the top-15, ending his day in 12th. Eckes sustained damage early in the race, but found his way into the top-10 in Stage 3. A 12th-place finish isn't anything to write home about, but it's a solid finish on a day that could've been much worse. 

The rest of the Xfinity Series field wasn't quite lucky enough to avoid the Daytona chaos. Connor Zilisch was caught up in the lap five 'Big One', but rebounded to the top-five in Stage 3. However, a JRM teammate in Justin Allgaier turned Zilisch around on lap 119, sending him into the wall and ending his race. Zilisch finished 27th. 

Right behind Zilisch was William Sawalich, who was collected in the same crash and finished 28th. 

Nick Sanchez saw his race end on lap 60. On the final lap of Stage 2, a bad push from Sheldon Creed sent Sanchez's No. 48 Chevrolet into the wall. 

Sanchez's day wasn't as bad as fellow rookie Daniel Dye's day was, however. Dye was collected in the lap five "Big One," relegating him to a last-place finish in 38th. Dye started his rookie season by earning a single point, and sits last in the standings going into Race 2 at Atlanta.

While the inherently chaotic nature of Daytona bit half of the rookie class, the rookies that escaped the wreckage put on one heck of a show.