Top 5 Most Underrated NASCAR Drivers in 2025

We’re over halfway through the season, and there have been plenty of notable drivers doing great things so far this year, some underrated and some not. Like Heim dominating trucks, like if you dropped Max Verstappen into F3! Or the likes of Chase Elliott and his incredible consistency, or Hocevar getting two runners-up with Spire!

Today We’re Focusing on the Underrated Drivers Such as No. 1 Nick Sanchez

So far, Nick Sanchez’s career seemed like it was designed to be underrated. After winning the 2022 ARCA championship, he would move up to the truck series alongside his ARCA series team, Rev Racing. Nick Sanchez’s 2 seasons were also Rev Racing’s only 2 seasons in the Truck Series. After a rookie year that saw him earn several top tens and finish 6th in the points, he was much more consistent in 2024 and won 2 races.

Though he’d only improve to 5th in the points. For 2025, he’d be given a tough task. Continuing Big Machine Racing’s overperformance by matching what veteran Kligermann did in 2024. Something he’s not only done, but he also gave Big Machine Racing his 1st ever win at Atlanta. Outside of that accomplishment, he’s had a great season.

With Big Machine being a mid-pack team and Sanchez’s lack of experience, it’s no surprise that his season has been up and down. But his ups have been frequent, and now he’s on pace to beat the record for most top 5s for BMR, with him having 10 races to beat Kligermann’s 8 total in 2023, which he has a pretty good chance to do with his 5 total so far this year.

Next is Kaulig’s Underrated Franchise Guy, AJ Allmendinger

While Kaulig has been struggling these past 2 seasons in Cup, and in Xfinity has been an underrated highlight in both. Someone who Kyle Busch said has been one of the most underrated drivers this year. He’s been regularly outside the playoffs even as we get closer and closer to the playoffs, with him already having more top tens than Hemric, who was Kaulig’s full-time Cup driver last year.

Also beating his average finish in 3 sports, with Hemric’s being a pretty good 22.4 to AJ’s 19.6, while his only top 5 so far in 2025 came at Charlotte, which is not a place where mid-pack cars are supposed to do that. He’s currently 18th in the points, which would be Kaulig‘s best-ever Cup points finish if the season were to end today.

Now, onto the No. 3 Most Underrated Driver of 2025 is Carson Kvapil

Someone sadly overshadowed by the hype and summer resurgence of Connor Zilisch; any other year, Kvapil would easily be the rookie of the year. Not only because he’s nearly won a couple of races, like his runner-ups at Bristol and Atlanta, but also because of how consistent Kvapil has truly been. After a poor stretch to start the year, from the 5th race of the season to the 23rd, he’s only finished outside of the top 20 once. He showed resilience and veteran-like decision-making in his rookie year.

Our 4th Most Underrated Driver of 2025 is None Other than Harrison Burton.

Coming off a terrible stint in the Cup, not many fans have been checking to see how he’s doing. Which is sad because they’ve been missing out on a truly great season. AM Racing has always been a mid-pack struggler and was coming off a terrible season with flop Hailie Deegan.

But with Burton, they haven’t only come back. They’ve come back better than ever. With Burton already matching the same amount of top tens as former truck series champion Brett Moffitt had in 2023 with the same team in 23 races compared to 33.

Harrison even has 2 top fives compared to Moffit’s 1. Burton is also giving him a run for his money with an average finish and position in points. With Burton currently 11th in points, beating his 15th, while Burton’s average is 13.8 compared to Moffitt’s 17.9, it’s truly an underrated season for both drivers.

And the No. 5 Most Underrated Driver is Zane Smith

FRM was another team expected to leap forward and has instead taken a step back, with drivers like TG and Gragson, who had good 2024s, struggling this year. So nobody’s noticed Zane Smith is doing better than both after a struggling rookie year. Beating them in the standings by being the only driver in the top 30 in 27th and averaging a 20.8 finish, a whole sport and then some above the next FRM driver. Thanks a bunch for reading!