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The Next Wave of Performance: Sunoco’s 2025 Rookies of the Year

 

Newcomers with Uncommon Stories

For decades, Sunoco has fueled NASCAR’s high-performance legacy, powering generations of champions and rising stars alike. The NASCAR Sunoco Rookie of the Year award — a partnership that’s now spanned more than 15 years — continues that tradition by spotlighting the best first-time drivers across NASCAR’s top series: the Cup, Xfinity, and Truck divisions.
More than a trophy, it’s a signal of potential — a mark of who’s next in a sport built on speed, skill, and relentless drive.
 

In 2025, two drivers redefined what a “rookie” can look like. One, a 36-year-old international racing champion bringing global experience to NASCAR’s most elite tracks. The other, an 18-year-old prodigy rising through the ranks faster than most drivers can even earn their first start. Together, Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch prove there’s no single road to greatness — just the drive to keep pushing it further.

 

 

 

Shane van Gisbergen: A Rookie in Name, a Veteran in Skill
  

 

For Shane van Gisbergen, “rookie status” doesn’t tell the whole story. The New Zealander entered NASCAR’s 2025 Cup Series season with years of championship-level racing behind him — from Supercars titles to international endurance victories.

At 36, Shane is far from the typical “young gun.” But that’s exactly what makes him stand out. His approach to racing is grounded in precision and discipline — the kind of control honed over decades of high-speed experience. And when the green flag drops, that maturity transforms into momentum.

Shane dominated the year’s road and street circuits, locking up the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honor in commanding fashion. He kicked off the momentum with a victory at the inaugural Viva México 250 in Mexico City, then swept the weekend at the Grant Park 165 Chicago Street Race and sealed his streak with a win at the Go Bowling at The Glen in Watkins Glen. Each race was a showcase of technical mastery — proving that experience doesn’t slow you down, it sharpens your edge.

Van Gisbergen’s debut season reminds fans that NASCAR’s diversity of talent is its greatest strength — and that Sunoco’s performance-fueled legacy powers every kind of racer, from emerging names to established champions chasing new challenges.

 

Connor Zilisch: The Next Generation, Already Racing Like A Pro

 

 

If Shane represents experience entering the arena, Connor Zilisch is the opposite: youth rising through it. At just 18, the Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year is proving that age is no barrier to poise under pressure.

Connor’s path to NASCAR was years in the making. He began karting at five, mastered sports cars before he could vote, and entered 2025 as one of the most anticipated young talents in the sport. His driving is defined by focus — and a kind of instinct that can’t be taught.
He’s the rare racer who blends raw speed with measured control, the hunger of a newcomer with the polish of a veteran. Every lap feels like an introduction and a statement rolled into one: this is what the next era of NASCAR looks like.

Connor’s success — like Shane’s — is powered by more than just fuel and horsepower. It’s driven by the same relentless pursuit of performance that defines Sunoco and every driver who chooses to chase excellence at full speed. In his breakout Xfinity season, Connor turned heads with multiple top-five finishes and a pair of hard-fought victories — including a statement win at Charlotte and a clutch performance at Watkins Glen that showcased his road-course finesse.

 

Performance Has Many Paths

Whether it’s a 36-year-old champion carving new lines through America’s toughest circuits or an 18-year-old prodigy making each lap a coming-of-age moment, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award reminds us what unites them: performance, passion, and the pursuit of better.

 

Because at every level — Cup, Xfinity, or Truck — greatness doesn’t come from where you start. It’s fueled by how far you’re willing to go.
And from legends to first-timers, Sunoco continues to power NASCAR’s most high-performance moments, keeping the sport — and its future stars — running at full throttle.

Learn about more NASCAR Stars fueled by Sunoco: https://www.sunoco.com/fuel-facts/post/fueling-the-future-nascar-s-rising-stars-rajah-caruth-and-toni-breidinger