With the 2018 NASCAR XFINITY Series right around the corner, several changes in the driver roster have been made, many of which bring the promise of success for several drivers. The season promises to be one for the series regulars as the talent that these five drivers bring will be sure to bring much-needed change to the division.
Last season, Aric Almirola wasn’t even able to compete in all 36 races due to a back injury he suffered at Kansas. But last November, it was announced that the thirty-three-year-old would get the opportunity of his life. Almirola was introduced as the new driver for the No. 10 car in 2018.
At first glance, the catchphrase of Monty Python's Flying Circus "And now for something completely different," would sum up 2017 NASCAR. As the season played out, however, it went from "something completely different" to a return to form.
The 2017 season could not have been any better for the eventual champion Christopher Bell. Early on in the year he was up front and challenging for wins every week. With a strong Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra, it was not surprising to see him challenge for victories week in and week out.
It seemed as though the 2017 season was a wild start for many drivers including Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 19 Ford F-150. On the first lap of the season, he, along with others, was collected in a Lap 1 crash that took out most of the field. A 27th-place finish at Daytona was not the way the Columbus, Ohio driver was hoping to start out.
Chase Briscoe was coming off his winning ways in the ARCA Racing Series by winning the championship in 2016. He was looking to add on top of that winning tradition in the 2017 season.
T.J. Bell and Regan Smith are NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regulars. This season marked Bell's 15th year in the series, while it was Smith's sixth year. Smith made 13th starts while Bell made 15 starts in the 2017 season.
Kligerman, the 27-year-old out of Westport, Connecticut made seven starts in the Truck Series this season, including grabbing an upset win at Talladega. This was his seventh season racing in the Truck Series. Before the 2017 season, he had 11 starts in 2016 scoring one top five and three top 10 finishes, with a best finish of third at the famous Daytona International Speedway.
The 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season was a good one for Justin Haley who made all but two starts in the series. Prior to the '17 season, he had only made six career starts driving the No. 32 Great Clips truck for Todd Braun in 2015 and 2016. His best finish in those years was seventh in 2015 at Phoenix. However, he upped that best career finish this year driving the No. 24 for Maury Gallagher's GMS Racing Team.
Cody Coughlin entered the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the third time of his career. This year, however, he would be driving full-time in the No. 13 Thorsport Racing truck after competing in the No. 51 truck of Kyle Busch Motorsports last year.
