With 13 races in the books this season, it’s no surprise the cream of the 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year class is rising to the top. Currently four of the five rookies are inside the top 12 in the driver standings and on pace to make the Playoffs.

Sunoco rookie points leader Chase Briscoe is currently 11 points up on second-place John Hunter Nemechek and 17 points up on third-place Noah Gragson. The Stewart-Haas Racing with Fred Biagi driver has been strong this season posting six top-five finishes (most among rookies).

Briscoe does have one start at Iowa under his belt, the July race last season when he started 12th and finished 10th.

Just behind Briscoe in the rookie points is Nemechek, who in his first year with GMS Racing has put up two top fives and nine top 10s. Of the rookies this weekend, Nemechek has made the most starts at Iowa (two) posting one top-five finish and an average finish of 10.0.

Gragson, third in rookie points, won his second rookie of the race award last weekend at Michigan but hopes the momentum can continue this weekend at Iowa Speedway; where he will be making his series track debut.

Fourth in rookie points is Kaulig Racing’s Justin Haley; who has managed 10 finishes in the top 10 this season. Haley made his series track debut in this race last season, starting 13th and finishing 12th.

Brandon Brown is currently fifth in the rookie points. The Woodbridge, Virginia, native has been learning the ropes this season posting six top-15 finishes in 13 starts. He made his series track debut at Iowa back in 2017 while running a part-time schedule; he started 38th and finished 29th.