There was a time when stepping up to NASCAR’s Xfinity Series felt like being thrown into a storm with no umbrella. For rookies, the lack of pre-season testing meant their first real experience in the car came when the green flag dropped on race day. No warm-up. No second chances. Just sink or swim. But this year, NASCAR has flipped the script, and Christian Eckes, Kaulig Racing’s newest talent, is making the most of it.

Christian Eckes’ big break and NASCAR’s new testing rules

Christian Eckes knows a thing or two about making the most of an opportunity. Last year, he dominated the NASCAR Truck Series, grabbing four wins and locking up the regular-season championship. Now, as he transitions to the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing, he’s benefiting from one of the biggest rule changes in recent years: the return of pre-season testing for rookies.

For the first time in years, rookies with no prior Xfinity starts can get seat time before the season officially kicks off. And for Eckes, that’s a game-changer.

“It’s crucial just for me to make laps,” Eckes told John Newby in an interview. “Let alone the aspect of trying to improve the race cars and the team… These laps are super, super good because I don’t think anybody’s had them over the last three or four years. Thankfully they changed the rules to allow us to test. So yeah, I know these laps are really huge for Vegas, which is gonna be my first real time driving these cars.”

Christian Eckes has been logging hours at Rockingham Speedway, a track that’s undergone significant upgrades since NASCAR last raced there. Rockingham Speedway’s latest testing after its revamp has garnered positive comments from other notable drivers as well. TRICON Garage’s Coey Heim said, “I think that’s the first thing everyone realized after the track drying and we got some laps on it. Very little amount of break, and like I said, it’s quick.” 

Rockingham is set to return to NASCAR after 2018, when it was slated for renovation, which included repaving of asphalt in 2022. However, more than just logging miles on an iconic revamped track, Eckes is using these sessions to tweak his driving style.

“The biggest thing, honestly, if you go back to Rockingham, is just realizing the tendencies I’ve had from the truck,” Eckes explained. “Whether it’s overdriving the corner or relying more on grip than I probably should… Being able to see the speed differences between runs and what works, what doesn’t—it’s been super crucial.” 

Christian Eckes will start his Xfinity journey driving the #16 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing. But before that, let’s take a look at how he got here.

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Eckes’ journey through the ranks

Christian Eckes’ rise through the NASCAR pipeline has been pretty impressive. The 24-year-old from Middletown, New York, cut his teeth in the ARCA Menards Series, winning the championship in 2019 before making the jump to Trucks.

His big breakout came in 2024 when he snagged four wins, including a dominant performance at Martinsville that locked him into the Championship 4. Though he fell just short of the title, finishing third at Phoenix as Ty Majeski took home the championship, Eckes cemented his status as one of the lower categories’ rising stars.

Through it all, his focus never wavered. “All you can ask for is to have a shot,” he said after his Championship 4 run in the Truck Series. “We came up a little short, but I’m proud of what we accomplished. Four wins, 22 top-10s—it’s something to build on.”

But success didn’t come overnight. Christian Eckes put in the hard yards, first with Kyle Busch Motorsports and later with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, learning the ropes in one of NASCAR’s most competitive divisions. Along the way, he’s had to navigate on-track dustups. One notable instance was when Eckes shoved Taylor Gray with a few laps to go in the Truck Series playoff race at Martinsville to win the race. Gray confronted him after the race and the scenes were less than polite.

By allowing rookies like Christian Eckes to test before the season, NASCAR is leveling the playing field. It’s a simple fix with major benefits—young drivers get a chance to adjust, teams can fine-tune their setups, and fans get better racing right out of the gate.

For Christian Eckes, it means stepping into his Xfinity debut with more confidence and fewer unknowns. With his natural talent, relentless work ethic, and now a chance to properly prepare, Eckes is primed to make a serious impact in the Xfinity Series. And if history is any indication, Kaulig Racing may have just found themselves a future title contender.