NASCAR Xfinity Series: Meet the 2021 rookie class
By Mark Kristl
2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series rookies: Ryan Vargas
Of the five rookies, Jordan Anderson and Ryan Vargas are the only ones who are slated to contest the full season. Vargas is set to pilot the #6 JD Motorsports Chevrolet after making nine Xfinity Series starts last year. He has 12 career starts in the series, all with JD Motorsports. He notched his first career top 10 finish when he crossed the finish line in eighth place in the playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway last year.
JD Motorsports are set for their first season fielding four full-time drivers, including Vargas, Landon Cassill, Jeffrey Earnhardt and Colby Howard.
The team known for their red paint schemes have only six top five finishes and 45 top 10 finishes to their credit thus far, but they aren’t afraid of hard work. Hard work is what brought Vargas this opportunity.
From doing tires and holding pit signs, to running full time in 2021.
— Ryan Vargas (@RyanVargas_23) January 25, 2021
Thank you to everyone who’s believed in me up to this point and has pushed me to be better.
It’s a good day to be alive.#Rhino6ang | #TeamJDM pic.twitter.com/1Jtv69Sjha
More from Xfinity Series
- NASCAR: Two new drivers linked to Joe Gibbs Racing
- NASCAR: Frankie Muniz linked to surprise landing spot
- NASCAR: How a sudden downfall inadvertently created a champion
- NASCAR: Kaulig driver linked to Joe Gibbs Racing for 2024
- NASCAR: Another top prospect leaves Toyota for 2024
In addition to his 12 Xfinity Series starts at 10 different courses, Vargas also drove full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East in 2018. He finished in sixth place in the championship standings with six top 10 finishes and a season-best finish of sixth at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Four tracks on the 2018 schedule are also on the Xfinity Series schedule this year: Bristol Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International. So Vargas enters his rookie season with some experience at the Xfinity Series venues.
The last time a JD Motorsports driver finished in the top five came in the second race at Daytona International Speedway in 2019 when Stephen Leicht finished in fifth place. Don’t tell that to Vargas, though; he is aiming for the Rookie of the Year honors!
In 6️⃣ days, #XfinitySeries will be vibing!
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) February 7, 2021
Will @RyanVargas_23 be your 2021 Rookie of the Year? pic.twitter.com/FzNwKgv18f
Next. Top 10 most unbreakable records in F1, NASCAR and IndyCar. dark
Who do you think will win the 2021 Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year Award? The season is scheduled to begin this Saturday, February 13 at Daytona International Speedway with the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. 300, which is set to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET.