Christian Eckes Shines on Road Courses, Adds Another Xfinity Top-Five
PORTLAND, Ore. — Christian Eckes continues to prove himself as one of the most dependable road-course racers in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. With a gritty drive in Saturday’s Pacific Office Automation 147 at Portland International Raceway, Eckes scored another top-five finish — his third of the 2025 season on a left-and-right-turn circuit.
In fact, three of Eckes’ four top-five results this year have come on road courses, underscoring his ability to adapt to the technical demands of braking zones, tight corners, and strategic pit cycles. While many of his peers have struggled with consistency on the challenging layouts, Eckes has made them his specialty.
“Road courses have really clicked for us this year,” Eckes said after the race. “I’ve just tried to be smart, stay patient, and put myself in position late. It’s great to keep delivering solid results on these types of tracks.”
Eckes’ steady performance at Portland came in a race full of chaos, with multiple cautions and restarts shuffling the running order. But while others faltered, the driver of the No. [Car Number] machine kept his composure, avoiding mistakes and capitalizing when opportunities arose.
Though still seeking his first Xfinity Series victory of the season, Eckes’ results highlight his growth and versatility. Traditionally known for his oval-track background in Trucks and ARCA, the 24-year-old has emerged in 2025 as one of the most reliable road-course performers in the field.
With more road courses still on the calendar, including the ROVAL at Charlotte, Eckes could be poised for another big result — or perhaps even his breakthrough win.
“We’re close,” he said. “The speed is there, the execution is there. If we keep running like this, I know a win is coming.”
For now, Eckes leaves Portland with another top-five, more evidence that his road-course skill set is becoming a cornerstone of his Xfinity career.
Would you like me to also write a stat-focused sidebar breaking down Eckes’ 2025 results (ovals vs. road courses) to show just how strong he’s been on these tracks?
