NASCAR
How Drivers Stack Up through nine weeks of 2025 season
As hard as it may be to believe, the NASCAR Cup Series season has reached its quarter mark. Nine events are in the books for 2025, featuring all types of tracks seen in America’s top racing division. Championship favorites have already emerged, while some others are taking full advantage of this off week. Here’s how the top 16 drivers’ years have gone so far in 2025, and what their summer months may hold.
A-Tier
Five top-shelf title threats have established themselves so far this season. William Byron leads all drivers atop the points by 30, has a ninth-place average finish, and six top-10s. Byron arguably should have more than just the Daytona 500 win to-date, with elite level speed.
Falling just shy of Byron but with one additional win is Denny Hamlin. The No. 11 Toyota hasn’t been worse than fifth in the last four weeks, part of his own six top-10s. In typical Hamlin fashion, this team is racking up Playoff points early.
The winningest driver through 2025’s first quarter is Christopher Bell, who rattled off a three-peat of victories on three very different tracks. Since this streak, the 20’s also been second and third across their last three starts.
Taking home arguably the most dominant win yet in 2025 was Kyle Larson. Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet has seen two victories at Homestead and Bristol, most recently leading 411 of 500 laps in Tennessee. When Larson is on, he’s about unbeatable. Team 5 does have some vulnerabilities, however. This was seen with a pit road blunder in COTA and an early wreck in Darlington.
The last driver I’m firmly putting as a title-caliber threat so far in 2025 is Ryan Blaney. While the Penske No. 12 team is still winless, they’ve been in position to capitalize multiple times before unforced errors. Sixth in points with four top-10s is nothing to overlook, but this stat line could be even better. Blaney saw his first two engine failures in several years between Phoenix and Homestead, both times when he was amidst the top-five. Victory lane has eluded the 2023 champion so far, but it’s likely only a matter of time until his winning fortunes turn.
B-Tier
At fifth in points, Chase Elliott is on the cusp of being an elite contender once again. This team gets knocked down a few pegs, however, due to only having two top-fives and 44 laps led all year. If the dominant Chase Elliott from the Clash returns, he immediately vaults up this list. A few historically great tracks for the 9 team are ahead in the windshield. Winning chances should be on the horizon.
23XI Racing’s top two drivers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace currently find themselves seventh and eighth in points. Reddick’s Championship 4 effort from 2024 has appeared anything but flukey, with three top-fives so far, but only 85 laps out front. Wallace meanwhile is off to the hottest start of his career, putting up three top-10s and an 11th-place average finish. Both of these teams have been a slight step or two off of raw winning pace, but should find the right combination in the coming weeks.
The last of Hendrick’s fab four, Alex Bowman was red hot to start 2025 but has faltered in recent weeks. After Homestead in March, the 48 was third in points and looked like a championship sleeper. Three straight races outside of the top-25, however, have seen Bowman tumble to 10th in points. What once looked like a potential Round of 8 lock now is at risk of becoming must-win. Bristol did show signs of improvement for the Ally crew with a pole, but ended early with engine failure. Consistency needs to return for Bowman to be seen as a title-level threat once again.
The last man in the B-tier is one of the B winners–Josh Berry. Wood Brothers Racing had next to no expectations with a new driver and coming off three lackluster years with Harrison Burton. Berry quieted all doubters by winning in only his fifth start with the No. 21. Las Vegas secured this team’s Playoff fate, with Phoenix being another strong top-five. This team may be quick to exit some people’s Playoff grids as a first round elimination. The sky is truly the limit for any Penske-affiliated car though. Do not be shocked to see the 21 battle for more wins as the season winds onward.
C-Tier
Starting off the list of drivers in the C-tier through 2025’s first quarter is the man who ended 2024 on top–Joey Logano. The Penske No. 22 has seen a very uncharacteristic championship defense season to date, with only one top-10. 260 laps led however does rank fourth-best in the series, so speed has been there for this Ford. As proven time and again with Logano, only one win can start a snowball effect that ends with another Bill France Cup. Logano is in championship talks as long as there’s a chance forward for the 22.
Seemingly carrying Team Trackhouse with his 2025 performance so far is Ross Chastain. The stat line may read five top-10s for the 1, but he only has two results worse than 12th. Four of his last five races have ended between fifth and seventh, slowly rising up the standings ladder and closer to contending again. Should this trend continue, Chastain may see a checkered flag or two out the windshield in his near future.
As steady and under-the-radar as ever, Chris Buescher appears poised for a retribution Playoff run. Not making the cut a season ago, the 17 currently bats above .500 for top-10s. A lot like Chastain, Buescher is the standard-bearer for his three car team and has benefited from others’ issues. As shown in 2023, this team is capable of finding victory on many track types and could pop off any week.
Teammates a season ago, new homes have already seen both Chase Briscoe and Ryan Preece yield stellar results. The new man at Joe Gibbs Racing, Briscoe’s put up four top-10s, including a fourth-place run at Bristol. The expansion team from RFK, Preece has likewise seen a best result of third. Each of these drivers find themselves in the provisional Playoff cut, and poised nicely for bigger highlights over the summer. Preece could easily become the next first-time Cup winner. Briscoe meanwhile feels more comfortable in his new surroundings every week.
Rounding out this list is two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch. Still riding a winless streak now over 65 races, there have been hints of optimism from team 8 in 2025. Busch has four top-10s so far, and no DNFs since the Daytona 500. 15th in points is an upgrade from where the RCR crew closed out last year, currently holding onto one of the last Playoff spots. Busch is anything but secure for the postseason in 17 weeks, it will likely take a win to secure the 8’s berth. Busch has talent and experience that trump most of his competition, and had arguably the best car at COTA. Do not be surprised to see Busch grab another checkered flag at a road course or superspeedway in the coming months.
The current Playoff field of 16 is likely to go through a few transformations over the many coming twists and turns. Four road courses and three superspeedways alone leave ample opportunity for surprise winners to take away a coveted golden ticket. Will any of these predictions age to perfection or fall flat? As the summer months wane on, it will be fun to track who’s moved up or down this list.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to James Gilbert/Getty Images
