Denny Hamlin drove away on the NASCAR Time beyond regulation restart to win Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. For the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran, it was his 56th Cup Sequence win, surpassing Rusty Wallace for eleventh place on the all-time checklist.
Digging deeper than Victory Lane, nevertheless, we discover drivers who’re on the upswing popping out of Darlington in addition to a couple of who didn’t get pleasure from Throwback Weekend as a lot and would possibly need to journey again in time for a do-over. Listed below are our picks for 3 drivers up and three drivers down after Race 8 of the 2025 season:
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THREE UP ⬆️
1. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Began: twenty fifth
Completed: seventh
What occurred: Chastain credited crew chief Phil Surgen with making changes that helped the No. 1 automotive transfer ahead by way of the sector, however Chastain was additionally good on restarts Sunday, rating fifth, in response to NASCAR Insights. The highest-10 end was Chastain’s fourth this season and his third within the final 4 races at Darlington.
What’s subsequent: It’s Bristol, child, the place Chastain has simply two top-10 finishes in 9 profession begins. Nonetheless, he’s coming off a Tenth-place end there final fall within the Bristol Night time Race.
Ross Chastain races in opposition to Bubba Wallace at Darlington Raceway.
2. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Began: fifteenth
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Completed: eighth
What occurred: Elliott produced one other stable effort to earn his fifth top-10 end of the season. After failing to complete within the prime 10 in each Darlington races final season, Sunday’s efficiency could possibly be an indication that he’ll be aggressive right here for the playoff-opening Southern 500.
What’s subsequent: Elliott has by no means gained at Bristol however has 9 top-10 finishes in 15 begins there, together with 4 prime 10s in a row within the Subsequent Gen automotive.
Chase Elliott leads a bunch of automobiles at Darlington Raceway.
3. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Began: eleventh
Completed: ninth
What occurred: Gibbs grabbed his first top-10 end of the season, approaching the heels of a Thirteenth-place end result at Martinsville. He moved up 5 spots within the standings to twenty sixth place as he tries to get again into the playoff image.
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What’s subsequent: Gibbs has two top-10 finishes in 4 begins at Bristol, the place he was ninth final spring when tire falloff was the story of the day.
Ty Gibbs comes out of his pit stall at Darlington Raceway.
THREE DOWN ⬇️
1. Josh Berry, No. 21 Wooden Brothers Racing Ford
Began: twenty fourth
Completed: thirty sixth
What occurred: after contact with Tyler Reddick on Lap 195, mashed the within wall and exited the race. He was operating fifth on the time of the wreck however needed to accept thirty sixth place. He dropped a spot within the standings to twentieth.
What’s subsequent: Berry doesn’t have a lot Cup expertise at Bristol, with simply two begins and no prime 10s there. He completed twelfth final spring after beginning second.
The No. 21 Wooden Brothers Racing Ford drives on the monitor at Darlington.
2. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Began: Thirteenth
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Completed: thirty second
What occurred: Hocevar’s day acquired off to a tough begin when he spun from thirty fifth place on Lap 24 with a tire happening. Then, Riley Herbst after the No. 77’s half-spin on Lap 82. Sunday’s efficiency marked Hocevar’s fourth end of thirtieth or worse within the final 5 races.
What’s subsequent: Hocevar has three begins at Bristol with a greatest end of eleventh in fall 2023 for Legacy Motor Membership. He’ll must buck his present developments in addition to his profession developments at Bristol to rebound from Sunday’s outing.
Carson Hocevar
3. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
Began: twentieth
Completed: thirty third
What occurred: What seemed to be Keselowski’s greatest likelihood to get again on monitor this season ended with one other subpar efficiency. On Lap 135, Keselowski after a right-rear lug nut got here free. He made it to pit street, however the warning got here out three laps later for particles. Keselowski fell out of rivalry after that and is now thirty first within the standings.
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What’s subsequent: Keselowski has three wins in 27 begins at Bristol, together with his most up-to-date journey to Victory Lane coming in 2020. He completed third within the spring race final yr when tire administration grew to become a precedence.
Brad Keselowski
