13 races down, 13 races to go within the common season for the NASCAR Cup Collection. On the midway level, there have been eight completely different winners with Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing [JGR] taking the lion’s share of victories.
These lucky eight are William Byron [Hendrick], Kyle Larson [Hendrick], Christopher Bell [JGR], Denny Hamlin [JGR], Joey Logano [Penske], Austin Cindric [Penske], Josh Berry [Wood Brothers], and newly topped Coca-Cola 600 winner Ross Chastain [Trackhouse].
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
However whereas these drivers are feeling safe, there are a number of others starting to sweat. Wanting nearer on the standings, drivers like Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney needn’t fear (but). Whereas they’re winless, they do have a cushty factors margin over the cut-line. However as we have seen earlier than, that would quickly change ought to a number of extra drivers decrease within the standings begin grabbing wins.
The place issues get extra nerve-wracking is across the bubble, however there’s nonetheless no have to panic for these drivers presently. Ryan Preece holds the sixteenth and last spot after taking into consideration the drivers beneath him who’ve already received, leaving on the new seat. He’s simply six factors forward of his RFK Racing teammate Chris Buescher, who not too long ago obtained 30 factors again after a penalty attraction.
This stays an extremely tight battle that can absolutely look quite a bit completely different across the cut-off race at Daytona, with eight winless drivers inside 40 factors of Preece. There isn’t a margin for error proper now with this group. However what concerning the drivers even deeper within the standings? It is perhaps time to be just a little bit nervous, if not absolutely starting to panic. Here is a quick take a look at these drivers and their present scenario:
Ty Gibbs: twenty fifth, -50pts out
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Picture by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
Gibbs continues to be ready to level his approach in, however his season has left the No. 54 group scratching their heads. In contrast to his JGR teammates, the velocity simply hasn’t been there. Bristol was a brilliant spot as he completed third, however he has eight finishes of twenty second or worse within the first 13 races as effectively. This comes as fairly a shock. Regardless of being winless in his first 100 Cup begins, Gibbs nonetheless made the playoffs final 12 months.
Zane Smith, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Workforce Penske Ford
Picture by: Logan Riely / Getty Photographs
Smith is with a brand new group in 2025 and to this point, he is enhancing on final 12 months’s efficiency. However that also places him simply twenty sixth within the standings with a finest end of ninth. Nonetheless, it was round this level final 12 months when he began turning issues round, so maybe we have but to see one of the best he has to supply within the No. 38 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford. He did handle to earn a pole place at Talladega, so we all know he has the velocity when the collection heads to superspeedways.
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Picture by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
Few anticipated Jones to be lagging behind his teammate in 2025, however like the 2 names we already went over, he’s. Legacy Motor Membership has been struggling for velocity, however there’s cause to be hopeful. Current races have proven an uptick in efficiency, together with a high 5 for Jones at Texas and a strong exhibiting within the Coke 600. Possibly all just isn’t misplaced, however they should begin making huge positive aspects, now.
Noah Gragson, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Picture by: Logan Riely / Getty Photographs
Gragson has been a bit like his FRM teammate Smith. The potential is there, however the execution just isn’t. A high ten at COTA, a high 5 at Talladega, and one other high ten on the Coke 600 present that they will put collectively sturdy races, and Gragson is a confirmed multi-time winner within the Xfinity Collection. However the weeks once they’re off, they’re very off, and that is left him buried within the standings.
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
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Haley’s group simply desires to go a number of weeks with out dropping any extra personnel. Crew chief Rodney Childers abruptly parted methods with Spire mid-season they usually misplaced a number of (good) crew members to Hendrick Motorsports. Whereas each of his Spire teammates have challenged for race wins, Haley has been falling behind and has recorded no end greater than tenth. Round Gragson and Haley is the place drivers and groups are possible much less involved about factors at this level and are considering extra about how they will hit a house run and rating a victory.
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photographs
Suarez locked himself into the 2024 playoffs with a win within the second race of the 12 months. He nearly did one thing comparable early this season, however misplaced out in a battle with Josh Berry for the Las Vegas win. Suarez has had temporary moments of velocity and Trackhouse simply received the Coke 600 together with his teammate Chastain, however the consistency is not there in any respect. Suarez hasn’t led greater than 12 laps in any single race, and the 4 DNFs resulting from crashes have not helped both. He is possible in a must-win mindset and he has some good alternatives coming as much as do exactly that, however simply as Chastain did one week in the past, he must capitalize when these moments arrive.
Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs
T. Dillon is nowhere close to his veteran teammate AJ Allmendinger at Kaulig Racing, ending no greater than twelfth in any race this 12 months. Dillon’s return to the Cup Collection has been a battle and successful a race within the Cup Collection is one thing he’s 0-258 in reaching. With the dearth of velocity that has plagued this No. 10 group, his solely hope possible sits with the drafting races at Atlanta and Daytona.
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Picture by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs
A real shocker. The 2012 NASCAR Cup Collection champion made the playoffs final 12 months and earlier than a top-five end within the Coke 600, Keselowski has been nowhere. 9 finishes of twenty sixth or worse within the first 13 races, 5 DNFs resulting from crashes in what has been the worst season of his profession. His teammates are battling across the bubble whereas Keselowski lags 100 factors behind them. It is a complicated scenario as nobody, together with Keselowski, anticipated to see the No. 6 Ford on this place.
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs
SVG is the bottom of the three Trackhouse drivers, however he’s additionally main the ROTY standings together with his solely rival only one level behind him. Nobody anticipated the three-time Supercars champion to return in and instantly discover his approach on ovals, however he wasn’t making any progress both … till not too long ago. A twentieth at Kansas and a 14th within the Coke 600 are his finest oval finishes of the 12 months, each coming within the final two races. He even earned pole place for the All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro. And as unusual as it might sound, SVG possible has a greater probability of creating the playoffs than lots of the drivers forward of him. He is a highway racing ace and whereas he missed out on a win at COTA (ending sixth), there are 4 extra highway programs left within the common season. He’s absolutely able to successful all of them, and this Kiwi solely wants one to shake up the complete playoff image.
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Picture by: Getty Photographs
One other rookie like SVG, additionally driving a newly created third group however for 23XI Racing. Sadly, he doesn’t benefit from a monitor the place he is aware of he can win like SVG. Herbst’s finest consequence this 12 months is 14th and he has been deep within the pack throughout most races. He has to win, however the place can he make that occur?
Cole Custer, Haas Manufacturing facility Workforce
Picture by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photographs
All of us knew 2025 could be a battle for the Haas Manufacturing facility Workforce. After Stewart-Haas Racing shut down, all that is still is a single-car effort with Custer behind the wheel. He has no finishes greater than thirteenth, and 11 of the primary 13 races have seen him end exterior the highest 20. And but, he was additionally half-a-lap away from doubtlessly successful the Daytona 500 when he crashed within the battle for the win. With how the remainder of the season has gone, he absolutely has Daytona circled later this summer time as maybe his solely probability to place Gene Haas into the playoffs.
Cody Ware: thirty sixth, -200pts out
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford; Cole Custer, Haas Manufacturing facility Workforce Ford
Picture by: Christopher Trim Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs
There is not any technique to sugarcoat this. Ware is final amongst all full-time drivers, a full 75 factors behind his nearest competitors. Ware’s finest end is just twenty fourth and 9 of the primary 13 races have seen him end thirtieth or worse. Whereas I am tempted to say there is not any hope, that is by no means actually the case on this championship format. Final 12 months, Harrison Burton entered Race #25 of 26 at Daytona lifeless final amongst full-time drivers, and he went on to win the race.
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