13 races down, 13 races to go within the common season for the NASCAR Cup Collection. On the midway level, there have been eight totally different winners with and [JGR] taking the lion’s share of victories.
These lucky eight are [Hendrick], [Hendrick], [JGR], [JGR], [Penske], [Penske], [Wood Brothers], and newly topped Coca-Cola 600 winner [Trackhouse].
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures
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However whereas these drivers are feeling safe, there are a number of others starting to sweat. Trying nearer on the standings, drivers like , , and 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. holds the sixteenth and closing spot after considering the drivers beneath him who’ve already received, leaving on the new seat. He’s simply six factors forward of his RFK Racing teammate , who just lately received 30 factors again after a penalty attraction.
This stays an extremely tight battle that may absolutely look quite a bit totally different across the cut-off race at Daytona, with eight winless drivers inside 40 factors of Preece. There isn’t any margin for error proper now with this group. However what in regards to the drivers even deeper within the standings? It is perhaps time to be a bit bit frightened, if not totally starting to panic. Here is a short take a look at these drivers and their present scenario:
: twenty fifth, -50pts outTy Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures
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Gibbs continues to be ready to level his approach in, however his season has left the No. 54 workforce scratching their heads. In contrast to his JGR teammates, the velocity simply hasn’t been there. Bristol was a shiny spot as he completed third, however he has eight finishes of twenty second or worse within the first 13 races as nicely. This comes as fairly a shock. Regardless of being winless in his first 100 Cup begins, Gibbs nonetheless made the playoffs final yr.
Zane Smith, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Staff Penske Ford
Zane Smith, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Joey Logano, Staff Penske FordLogan Riely / Getty Pictures
Logan Riely / Getty Pictures
Smith is with a brand new workforce in 2025 and to date, he is bettering on final yr’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 yr 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 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
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures
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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 may be motive to be hopeful. Latest races have proven an uptick in efficiency, together with a prime 5 for Jones at Texas and a strong displaying within the Coke 600. Perhaps all just isn’t misplaced, however they should begin making massive positive factors, now.
Noah Gragson, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Noah Gragson, Entrance Row Motorsports FordLogan Riely / Getty Pictures
Logan Riely / Getty Pictures
Gragson has been a bit like his FRM teammate Smith. The potential is there, however the execution just isn’t. A prime ten at COTA, a prime 5 at Talladega, and one other prime ten on the Coke 600 present that they’ll 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 workforce simply needs to go a number of weeks with out shedding 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 probably much less involved about factors at this level and are pondering extra about how they’ll hit a house run and rating a victory.
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletSean Gardner / Getty Pictures
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Suarez locked himself into the 2024 playoffs with a win within the second race of the yr. He virtually did one thing related early this season, however misplaced out in a battle with Josh Berry for the Las Vegas win. Suarez has had transient moments of velocity and Trackhouse simply received the Coke 600 along 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 because of crashes have not helped both. He is probably 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
Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Pictures
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T. Dillon is nowhere close to his veteran teammate at , ending no greater than twelfth in any race this yr. Dillon’s return to the Cup Collection has been a battle and profitable 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 workforce, his solely hope probably sits with the drafting races at Atlanta and Daytona.
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordChris Graythen – Getty Pictures
Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures
A real shocker. The 2012 NASCAR Cup Collection champion made the playoffs final yr 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 because of 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
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Pictures
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SVG is the bottom of the three Trackhouse drivers, however he’s additionally main the ROTY standings along 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 just lately. A twentieth at Kansas and a 14th within the Coke 600 are his finest oval finishes of the yr, 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 could sound, SVG probably has a greater likelihood of constructing 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 totally able to profitable all of them, and this Kiwi solely wants one to shake up all the playoff image.
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
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One other rookie like SVG, additionally driving a newly created third workforce however for . Sadly, he doesn’t get pleasure from a monitor the place he is aware of he can win like SVG. Herbst’s finest consequence this yr 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 Staff
Cole Custer, Haas Manufacturing facility TeamJared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures
All of us knew 2025 can be a battle for the Haas Manufacturing facility Staff. After shut down, all that continues to be 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 probably profitable 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 season as maybe his solely likelihood to place Gene Haas into the playoffs.
: thirty sixth, -200pts outCody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford; Cole Custer, Haas Manufacturing facility Staff Ford
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford; Cole Custer, Haas Manufacturing facility Staff FordChristopher Trim Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures
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There is not any option 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 isn’t any hope, that is by no means really the case on this championship format. Final yr, entered Race #25 of 26 at Daytona useless final amongst full-time drivers, and he went on to win the race.
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