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 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
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
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 snug factors margin over the cut-line. However as we have seen earlier than, that would quickly change ought to a couple 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 must panic for these drivers presently. Ryan Preece holds the sixteenth and closing spot after taking into consideration the drivers beneath him who’ve already gained, leaving on the recent seat. He’s simply six factors forward of his RFK Racing teammate Chris Buescher, who just lately received 30 factors again after a penalty enchantment.
This stays an extremely tight battle that may certainly look loads totally different across the cut-off race at Daytona, with eight winless drivers inside 40 factors of Preece. There is no such thing as a margin for error proper now with this group. However what concerning the drivers even deeper within the standings? It may be time to be a bit bit frightened, if not absolutely starting to panic. This is a short have a look at these drivers and their present state of affairs:
Ty Gibbs: twenty fifth, -50pts out
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
Gibbs remains to be able to level his manner in, however his season has left the No. 54 group scratching their heads. In contrast to his JGR teammates, the pace simply hasn’t been there. Bristol was a vibrant 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
Photograph by: Logan Riely / Getty Photos
Smith is with a brand new group in 2025 and to date, he is enhancing on final yr’s efficiency. However that also places him simply twenty sixth within the standings with a greatest end of ninth. Nevertheless, 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 Entrance Row Motorsports Ford. He did handle to earn a pole place at Talladega, so we all know he has the pace when the collection heads to superspeedways.
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
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 pace, however there may be cause to be hopeful. Latest races have proven an uptick in efficiency, together with a prime 5 for Jones at Texas and a strong exhibiting within the Coke 600. Possibly all is just not misplaced, however they should begin making massive beneficial properties, now.
Noah Gragson, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Photograph by: Logan Riely / Getty Photos
Gragson has been a bit like his FRM teammate Smith. The potential is there, however the execution is just not. A prime ten at COTA, a prime 5 at Talladega, and one other prime 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
Photograph by: Getty Photos
Haley’s group simply desires to go a couple of weeks with out dropping any extra personnel. Crew chief Rodney Childers abruptly parted methods with Spire mid-season and so they 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 pondering extra about how they will hit a house run and rating a victory.
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Suarez locked himself into the 2024 playoffs with a win within the second race of the yr. He nearly did one thing related early this season, however misplaced out in a battle with Josh Berry for the Las Vegas win. Suarez has had temporary moments of pace and Trackhouse simply gained 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 as a consequence of 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
Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos
T. Dillon is nowhere close to his veteran teammate AJ Allmendinger at Kaulig Racing, 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 shortage of pace 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
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photos
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 as a consequence 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 state of affairs as nobody, together with Keselowski, anticipated to see the No. 6 Ford on this place.
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photos
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 come back in and instantly discover his manner 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 greatest 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 might sound, SVG possible has a greater likelihood of creating the playoffs than most of the drivers forward of him. He is a street racing ace and whereas he missed out on a win at COTA (ending sixth), there are 4 extra street programs left within the common season. He’s absolutely able to profitable all of them, and this Kiwi solely wants one to shake up your complete playoff image.
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Getty Photos
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 greatest end result 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 unit Staff
Photograph by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Photos
All of us knew 2025 can be a battle for the Haas Manufacturing unit Staff. 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 probably profitable the Daytona 500 when he crashed within the battle for the win. With how the remainder of the season has gone, he certainly has Daytona circled later this summer season as maybe his solely likelihood to place Gene Haas into the playoffs.
Cody Ware: thirty sixth, -200pts out
Cody Ware, Rick Ware Racing Ford; Cole Custer, Haas Manufacturing unit Staff Ford
Photograph by: Christopher Trim Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
There is no approach to sugarcoat this. Ware is final amongst all full-time drivers, a full 75 factors behind his nearest competitors. Ware’s greatest end is simply twenty fourth and 9 of the primary 13 races have seen him end thirtieth or worse. Whereas I am tempted to say there is no hope, that is by no means really the case on this championship format. Final yr, Harrison Burton 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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