Trying on the NASCAR Cup Sequence grid, there are eleven multi-car groups with sizes starting from two to 4 vehicles. However which driver from every can declare to be the very best?
Motorsport.com thought of race wins, common end, head-to-head weekly battles, and the ultimate championship results of every of the workforce’s full-time drivers in deciding who was the ‘No. 1 driver’ inside every group. Half-time drivers for every workforce weren’t included in these statistics.
Race wins, high fives and high tens will even play a important position. Different knowledge and variables may very well be factored in and talked about within the explanations as a way to differentiate these drivers who ended the yr on related footing. Now, listed here are the numbers:
Hendrick Motorsports — Kyle LarsonÂ
Championship outcome: Larson (1st) beats Byron (4th), Elliott (eighth), and Bowman (thirteenth)
Head-to-head: Larson (13) beats Byron (11), Elliott (8), and Bowman (4)
Race wins: Larson/Byron equal (3), beating Elliott (2) and Bowman (0)
Prime 5s: Larson (15) beats Byron (11), Elliott (11), and Bowman (6)
Prime 10s: Larson (22) beats Elliott (19), Byron (16), and Bowman (16)
Common end: Elliott (12.6) beats Larson (13.2), Byron (14.5), and Bowman (17.4)
EXPLANATION: Whereas Larson has been quiet (till Sunday), he has been constant, steadily marching his approach via the season and ending it with extra high fives and high tens than any of his teammates, regardless of no wins since Could. He earned as many wins as Byron, however he did all of it within the first third of the yr. And naturally, that championship trophy makes this a straightforward resolution, even with out him main 5 of the six classes.Â
Joe Gibbs Racing — Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Championship outcome: Hamlin (2nd) beats Briscoe (third), Bell (fifth) and Gibbs (nineteenth)
Head-to-head: Hamlin/Bell equal (12), beating Briscoe (9) and Gibbs (3)
Race wins: Hamlin (6) beats Bell (4), Briscoe (3), and Gibbs (0)
Prime 5s: Briscoe (15) beats Hamlin (14), Bell (13) and Gibbs (5)
Prime 10s: Bell (22) beats Briscoe (19), Hamlin (18), and Gibbs (10)
Common end: Bell (11.2) beats Briscoe (12.7), Hamlin (14.0), and Gibbs (17.9)
EXPLANATION: Every of the JGR drivers have their very own strengths, however in the long run. Hamlin leads two classes, Bell leads two, Briscoe leads one, and Hamlin/Bell are tied in head-to-head matchups. Bell was essentially the most constant of the JGR quartet, however Hamlin was clearly the quickest. Hamlin managed to steer over 1000 laps, greater than triple what Bell achieved, whereas additionally out-pacing Briscoe. Briscoe was spectacular in his first yr with the group, particularly in qualifying, however with out that win at Talladega vaulting him into the ultimate 4, it could be straightforward put him behind Bell and third among the many JGR drivers.
Workforce Penske — Ryan Blaney
Joey Logano, Workforce Penske Ford; Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske Ford
Photograph by: Michael Bush – Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
Championship outcome: Blaney (sixth) beats Logano (seventh) and Cindric (14th)
Head-to-head: Blaney (21) beats Logano (12) and Cindric (3)Â
Race wins:Â Blaney (4) beats Logano and Cindric (1)
Prime 5s: Blaney (15) beats Logano (7) and Cindric (2)
Prime 10s: Blaney (19) beats Logano (13) and Cindric (5)
Common end: Blaney (14.6) beats Logano (15.3) and Cindric (20.9)
EXPLANATION: This was a clear sweep for Blaney! Had he received at Martinsville, we may very well be calling him champion proper now along with his victory within the finale. He led his teammates in all the above classes, and loved his winningest season but as a Cup driver. Curiously, the Penske drivers are constant throughout the board with the order being Blaney-Logano-Cindric in each class.
Trackhouse Racing — Ross Chastain
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photos
Championship outcome: Chastain (tenth) beats Van Gisbergen (twelfth) and Suarez (twenty ninth)
Head-to-head: Chastain (17) beats Van Gisbergen (10) and Suarez (9)
Race wins: Van Gisbergen (5) beats Chastain (1) and Suarez (0)
Prime 5s: Van Gisbergen (5) beats Chastain (4) and Suarez (2)
Prime 10s: Chastain (12) beats Van Gisbergen (7) and Suarez (7)
Common end: Chastain (15.8) beats Suarez (20.9) and Van Gisbergen (21.0)
EXPLANATION: SVG’s numbers obtained boosted by his unbelievable prowess on street and road programs, giving him a historic rookie season, however nonetheless, there is not any dethroning Chastain as Trackhouse’s flagship driver. He was the top-finisher in nearly half of the races, and ended the yr with a mean end 5+ positions increased than his teammates.
23XI Racing — Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Photos
Championship outcome: Reddick (ninth) beats Wallace (eleventh) and Herbst (thirty fifth)
Head-to-head: Reddick (18) beats Wallace (15) and Herbst (3)
Race wins: Wallace (1) beats Reddick and Herbst (0)
Prime 5s: Reddick (7) beats Wallace (6) and Herbst (0)
Prime 10s: Reddick/Wallace equal (14), beating Herbst (0)
Common end: Reddick (14.5) beats Wallace (18.5) and Herbst (26.4)
EXPLANATION: This was a really tough one, despite the fact that Reddick led Wallace in 4 classes. Wallace nonetheless received a crown jewel occasion whereas Reddick went winless, and he was additionally one nook away from one other victory that may have pushed him into the Spherical of 8. However even with an enormous win within the Brickyard 400, Reddick was proper with or narrowly surpassing Wallace in lots of of those classes. They had been equal on high tens, whereas Reddick had another high 5. Trying past these numbers, Wallace did lead over 200 laps greater than Reddick this season, however Reddick secured two poles to Wallace’s zero. It is undoubtedly the closest these two teammates have ever been over the course of a single yr, but it surely’s nonetheless benefit Reddick…barely.
RFK Racing — Chris Buescher
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photos
Championship outcome: Buescher (seventeenth) and Preece (18th) and Keselowski (twentieth)
Head-to-head: Buescher (17) beats Keselowski (10) and Preece (9)
Race wins: Buescher/Preece/Keselowski equal (0)
Prime 5s: Buescher (5) beats Keselowski (6) and Preece (3)Â
Prime 10s: Buescher (16) beats Preece (14) and Keselowski (13)
Common end: Buescher (14.3) beats Preece (15.7) and Keselowski (18.5)
EXPLANATION: Benefit Buescher in each class, regardless of a formidable first yr by Preece with the workforce. Not one of the RFK drivers made the playoffs or received a race, however Buescher was the very best of the remaining (drivers who didn’t make the playoffs) for the second consecutive yr. Nonetheless, this trio stays tightly linked when it comes to total efficiency.
Spire Motorsports — Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet; Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
Championship outcome: McDowell (twenty second) beats Hocevar (twenty third) and Haley (thirty first)
Head-to-head: McDowell (15) beats Hocevar (13) and Haley (8)
Race wins: McDowell/Hocevar/Haley equal (0)
Prime 5s: McDowell (3) beats Hocevar (2) and Haley (1)
Prime 10s: Hocevar (9) beats McDowell (6) and Haley (2)
Common end: McDowell (18.2) beats Hocevar (21.6) and Haley (22.2)
EXPLANATION: This was a shock as one would seemingly be fast to put Hocevar because the No. 1 driver at Spire this yr, however the controversial driver had hassle attending to the top of races with out hassle. He has uncooked pace that surpasses his teammates on most weekends, however the execution nonetheless is not there. McDowell is a strong veteran, and led the workforce in most of those classes this yr, but it surely may have simply been Hocevar if he cleaned it up a bit.
Entrance Row Motorsports — Todd Gilliland
Zane Smith, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford, Todd Gilliland, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford
Photograph by: Logan Riely / Getty Photos
Championship outcome: Gilliland (twenty seventh) beats Smith (twenty eighth) and Gragson (thirty fourth)
Head-to-head: Smith (14) beats Gilliland (13) and Gragson (9)
Race wins: Gilliland/Smith/Gragson equal (0)
Prime 5s: Gilliland/Smith/Gragson equal (1)
Prime 10s: Gilliland/Smith equal (5), beating Gragson (3)
Common end: Gilliland (20.8) beats Smith (21.1) and Gragson (25.2)
EXPLANATION: An especially powerful one. Smith and Gilliland had been very shut, particularly in direction of the top of the yr. They even matched one another in high fives and high tens, and had been separated by only one level at season’s finish! On details alone, Gilliland is forward in two of the above classes whereas Smith wins one, whereas being tied in three! Since Gilliland did handle to return out on high within the ultimate factors outcome and common end, it is Gilliland by the narrowest of margins.
Richard Childress Racing — Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photos
Championship outcome: ADillon (fifteenth) beats Busch (twenty first)
Head-to-head: Busch (21) beats ADillon (15)
Race wins: ADillon (1) beats Busch (0)
Prime 5s: Busch (3) beats ADillon (1)
Prime 10s: Busch (10) beats ADillon (5)
Common end: Busch (17.9) beats ADillon (20.8)
EXPLANATION: One other fascinating one, and whereas Dillon solely beat Busch within the ultimate standings as a result of a formidable win at Richmond, Busch beat him in 21 of 36 races, even with the No. 8 discovering a number of hassle on monitor. He additionally beat him in high fives, and notably earned twice as many high tens. For these causes, Busch leads the best way for RCR.
Legacy Motor Membership — Erik Jones
Erik Jones; Legacy Motor Membership Toyota; John Hunter Nemechek, Legacy Motor Membership Toyota
Photograph by: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos
Championship outcome: Jones (twenty fourth) beats Nemechek (twenty fifth)
Head-to-head: Nemechek (20) beats Jones (16)
Race wins: Jones/Nemechek equal (0)
Prime 5s: Jones (4) beats Nemechek (2)
Prime 10s: Nemechek (8) beats Jones (5)
Common end: Jones (20.2) beats Nemechek (20.3)
EXPLANATION: Issues had been shut at FRM, however that is even tougher. Jones and Nemechek had been additionally separated by a single level within the ultimate standings, and so they practically ended the yr with the very same common end. Nemechek did beat Jones in head-to-head finishes and high tens, however Jones scored twice as many high fives. In the long run, Jones leads three classes, whereas Nemechek leads two. Jones was additionally a barely higher qualifier, and whereas it’s kind of of a coin toss, the numbers lean Jones.
Kaulig Racing — A.J. Allmendinger
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: David Jensen / Getty Photos
Championship outcome: Allmendinger (twenty sixth) beats TDillon (thirty third)
Head-to-head: Allmendinger/TDillon equal (18)
Race wins: Allmendinger/TDillon equal (0)
Prime 5s: Allmendinger (2) beats TDillon (0)
Prime 10s: Allmendinger (7) beats TDillon (1)
Common end: Allmendinger (21.8) beats TDillon (24.6)
EXPLANATION: A straightforward resolution right here because the veteran Allmendinger dominated Dillon for a lot of the yr. Nonetheless, they did finish 2025 tied in head-to-head matchups, however a giant consider that’s Allmendinger’s many DNFs — eight whole, together with 4 within the ultimate eight races. At any time when they don’t seem to be tied, Allmendinger because the benefit, so it needs to be A.J. in the long run.
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