With many winless drivers hungry for wins around him, Ryan Blaney outlasted the rest to take his second win of the season at Daytona. It was also his second victory at the Florida track.
As it unfolded
After a cancelled qualifying session, Ryan Blaney led the way from pole with Alex Bowman alongside. Blaney connected with teammate Joey Logano to lead the single-file line up front.
Upon completion of the first lap, Regular Season Champion, William Byron, pulled into pit road for a drive-through penalty following a pre-race infraction.
The first caution occurred on Lap 9, when Casey Mears’ right-rear tyre went down, resulting in him going for a spin in Turn 4. He drove away from the accident but sustained minor damage.
A sizable group of cars came down pit road – mainly playoff bubble drivers, such as Chris Buescher and Ty Gibbs. Of this bunch, Todd Gilliland came out first.
The race restarted on Lap 16, with Blaney and Daniel Suarez leading the way. Logano and Brad Keselowski connected nicely to get Blaney into a decisive lead.
Huge playoff implications happened on Lap 19. Coming off Turn 4, Tyler Reddick drifted up and spun both he and Todd Gilliland out. This sent both of them into the inside wall, with Reddick sustaining the most damage.
A solid amount of cars came down pit road, with Chase Elliott coming out first of this bunch.
Blaney restarted as leader on Lap 24 with Bubba Wallace alongside. This time, however, the inside line had help and thus allowed Wallace to take the lead.
Only four laps later, another big crash with playoff implications took place. Trying to block in the tri-oval, Bubba Wallace wasn’t quite clear on Joey Logano – sending him into a spin up the pack and collecting eight cars. Of this bunch was Alex Bowman, who sustained major damage and went out of the race. This allowed Tyler Reddick to lock his way into the playoffs on points, even despite his earlier struggles.
A few of the leaders came down pit road, such as Daniel Suarez and Chris Buescher.
Blaney and Michael McDowell led the way on Lap 34 with two laps remaining in the stage. And although drivers behind battled hard, Kyle Larson managed to get by Blaney for stage win whilst Ross Chastain snuck through for second.
No. 5 – Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)
No. 1 – Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 12 – Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)
No. 71 – Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)
No. 7 – Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports)
No. 22 – Joey Logano (Team Penske)
No. 34 – Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 60 – Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)
No. 19 – Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 20 – Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Nearly everyone came down pit road during the stage break. The first three out were Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez and John Hunter Nemechek. Cody Ware stayed out.
Ware led the field to the green on Lap 42. Nemechek drew alongside to lead the high line.
After the Fords broke up on the outside, Ty Dillon took the lead on Lap 57. But after a mistimed block, it disorganized the pack, and then started an over 20-lap jockeying for position amongst the top 20.
Pit cycles began on Lap 81, but in the midst of this, the caution came out for Carson Hocevar – with his engine blowing up.
Chase Elliott and Byron led the way on Lap 88, and jostling for position immediately began with the stage nearing its end. Come stage’s end, Ross Chastain held on followed by Christopher Bell and Logano.
No. 1 – Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 20 – Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 22 – Joey Logano (Team Penske)
No. 24 – William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
No. 42 – John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)
No. 12 – Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)
No. 19 – Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 60 – Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)
No. 54 – Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 5 – Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)
Everyone came down pit road. Christopher Bell came out first followed by Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece.
Bell led the field away to begin the final stage of the Regular Season alongside Nemechek on Lap 102.
Shortly after the restart, Casey Mears lost another right-front tyre going into Turn 2 and hit the wall slightly. He drove away unscathed, and the green flag remained out.
The caution came back out on Lap 108. Having suffered a tyre failure in the tri-oval, Denny Hamlin hit the outside wall and thus broke the steering column. With his car unable to steer and still on the racing surface, the caution had to be thrown.
Many drivers came to the pits for a fuel-only stop with seven drivers staying out. Nemechek came out first.
A bunch of cars also came down pit road again, including Nemechek, Ross Chastain and Cody Ware.
Austin Dillon led the field back with 45 laps remaining. They rode around safely for around seven laps, but after that, the field began to amp up the aggression.
With 29 laps remaining, BJ McLeod sustained a right-front tyre failure and went into the wall in Turn 1. Despite his car moving slow on the race track, the green flag remained out.
Another issue befell a mid-pack driver with 16 laps to go, as AJ Allmendinger’s car suffered an engine failure. After crawling back to the pits, the green flag remained out.
Huge issues for the leader happened with 12 laps to go, with Joey Logano spinning on the frontstretch off the bumper of Erik Jones. Logano fell one lap down after getting stuck in the grass.
Only a few drivers came down pit road, notably Chase Briscoe and Austin Dillon.
Erik Jones and Justin Haley headed the field with eight laps remaining in the Regular Season finale. Despite battling up front, Jones quickly got shuffled out of the pack from Kyle Larson behind. This left the race between Haley and Ryan Preece.
And with a dramatic run to the line that saw Cole Custer take the lead on the white flag, Ryan Blaney secured his second win of the season.
No. 12 – Ryan Blaney (Team Penske)
No. 99 – Daniel Suarez (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 7 – Justin Haley (Spire Motorsports)
No. 41 – Cole Custer (Haas Factory Team)
No. 43 – Erik Jones (Legacy Motor Club)
No. 17 – Chris Buescher (RFK Racing)
No. 5 – Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports)
No. 54 – Ty Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 21 – Josh Berry (Wood Brothers Racing)
No. 9 – Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)
No. 34 – Todd Gilliland (Front Row Motorsports)
No. 71 – Michael McDowell (Spire Motorsports)
No. 20 – Christopher Bell (Spire Motorsports)
No. 60 – Ryan Preece (RFK Racing)
No. 1 – Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 88 – Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing)
No. 42 – John Hunter Nemechek (Legacy Motor Club)
No. 6 – Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing)
No. 24 – William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
No. 51 – Cody Ware (Rick Ware Racing)
No. 45 – Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
No. 10 – Ty Dillon (Kaulig Racing)
No. 19 – Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 3 – Austin Dillon (Richard Childress Racing)
No. 11 – Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)
No. 16 – AJ Allmendinger (Kaulig Racing) +1 lap
No. 22 – Joey Logano (Team Penske) +1 lap
No. 44 – Joey Gase (NY Racing) +3 laps
No. 66 – Casey Mears (Garage 66) +4 laps
No. 33 – Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing) +5 laps
No. 38 – Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports) +6 laps
The 2026 season will be a special one for Team Penske, which made its first foray into the racing scene in 1966. Whether it’s NASCAR, IndyCar or IMSA, Team Penske has enjoyed plenty of success and plans to savor many more victories in the future.
Team Penske cars in all three major series will sport special retro livery at select races, while the team will also introduce an anniversary identity that will appear across its race cars, uniforms, digital platforms and merchandise, with the first items available online and in the team store beginning in January.
“Our 60th anniversary is a tremendous milestone for our organization,” Roger Penske said in a team release. “The 2026 season will give us the opportunity to celebrate the people, partners and fans who have helped shape Team Penske since 1966, while also looking ahead to the future. This year ahead is a meaningful one with many terrific moments for our team and story still to come.”
Few teams can match the Penske programs when it comes to success on the track. The team has 20 Indianapolis 500 victories, three Daytona 500 wins and has won at least one major championship for the past 14 years, including last season’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship sweep of the team, drivers and manufacturers titles. It was the second straight season Porsche Penske swept the awards and last season saw the team become the first since 2017 to win Daytona and Sebring in the same season.
With the team not competing in the World Endurance Championship in 2026, Team Penske will focus all of its sportscar racing attention on IMSA. Despite winning the GTP title the past two seasons, there will be some new faces on the team in 2026.
The team will see Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor move from the WEC to drive the No. 6 Porsche 963, while the No. 7 will be in the hands of Felipe Nasr and Julien Andlauer. Matt Campbell, one of the championship drivers this season, will serve as the endurance driver for the No. 6 car at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta, while Laurin Heinrich will serve in the same role for the No. 7 Porsche. All six are Porsche factory drivers.
Porsche Penske will begin its 2026 season in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway Jan. 16-18. The Rolex 24 At Daytona begins Saturday, Jan. 24.
MANAMA: The director of the Kuwaiti Motor Sports Club, Sheikh Sabah Dawood Al-Sabah, praised the outstanding results achieved by the club’s racers in the second round of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship on Saturday, emphasizing that they reflect the advanced level reached by Kuwaiti champions in this sport. The team director stated that the racers delivered a remarkable performance in the competitions held at the Bahrain International Circuit’s drag strip.
Abdullah Ali Al-Aqab secured first place in the Pro 29.5 category, while Ahmed Zaman took second place in the 8.5 Index category, and Fawaz Al-Awadhi finished third in the same category. The remaining members of the participating delegation also achieved high rankings in the eight rounds.
Al-Sabah affirmed that these achievements are the fruit of the continuous efforts exerted by the racers and the technical and administrative staff.
He noted the club’s commitment to providing all means of support and care to raise Kuwait’s flag high in regional and international events, wishing them continued success in future competitions.
The second round of the Bahrain National Drag Racing Championship, the most popular drag racing championship in the region, kicked off over the past two days at the Bahrain International Circuit’s drag strip. The new season of the Bahrain Drag Racing Championship is scheduled to run until March, with the third and fourth rounds taking place in January and the championship concluding in March. — KUNA
It’s the biggest motorcycle drag racing grudge race of the year, Kings of Grudge Grinchmas from Orlando Speedworld Dragway and we cover this shocker as a fast mini bike calls out a stretched Suzuki Hayabusa grudge bike on the opening day of this event. We also see some motorcycle drag racing gone wrong as a fast Suzuki Hayabusa and GSXR 1000 suffer engine damage. Enjoy some thrilling motorcycle drag racing from Kings of Grudge
There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.
It’s episode No. 3 of the Racing Jack Show and we sit down with media mogul “Bubba The Love Sponge” to Talk about what’s really hurting the racing business and what the sport must do to bring fans back to NHRA, NASCAR, Dirt Races and a whole lot more. After an in-depth discussion on the state of motorsports and racing the leader of the Bubba Army shocks us when he calls his good buddy and motorsports legend Tony Stewart.
We ask Bubba how the next generation of race fan has changed, how difficult it is to run a track and an organization and how racing organizations can follow the successful formula of WWE and UFC. We also discuss the controversial decision by the NHRA to cancel its final race of the season and discuss some of the interworking of NHRA drag racing and how it functions as a not for profit organization. Bubba also talks about what it’s like to climb the ladder in NASCAR in today’s climate compared to how it once was in the days of greats like Dale Earnhardt Sr. Finally we discuss Bubba’s reporting on the untimely death of Hulk Hogan and how the wrestling legend’s passing changes the way Cycledrag operates.
There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.
We head to the biggest motorcycle drag racing grudge race of the year where we unfortunately see one fast racer on a Suzuki GSXR blow an en engine and suffer a big top end crash at Orlando Speedworld Dragway. It’s motorcycle drag racing gone wrong as this veteran driver suffers an incident but the good news is he was alert and awake and the Orlando safety team was right on top of it. We also see some unbelievable motorcycle drag racing as nitrous and turbo Suzuki Hayabusa and GSXR 1000 and Kawasaki ZX-14 stretched bikes go for big money win at the biggest Grudge race of the year, Kings of Grudge Grinchmas from Orlando, FL
There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season was a 36-race saga of raw speed, strategy, and sheer misfortune, ending with Kyle Larson claiming his second championship at Phoenix Raceway—despite Denny Hamlin delivering what many consider the most statistically dominant campaign of the modern era. Hamlin’s six wins led the series, but a heartbreaking late caution in the finale snatched victory away, allowing Larson to capitalize. Points reset in the playoffs obscure the full picture of performance across ovals, road courses, and superspeedways.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
This ranking prioritizes overall impact: wins, poles, consistency, laps led, playoff pushes, and overperformance—elevating those who truly excelled beyond the trophy. In a year of road-course brilliance, veteran grit, and cruel twists, here are the top 10 drivers who defined 2025.
1. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) – The True Season Dominator
#11: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Progressive Toyota Camry. Photo courtesy of Toyota
Rank in Point Standings: 2nd No. of Wins: 6 No. of Poles: 5 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Led JGR No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Strong
Hamlin’s six victories were the most in the series, backed by aggressive restarts, bold strategy, and unmatched hunger at age 44. He dominated the finale at Phoenix, leading a record 208 laps from pole—only for a late caution (unrelated to him) to erase his lead and hand the title to Larson. Heartbreakingly close after superior raw stats all year, Hamlin proved he’s among NASCAR’s all-time greats, championship or not.
2. Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) – The Opportunistic Champion
Kyle Larson poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 1st No. of Wins: 3 No. of Poles: 1 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Tied high at Hendrick with Byron No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive
Larson’s versatility and calm execution sealed his second title, leading over 1,100 laps with 15 top-fives and minimal errors. A smart two-tire call in Phoenix overtime turned Hamlin’s dominance into victory. Deserving champion, but Hamlin’s superior wins and poles make this a debated crown.
3. Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing) – The Road-Course Phenom
Shane Van Gisbergen poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 12th No. of Wins: 5 No. of Poles: 3 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Dominated road courses No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Led on twisties
In his full-season debut, SVG monopolized road courses with five wins (often by massive margins) and Rookie of the Year honors. Playoff qualifier with oval improvements, his raw talent overperformed the No. 88 Chevy—turning heads and redefining road-ring mastery.
4. Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) – The Qualifying Ace and Adapter
Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota poses for photos after winning the the Busch Light Pole Award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 3rd No. of Wins: 3 No. of Poles: 7 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Competitive No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Led JGR
Switching to JGR after replacing Truex Jr., Briscoe exploded: series-high seven poles, three wins, and a Championship 4 berth. Massive speed gains and aggression made him a breakout, dragging his team deep into the playoffs.
5. William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) – The Consistent Frontrunner
William Byron, driver of the #24 Raptor Chevrolet, spends time on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway on August 03, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 4th No. of Wins: 3 No. of Poles: 3 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Tied with Larson No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Strong
Regular-season points leader Byron claimed three wins (including back-to-back Daytona 500s) and led thousands of laps. Dominant stretches and clutch Martinsville playoff advance highlighted his evolution into a perennial threat.
6. Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) – The Clutch Closer
Ryan Blaney poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 6th No. of Wins: 4 No. of Poles: 2 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Most at Penske No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive
Blaney’s four wins included a late surge, capping with Phoenix victory. Leading 852 laps despite inconsistencies, his momentum and improvements made him Penske’s leader.
7. Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) – The Reliable Winner
Christopher Bell poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 22, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 5th No. of Wins: 4 No. of Poles: 1 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Tied high at JGR No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Solid
Bell’s four wins and series-high 22 top-10s showed reliability across tracks. Steady playoff runs positioned him as a future champion in JGR’s lineup.
8. Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) – The Resurgent Favorite
Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA/Children’s Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Echo Park Speedway on June 28, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Krista Jasso/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 8th No. of Wins: 2 No. of Poles: 0 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Solid No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive
Elliott returned strong with two wins, consistent top-10s, and playoff pushes. Balanced oval/road performance rebuilt his momentum.
9. Joey Logano (Team Penske) – The Experienced Fighter
Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Autotrader Ford, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Echo Park Speedway on June 27, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 7th No. of Wins: 1 No. of Poles: 2 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Led at times No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Strong
An “off” year for the defending champ still yielded a win and poles through savvy racing, keeping Penske competitive amid challenges.
10. Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) – The Quiet Maximizer
Tyler Reddick poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Rank in Point Standings: 9th No. of Wins: 0 No. of Poles: 2 No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Overperformed No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive
Winless but consistent with runner-ups and top-10s, Reddick extracted maximum from 23XI amid hurdles—excellent racecraft in a rebuilding effort.
2025 blended triumph, heartbreak, and emerging stars. While Larson holds the trophy, Hamlin’s dominance and SVG’s flair captured imaginations. NASCAR’s depth shines—on to 2026!
