Using an average of rankings between Racing America On SI’s Toby Christie and Zach Evans, here’s where all 36 full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers stand heading into this weekend’s event at Darlington Raceway.
Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
1. Ryan Blaney
Suffice to say Ryan Blaney saved the best for last, surging to the lead from 13th in the final two laps at Daytona. With a top-10 streak up to six races, no one is hotter entering the playoffs than Blaney. (Previously: 16th)
2. William Byron
William Byron, who has won the last two Daytona 500s, didn’t have his most impressive showing of the season with a 19th-place run, but considering he was put a lap down early following a pre-race penalty for an unapproved adjustment, the fact that he finished top-20, and had a fully intact car was a big accomplishment. (Previously: 3rd)
3. Chase Briscoe
It’s a superspeedway, so it may not come as a major influence to his overall rank. Still, at least Chase Briscoe was somewhat in contention for the victory in the late stages of Saturday’s event, before getting shucked out of line to finish 23rd. (Previously: 4th)
4. Christopher Bell
P13. Christopher Bell wasn’t caught up in a wreck, but he also wasn’t in contention to win the race. Whether or not you can call that a successful night on a superspeedway depends on what your past experiences have been like. Overall, a so-so night. (Previously: 6th)
5. Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson was a lightning rod on Saturday night. It seemed like every big moment began with a shove from his No. 5 Chevrolet. While debate is still ongoing about who to blame for the Lap 28 melee, Larson used his front bumper to nudge Erik Jones and Ryan Preece out of contention for the win in the closing laps, and he’d end the regular season with a sixth-place finish. (Previously: 9th)
6. Alex Bowman
After Tyler Reddick was involved in an early accident, it looked lik Alex Bowman was in the catbird seat to advance to the Playoffs. Then, disaster struck, as his night came to an end in the Big One on Lap 28. Bowman had to sweat out the rest of the race from the garage, and as Ryan Blaney won in a four-wide finish with three other drivers that could have ended Bowman’s Playoff hopes, the driver secured his place in the postseason. (Previously: 2nd)
7. Denny Hamlin
Saturday at Daytona was just another example of Denny Hamlin’s struggle on the superspeedways when it comes to the NextGen car, getting involved in ‘The Big One’ on Lap 28, and spending the rest of the night limping around the racetrack – before blowing a tire and crashing again. Luckily, the points reset, but a bad finish dropped him to sixth in regular-season points. (Previously: 5th)
8. Joey Logano
Saturday night went from good to bad in a hurry for Joey Logano. After leading 27 laps, Logano spun from the top spot exiting turn four, then got stuck in the tri-oval grass with a flat tire. What looked like a promising showing ended with Logano finishing 27th, one lap down. (Previously: 8th)
9. Daniel Suarez
Daniel Suarez has come alive in the last couple of races before the post-season, riding a top-10 streak of three races – after a seventh at Watkins Glen, a seventh at Richmond, and now a runner-up finish at Daytona. Had things played out slightly differently, the Trackhouse Racing driver could have found himself in the Playoffs. Suarez continues to make a case for why he deserves to be in the NASCAR Cup Series. (Previously: 21)
10. Chase Elliott
Despite a ton of lead changes throughout Saturday night’s race, Chase Elliott never held the top spot in the event. That being said, he was able to escape Daytona with a 10th-place effort, which had to feel like a win. (Previously: 16th)
11. Chris Buescher
The RFK Racing cars were fast on Saturday night, they just didn’t find themselves connected when it mattered most. Buescher carried the banner for RFK with a seventh-place finish on Saturday night, where all three RFK drivers were eliminated from Playoff contention. (Previously: 13th)
12. Bubba Wallace
We may never get a consensus on what happened to trigger the multi-car incident on lap 28 that ended the night for Bubba Wallace and several others. No matter how you shake it, it led to Wallace’s worst finish of the season (37th). (Previously: 7th)
13. Ross Chastain
Ross Chastain put his SafetyCulture-sponsored entry out front for seven laps on Saturday, and didn’t get caught up in an accident. So, I guess that’s a win? He did win the race’s second stage, so it was a successful night for the Trackhouse Racing driver in that respect. (Previously: 17th)
14. Austin Cindric
After the top-five at Richmond, it looked like Cindric had a chance to roar into the Playoffs with a good showing at Daytona. Instead, it ended up being more of a whimper, as he was collected in the multi-car incident on lap 28 and finished 39th. (Previously: 10th)
15. Ryan Preece
Not making the Playoffs is a gut-punch for Ryan Preece and the No. 60 RFK Racing team, but they were in position late in the race to do it until Kyle Larson nudged him to the middle lane, and hung him out to dry. Missing the Playoffs shouldn’t diminish what has been a major positive step forward for Preece’s career in 2025. (Previously: 11th)
16. Shane van Gisbergen
Shane Van Gisbergen is still new to this whole superspeedway thing in the NASCAR Cup Series. After leading six laps on the afternoon, the driver of the No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet faded to finish outside the top-15, in 16th. (Previously: 19th)
17. Brad Keselowski
There were high hopes heading into Saturday’s race at Daytona that Brad Keselowski could complete his rally with a Playoff-berth-securing win. That never materialized, and Keselowski, while he was near the front most of the race, never took the lead, and never looked like serious threat to win and he finished 18th. (Previously: 12th)
18. Tyler Reddick
An early crash nearly jeopardized the night- and possibly the season – for Tyler Reddick, but he recovered to finish 21st and ensure he was one of two drivers to reach the Playoffs on points. Fortunately, the multi-car incident that followed and eliminated Alex Bowman relieved some of those potential tensions for Reddick. (Previously: 14th)
19. Austin Dillon
A 24th-place finish isn’t sexy, but Austin Dillon walked out of Daytona with a lead-lap finish, and he didn’t make any enemies along the way, which should set him up with a decent shot in the opening round of the Playoffs. (Previously: 15th)
20. Josh Berry
Josh Berry carries back-to-back top-10 finishes into the postseason after a ninth-place finish at Daytona. It may not have been a repeat of the win for the No. 21 team one year ago, but it’s a solid trend going into the Southern 500 as Berry begins his first playoff run. (Previously: 22nd)
21. Ty Gibbs
An eighth-place finish is a solid run for Ty Gibbs, but it wasn’t a victory, meaning that he will be the only driver of the four-car Joe Gibbs Racing team not to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The final 10 races of the year are now all about finding a spark (and maybe a checkered flag) for the No. 54 team. (Previously: 23rd)
22. Michael McDowell
Needing a win to make the playoffs, Michael McDowell stayed aggressive throughout the night, led some laps, and kept himself in the mix, particularly in the first half. However, the veteran finished 12th at the end of Saturday’s race, dashing his postseason hopes. (Previously: 25th)
23. Carson Hocevar
Shortly after halfway, Carson Hocevar’s car stopped on track with an engine issue, ending his night. His search for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory continues. (Previously: 18th)
24. Erik Jones
Man, those STP and Petty Blue colors looked great, and they were up front for the majority of the night. In the closing laps, Jones was right where he needed to be to score a win. Unfortunately, he was schucked by Kyle Larson in the closing laps. Still, Jones battled back for a fifth-place finish. (Previously: 27th)
25. Kyle Busch
For the second straight season, Kyle Busch will not be part of the Playoffs as he was one of the many drivers swept up in a Lap 28 crash. Now, Busch will focus on trying to end his career-long winless drought in the final 10 races of the season. (Previously: 20th)
26. Cole Custer
Cole Custer, for the second straight race at Daytona, found himself within a whisker of winning a NASCAR Cup Series event, but had it all taken away on the final lap. After riding the third lane from outside the top-10 into the race-lead, the Haas Factory Team driver finished fourth, coming up just short of the race-win in a four-wide photo finish. (Previously: 32nd)
27. John Hunter Nemechek
The No. 42 lagged behind his teammate in the No. 43 all race long, but in the end, John Hunter Nemechek got a respectable 17th-place finish. The decent season continues for the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB driver. (Previously: 29th)
28. AJ Allmendinger
A.J. Allmendinger fell off the pace with what appeared to be an engine miss, finishing 26th, one lap down. Allmendinger hoped to avenge an early exit during the Daytona 500 earlier this year, but it wasn’t meant to be. (Previously: 24th)
29. Justin Haley
Justin Haley nearly recaptured the magic of his Daytona summer win in 2019, battling for the lead all the way to the finish. Unfortunately for Haley, it wasn’t meant to be, as he finished third in the four-wide finish to Daytona. (Previously: 33rd)
30. Todd Gilliland
Todd Gilliland nearly saw his evening come to an early end after an incident with Tyler Reddick in the first stage, but after making no contact, he was able to work his Grillo’s Pickles machine back into the top-12, finishing 11th. These are the results the No. 34 is looking to make a consistent thing in the final 10 races of the season. (Previously: 31st)
31. Zane Smith
Zane Smith, like his teammate Noah Gragson, has been riding the bad luck train all season, and it prevented the No. 38 Ford Mustang from competing for a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, after getting hooked in a Lap 28 accident. Frustrating way to end the regular season for the Huntington Beach, California-native. (Previously: 26th)
32. Ty Dillon
Ty Dillon led nine laps in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 before finishing 22nd on Saturday at Daytona. He’ll hope to build on a 16th-place finish in the spring Darlington race when the series returns to the Lady in Black next week. (Previously: 28th)
33. Cody Ware
After what was possibly one of the best races of his NASCAR Cup Series career, Cody Ware moves out of the basement in the rankings this week. The driver led a career-high 23 laps, and finished top-20. (Previously: 36th)
34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Things just continue to unravel for Stenhouse and HYAK Motorsports. At one point, this team was in post-season contention, but has struggled to put ANYTHING together this summer, resulting in a poor points position. Daytona was definitely an opportunity for the No. 47 team to reclaim its season, but an early wreck prevented that from materializing. (Previously: 30th)
35. Noah Gragson
Saturday was probably one of the best opportunities for Noah Gragson to earn a berth into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Instead, the No. 4 Zep Ford Mustang found himself out of the race before the end of the first stage. The bad luck for the Front Row Motorsports team has been relentless this season. (Previously: 34th)
36. Riley Herbst
The regular season ends on a down note for Riley Herbst during his rookie season. Like so many other, he was involved in the lap 28 incident, and Herbst was credited with last place in the 40-car field. (Previously: 35th)
FOX Sports paid a touching tribute to the NASCAR icon Greg Biffle during the Carolina Panthers’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On Sunday, the Panthers took a significant step toward winning the NFC South by securing a 23-20 victory over the Buccaneers, improving to 8-7. Bryce Young completed 21 of 32 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns in a crucial win.
But coverage of the showdown was interrupted as FOX decided to pay tribute to Biffle. The NASCAR favorite tragically died on Thursday in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport. FOX paid tribute during its live NFL coverage, after Terry Bradshaw was forced to duck for cover in a chaotic moment during Saturday’s special show.
Biffle, along with his wife, Cristina, and two children, perished in the horrific crash. During the Panthers game, broadcaster Chris Myers honored Biffle by highlighting his fine work off the track as well as his fine career.
“Greg Biffle, a NASCAR legend who had career success at all three levels of the sport, did great humanitarian work, died this past Thursday in a plane crash with his family,” Myers said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him, the NASCAR family, and all friends.”
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Biffle raced for 16 seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series. He earned 19 wins competing in an era with the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson.
The 55-year-old was supposed to fly with his family to the Bahamas, although a stop was scheduled in Sarasota, FL. The plane instead was attempting to re-land at the Statesville airport in North Carolina, around 40 miles away from Charlotte. The crash occurred around 10:20 AM ET.
The mother of Biffle’s wife, Cathy Grossu, told PEOPLE magazine what her last texts with her daughter, Cristina, were. Cathy revealed: “She texted me from the plane, and she said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And that was it. So we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted.
DON’T MISS
“To think that they would be killed on a birthday trip, that was just such a fun time for the family. And to see the horrific way that it ended, it’s just, it is so hard to bear. I cannot believe they’re gone.
“I don’t remember what the last words that I said to my daughter or to Greg or to my precious Ryder (her granddaughter). I don’t remember. I know we hugged, but I don’t remember those last words, and that’s going to haunt me. But they were happy.”
Not many NASCAR drivers can say they retired on a win — but the Late, Great Greg Biffle can. Biffle made his NASCAR debut in the Busch Series in 1996, driving part-time before moving to the Truck Series in 1998.
He later progressed to full-time Cup Series competition, building a highly successful career across all three national series. Biffle won titles in the Truck and Xfinity series and nearly completed the Grand Slam in 2005, finishing second in the Cup. The North Carolinian won a total of 56 races across NASCAR’s three national series during his career: 19 in the Cup Series, 20 in the Xfinity (Busch) Series, and 17 in the Craftsman Truck Series.
He retired from full-time competition after the 2019 season, but won his last-ever NASCAR race, the Truck event in Texas at the SpeedyCash.com 400. It was Biffle’s first Truck win in 15 years. On Thursday, Biffle, his wife Cristina, and two of his children, Emma, 14, and Ryder, 5, were four of seven killed in a tragic plane crash in Statesville, NC.
A preliminary report is expected within 30 days from the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation. Three of the people on board, including former stock car racer Biffle, had their pilot’s license.
Collection and documentation of the crash will take place, and investigators will begin to piece together what went wrong. A central focus of the investigation will be locating and analyzing the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which captures all sounds inside the cockpit. Once recovered, the device will be sent to a laboratory in Washington, D.C. for examination.
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Greg Biffle raced in his last-ever NASCAR race in 2019, driving the No. 51 in the Truck Series for the June 7 SpeedyCash.com 400.
Biffle, who tragically died on Thursday in a horror plane crash in Statesville, NC, had retired from full-time NASCAR racing in 2016 after two decades in the sport.
The NASCAR legend won two NASCAR national series Truck and Xfinity titles — but fell short in the Cup, finishing second in 2005.
Those also killed this week were his wife, Cristina, daughter, Emma, son, Ryder, and three others.
The Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) Season 2 concluded in spectacular fashion with a historic Grand Finale at the EMS Corporation Stadium, Calicut. Megastar and ISRL Brand Ambassador Salman Khan was present on ground, adding star power to an electrifying night of high-octane racing and live entertainment, as per a release. The finale witnessed a record-breaking turnout of over 32,000 fans, marking the highest-ever attendance for a motorsporting event in India and reinforcing Kerala’s strong connection with motorsport and large-scale live sporting experiences, the release said.
Amid roaring crowds and intense on-track action, Team Bigrock Motorsports were crowned ISRL Season 2 Champions, capping off a fiercely competitive championship that unfolded across Pune, Hyderabad and Calicut. The season showcased a compelling blend of international excellence and emerging Indian talent.
The Calicut round delivered thrilling racing across all categories. Matt Moss from team BigRock Motorsports (Australia) claimed victory in the 450cc International class aboard the Kawasaki KX 450, while Calvin Fonvieille from team Apollo Indewheelers (France) dominated the 250cc International category on the Yamaha YZ 250. The 250cc India-Asia Mix class was won by Delvinator Alfarizi (Thailand) riding the KTM 250 SX – F, drawing thunderous applause from the packed stadium.
Megastar Salman Khan, Brand Ambassador, ISRL, said, “Watching the Grand Finale in Calicut was truly special. The passion of the fans and the intensity of competition show how far Indian motorsport has come. ISRL is creating a platform where Indian riders can compete confidently alongside the world’s best,” as quoted from a release.
Reflecting on the season, Veer Patel, Managing Director, ISRL, said, “Season 2 reflects the growing belief in Supercross across India. From Pune to Hyderabad and now Calicut, the record-breaking fan response shows the sport has truly found a home here, while we continue building strong pathways for Indian riders alongside world-class racing.”
Over the course of Season 2, 36 international riders from 21 countries, including Australia, France, the USA, Germany, Thailand and South Africa, competed alongside India’s top riders such as Rugved Barguje, Ikshan Shanbhag, Prajwal Vishwanath and Shlok Ghorpade, highlighting ISRL’s growing global stature, as per the release.
Beyond the races, the Reise Moto ISRL Fan Park transformed EMS Corporation Stadium into a complete motorsport festival, featuring live music, racing simulators, interactive brand zones, food experiences, merchandise and rider interactions, creating an immersive fan experience for families and enthusiasts alike.
With Season 2 concluding on a historic high, the Indian Supercross Racing League now looks ahead to expanding its footprint, strengthening grassroots development and further positioning India on the global Supercross map.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Drag Racing with CHRISTMAS TREES! Racing Action From Cleetus McFarland’s XMAS Tree Drags 2025 At Bradenton Motorsports Park
Dec 21, 2025Chad Reynolds1320 Event Coverage, 1320 Spotlight, 1320 Videos, BangShift 1320, RACING & ACTION, Videos
Cleetus’ Christmas Tree Race 2025 was a very special race. The race has become kind of a big deal since starting a few years ago, and has some pretty simple rules. You must race with a Christmas Tree on or in your vehicle, it must be a minimum of 6 feet tall, it can’t fall off, and you have to have lights on it. Simple right? Well…
Video Description:
We wrapped up Cleetus McFarland’s XMAS Tree Drags 2025, following the entire event from start to finish. This video covers every round from the OG 32-car field all the way through the Elite 8 — the fastest cars on the property — right down to the finals.
Cleetus lined up in both Mullet and Leroy, alongside a stacked field of big-name cars and a few surprise entries we hadn’t seen before. From first-round shakeups to the final matchups, this one delivered nonstop action.
FREE LIVE DRAG RACING: The 4th Annual Christmas On The Coast Jr. Dragster Races From Gulfport Dragway – Saturday
Calicut (Kerala) [India], December 21 (ANI): The Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) Season 2 concluded in spectacular fashion with a historic Grand Finale at the EMS Corporation Stadium, Calicut. Megastar and ISRL Brand Ambassador Salman Khan was present on ground, adding star power to an electrifying night of high-octane racing and live entertainment, as per a release.
The finale witnessed a record-breaking turnout of over 32,000 fans, marking the highest-ever attendance for a motorsporting event in India and reinforcing Kerala’s strong connection with motorsport and large-scale live sporting experiences, the release said.
Amid roaring crowds and intense on-track action, Team Bigrock Motorsports were crowned ISRL Season 2 Champions, capping off a fiercely competitive championship that unfolded across Pune, Hyderabad and Calicut. The season showcased a compelling blend of international excellence and emerging Indian talent.
The Calicut round delivered thrilling racing across all categories. Matt Moss from team BigRock Motorsports (Australia) claimed victory in the 450cc International class aboard the Kawasaki KX 450, while Calvin Fonvieille from team Apollo Indewheelers (France) dominated the 250cc International category on the Yamaha YZ 250. The 250cc India-Asia Mix class was won by Delvinator Alfarizi (Thailand) riding the KTM 250 SX – F, drawing thunderous applause from the packed stadium.
Megastar Salman Khan, Brand Ambassador, ISRL, said, “Watching the Grand Finale in Calicut was truly special. The passion of the fans and the intensity of competition show how far Indian motorsport has come. ISRL is creating a platform where Indian riders can compete confidently alongside the world’s best,” as quoted from a release.
Reflecting on the season, Veer Patel, Managing Director, ISRL, said, “Season 2 reflects the growing belief in Supercross across India. From Pune to Hyderabad and now Calicut, the record-breaking fan response shows the sport has truly found a home here, while we continue building strong pathways for Indian riders alongside world-class racing.”
Over the course of Season 2, 36 international riders from 21 countries, including Australia, France, the USA, Germany, Thailand and South Africa, competed alongside India’s top riders such as Rugved Barguje, Ikshan Shanbhag, Prajwal Vishwanath and Shlok Ghorpade, highlighting ISRL’s growing global stature, as per the release.
Beyond the races, the Reise Moto ISRL Fan Park transformed EMS Corporation Stadium into a complete motorsport festival, featuring live music, racing simulators, interactive brand zones, food experiences, merchandise and rider interactions, creating an immersive fan experience for families and enthusiasts alike.
With Season 2 concluding on a historic high, the Indian Supercross Racing League now looks ahead to expanding its footprint, strengthening grassroots development and further positioning India on the global Supercross map. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
Tragedy Strikes: NTSB Launches Deep Investigation into Fatal Greg Biffle Plane Crash
In a devastating turn of events, the aviation world was rocked last Thursday when NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, his family, and three others tragically lost their lives in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now on a mission to uncover the harrowing details behind this catastrophic incident, with a press conference held Saturday shedding some light on the ongoing investigation.
NTSB Board Member Michael Graham and Investigator-In-Charge Dan Baker addressed the media, but the information was limited as the investigation is still in its infancy. “We still do not know the circumstances which led the aircraft … to attempt to return to the airport,” Graham stated, emphasizing the urgent need to piece together the events that led to this heart-wrenching disaster.
One chilling revelation from the conference was a text message exchange between Biffle’s wife, Cristian Grossu Biffle, and her mother, Cathy Grossu. Cathy recounted the harrowing moments leading up to the crash: “Then she said something like ‘We’re in trouble, emergency landing.’ And I texted back, ‘What’s wrong with the plane?’” The gravity of the situation escalated when Cathy received an SOS alert, signaling a dire emergency. Graham confirmed that the NTSB is aware of this critical communication, stating, “We are not aware of any other communications from passengers on board the aircraft to those on the ground.”
As investigators delve deeper, the question of who was at the controls during the crucial moments of the flight remains unanswered. Both Greg Biffle and his companions, Dennis and Jack Dutton, were licensed pilots. Graham noted, “We do anticipate that all the information about all the pilot-rated occupants will be included in our preliminary report.” This report is expected within 30 days, but the agency’s final analysis could take up to 18 months.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the pilot’s identity, Graham revealed that the NTSB has a “degree of confidence” about the individual in the left seat, although verification is still required. He stressed the importance of accuracy in the investigation: “We want to know where everyone was sitting, and that is a little more difficult in a crash like this.”
In a shocking update, Graham shared that early indications from multiple sources suggest the aircraft was stable and configured for landing with its lights on. However, it was flying dangerously low. This crucial information aligns with the physical evidence found at the crash site, including debris located approximately 1800 feet from the runway threshold.
The investigation is ramping up as the NTSB meticulously documents the wreckage, evaluates the flight voice recorder, and analyzes various components. “All of these are being sent to NTSB recorders labs in Washington, D.C.,” Graham explained, highlighting the importance of recovering critical data to determine the probable cause of this tragedy.
Amidst the chaos, a drone was deployed to assist in the investigation, although high winds initially hampered its operations. As conditions improved on Saturday, the team was able to resume their efforts to gather evidence from the crash site.
With so many unanswered questions and the clock ticking, the NTSB is committed to uncovering the truth behind the demise of Greg Biffle and his companions. As the agency continues its exhaustive investigation, the families and fans of those lost are left grappling with the profound loss and searching for closure in this heartbreaking saga.
