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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.

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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.

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

The entry list for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, which is now just over a month and a half away, is slowly but surely coming together.

In addition to the 36 chartered cars that are locked into the 68th running of the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona Beach, Florida oval, three non-chartered (open) cars have also been confirmed.

Justin Allgaier is set to drive the No. 40 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, B.J. McLeod is set to drive the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports, and Jimmie Johnson is set to drive the No. 84 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club.

There are four spots open in the 40-car field, though that number could be increased to five if somebody (likely Johnson) is granted a world-class driver provisional and does not manage to successfully qualify either on speed or his Duel result.

Regardless, there will likely be multiple drivers sent home from the Duel races disappointed, as there are still expected to be five more cars added to the entry list between now and February, setting up a battle between eight drivers for either four or five spots. However, four cars once considered potential entries will likely not be a part of that battle.

Here’s a look at four possible Daytona 500 entries that are unlikely to return in 2026.

No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

For the first time since 2023, Trackhouse Racing brought back their PROJECT91 program for the 2025 Daytona 500, fielding the No. 91 Chevrolet for Helio Castroneves. Castroneves locked into the race via the world-class driver provisional, making the Daytona 500 the first since 1993 to feature exactly 41 cars.

PROJECT91 did not return for the rest of the 2025 season, and it is unlikely to be back for the season opener next year, as the Justin Marks-owned team aim to place full focus on their three-car full-time lineup.

No. 01/No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford

Rick Ware Racing expanded to two cars for four races in 2025, each race for Corey LaJoie as he drove the No. 01 Ford. That schedule included the Daytona 500 and two other superspeedway races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, plus the spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway. It did not include any races during the second half of the season.

A second entry has not been completely ruled out by the team for 2026, but it is unlikely to make an appearance at Daytona, ever after LaJoie was competitive and led laps in 2025.

No. 50 Team AmeriVet Chevrolet

Team AmeriVet (formerly The Money Team Racing) have quietly competed in the NASCAR Cup Series for four consecutive years, though they have not competed in the Daytona 500 since over a year before their 2024 rebrand.

This underdog team still managed to qualify for the race in both of their previous attempts back in 2022 and 2023, but they are unlikely to make a third attempt this coming February.

No. 56 Tricon Garage Toyota

Tricon Garage did what JR Motorsports did in 2025 by moving up to the Cup Series for the first time and making their debut in the Daytona 500. They did so with Martin Truex Jr. behind the wheel of the No. 56 Toyota. but Truex is not expected back in 2026.

Additionally, Corey Heim, who won the Truck Series championship for the team in 2025, is expected to run a fourth 23XI Racing entry, so a Tricon Garage return for the “Great American Race” has been all but ruled out.

Expected Daytona 500 entry list additions: No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet, No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota

Aaron Rodgers delivered the “gift of horsepower” to this offensive lineman.

The Steelers quarterback purchased each of his protectors a Can-Am Maverick side-by-side vehicle for Christmas. 

Rodgers’ generosity was documented Thursday on TikTok and Instagram by Mosite Motorsports, which showed the future Hall of Famer riding next to his linemen in the off-road vehicles outside the Steelers’ practice facility.

What’s Happening?

It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and winning to make it to the NASCAR Cup Series, and the 36 full-time drivers slated to take on the series championship in 2026 are no different. Here are all the notable accolades, race wins, and championships boasted by the 2026 Cup Series lineup.

Crown Jewel Wins

The four Crown Jewel races tell the NASCAR Cup Series season in four parts. Starting with the season-opening Daytona 500, moving to the start of the summer with the Coca-Cola 600, finishing the summer with the Brickyard 400, and starting the run to the championship with the Southern 500.

Former Daytona 500 Champions

• No. 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske
• No. 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing
• No. 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing
• No. 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske
• No. 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports
• No. 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Hyak Motorsports
• No. 71 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports

Former Coca-Cola 600 Champions

• No. 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing
• No. 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing
• No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
• No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
• No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
• No. 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing
• No. 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske
• No. 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing

Former Brickyard 400 Champions

• No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
• No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
• No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
• No. 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing

Former Southern 500 Champions

• No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
• No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
• No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
• No. 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing
• No. 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing
• No. 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club

Lower Division Champions

NASCAR’s lower divisions include racing on short tracks in select areas of the country, all the way up to racing on the high banks of Daytona in the ARCA Menards Series. In an ever-changing world, these drivers prove that winning at even NASCAR’s lowest levels can turn into a successful career at the top.

ARCA Menards Series

• No. 10 | Ty Dillon | Kaulig Racing
• No. 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing
• No. 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing
• No. 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing

ARCA Menards Series East

• No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
• No. 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske
• No. 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports

ARCA Menards Series West

• No. 34 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

• No. 60 | Ryan Preece | RFK Racing

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champions

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is NASCAR’s lowest National Series. Though the competition may not be as deep as the NASCAR Cup Series garage, the Truck Series makes young drivers prove their worth against underdogs, up-and-comers, and salty veterans.

Former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champions

• No. 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing
• No. 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing
• No. 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports
• No. 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Champions

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is often viewed as the final step before achieving NASCAR Cup Series glory. Though drivers can prove their worth just by winning in the series, a championship shows that you are ready for whatever the sport has to throw at you at the very top.

Former NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Champions

• No. 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske
• No. 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing
• No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
• No. 7 | Daniel Suarez | Spire Motorsports
• No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
• No. 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing
• No. 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports
• No. 41 | Cole Custer | Haas Factory Team
• No. 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing
• No. 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Hyak Motorsports
• No. 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing

NASCAR Cup Series Champions

The NASCAR Cup Series is the big dance, a 36-race grind in a field of drivers battling it out for the right to be champion. The drivers on this list are future Hall of Famers, living legends, and the names that currently serve as the backbone of the Cup Series garage.

Former NASCAR Cup Series Champions

• No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
• No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
• No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
• No. 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports
• No. 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske
• No. 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske

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