NASCAR's Grueling 28-Week Sprint Begins After Season's Only Break
NASCAR's 2025 Season: The Long Road to Phoenix
After the season's only break, NASCAR Cup Series teams face 28 consecutive weeks of racing until the champion is crowned in Phoenix on November 2. Here's where things stand and what to expect.
Current Leaders:
- Hendrick Motorsports: 3 wins (William Byron, Kyle Larson)
- Joe Gibbs Racing: 5 wins (Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin)
- Wood Brothers: 1 win (Josh Berry)
NASCAR race cars in action
Championship Standings Top 5:
- William Byron: 1 win, 6 top-10s, 354 laps led
- Denny Hamlin: 2 wins, 6 top-10s, 308 laps led
- Christopher Bell: 3 wins, 6 top-10s, 139 laps led
- Kyle Larson: 2 wins, 6 top-10s, 503 laps led
- Chase Elliott: 0 wins, 5 top-10s, 44 laps led
Stage Points Leaders:
- Ryan Blaney (92)
- William Byron (90)
- Bubba Wallace (78)
- Kyle Larson (72)
- Joey Logano (70)
Key Stories to Watch:
- Team Penske's consistent performance despite lack of wins
- RFK Racing's mixed results with strong showings from Buescher and Preece
- 23XI Racing's emergence with Wallace and Reddick
- Brad Keselowski's struggles (31st in standings) but strategic long-term outlook
- The importance of stage points in 2025
Stage Win Leaders:
- Kyle Larson (4)
- William Byron (3)
- Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney (2 each)
- Multiple drivers with 1 win
Looking Ahead: Next up is Talladega Superspeedway, where Ford teams traditionally excel but face strong competition from Toyota and Chevrolet. The marathon stretch ahead will test teams' endurance and consistency, with championship implications growing as the season progresses toward the Phoenix finale.