NASCAR News: The 2025 playoffs now begin

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season concluded with a thrilling finale at Daytona International Speedway on August 23, locking in the 16-driver playoff field that will battle for the Bill France Cup over the next 10 races.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Ryan Blaney’s victory in the Coke Zero Sugar 400, his second win of the season, sealed the postseason lineup, leaving fans buzzing with anticipation as the championship chase kicks off at Darlington Raceway on August 31.

The Road to the Playoff

The 26-race regular season showcased a mix of dominance, resilience, and last-minute heroics. Fourteen drivers earned automatic playoff berths with race wins, a testament to NASCAR’s “win and you’re in” philosophy. Leading the charge are powerhouses like Denny Hamlin and Shane van Gisbergen, each with four victories, alongside Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell with three apiece. William Byron and Blaney each notched two wins, while Chase Elliott, Chase Briscoe, Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Josh Berry, and Austin Dillon rounded out the win-based qualifiers with one triumph each.

The final two spots hinged on points, with Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman clinching their places in a dramatic Daytona showdown. Reddick, despite an early crash, held on after Bowman’s race-ending incident on Lap 27, securing the 14th spot. Bowman, battered but playoff-bound in 16th, survived the chaos thanks to Blaney’s win, which prevented a new winner from stealing his berth. Drivers like Chris Buescher, Ryan Preece, and Kyle Busch fell just short, their hopes dashed by the unpredictable superspeedway finish.

The Playoff Grid

The playoff field reflects a blend of established stars and emerging talents, with Hendrick Motorsports leading the pack. Kyle Larson and William Byron top the seeding with 32 playoff points each, tied after a stellar regular season where Byron claimed the title but Larson edged him with an extra win. Denny Hamlin follows with 29 points, buoyed by his four victories, while Blaney’s Daytona triumph earned him 26 points. Christopher Bell (23 points), van Gisbergen (22), and Chase Elliott (13) round out the top seven, showcasing a mix of consistency and flair.

Further down, Briscoe (10 points), Wallace (8), Cindric (8), Chastain (7), Logano (7), Berry (6), Reddick (6), Dillon (5), and Bowman (2) complete the grid. The tight points spread among the lower seeds promises fierce competition, with Reddick and Bowman starting as underdogs after narrowly avoiding elimination.

Pos	Driver	Team	Points	Wins
1	Kyle Larson	Hendrick	2032	3
2	William Byron	Hendrick	2032	2
3	Denny Hamlin	Joe Gibbs	2029	4
4	Ryan Blaney	Penske	2026	2
5	Christopher Bell	Joe Gibbs	2023	3
6	Shane van Gisbergen	Trackhouse	2022	4
7	Chase Elliott	Hendrick	2013	1
8	Chase Briscoe	Joe Gibbs	2010	1
9	Bubba Wallace	23XI	2008	1
10	Austin Cindric	Penske	2008	1
11	Ross Chastain	Trackhouse	2007	1
12	Joey Logano	Penske	2007	1
13	Josh Berry	Wood Brothers	2006	1
14	Tyler Reddick	23XI	2006	0
15	Austin Dillon	Richard Childress	2005	1
16	Alex Bowman	Hendrick	2002	0

Team and Manufacturer Strength

Hendrick Motorsports flexed its muscle with four drivers—Larson, Byron, Elliott, and Bowman—while Team Penske counters with Blaney, Cindric, and Logano. Joe Gibbs Racing brings Hamlin, Bell, and Briscoe, and Trackhouse Racing’s van Gisbergen and Chastain add a wildcard element. 23XI Racing’s Wallace and Reddick, co-owned by Hamlin and Michael Jordan, bring intensity, while Wood Brothers Racing’s Berry and Richard Childress Racing’s Dillon add depth. Chevrolet, Toyota, and Ford are all well-represented, setting the stage for a heated manufacturer battle.

Storylines to Watch

The playoffs promise drama from the outset. Can multi-win drivers like Hamlin and van Gisbergen maintain their momentum, or will consistent performers like Larson and Byron seize control? Underdogs Berry, Dillon, and Wallace, with little to lose, could shake up the field, while van Gisbergen’s rookie success adds an international twist. The elimination rounds—culminating at Phoenix Raceway on November 2—will test endurance, strategy, and luck, with the Round of 16 (Darlington, Kansas, Bristol), Round of 12 (Texas, Talladega, Charlotte Roval), and Round of 8 (Las Vegas, Homestead, Martinsville) reducing the field to four.

The Journey Begins

As the Cook Out Southern 400 at Darlington looms, the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are poised to deliver edge-of-your-seat racing. With a field this deep and diverse, every lap will count, and the championship remains anyone’s to claim. Fans can expect a season finale filled with surprises, as the battle for supremacy unfolds over the next 10 weeks.