The Top 10 Moments of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Season
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series delivered a thrilling mix of dominance, heartbreak, international expansion, and playoff chaos, culminating in Kyle Larson’s second career championship. Larson overcame a challenging season to edge out Denny Hamlin in a dramatic Phoenix finale, becoming the 18th multi-time champion while denying Hamlin his elusive first title.
With road-course mastery from Shane van Gisbergen, repeat Daytona glory for William Byron, and record-setting finishes, here are the top 10 most unforgettable moments of the year.
1. Kyle Larson’s Dramatic Championship Win at Phoenix
In a heart-stopping finale, Larson claimed his second Cup title without leading a single lap in the race. A late caution caused by William Byron’s flat tire flipped the script, allowing Larson’s two-tire strategy to propel him to third behind race winner Ryan Blaney—enough to seal the championship over a devastated Denny Hamlin, who had dominated until the final laps.
2. William Byron Repeats as Daytona 500 Winner
Byron became just the fifth driver in history to win back-to-back Daytona 500s, threading through a massive last-lap wreck triggered by contact between Cole Custer and Denny Hamlin. Starting from ninth on the final restart, Byron emerged victorious in overtime, joining legends like Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough in the repeat club.
3. Shane van Gisbergen’s Historic Mexico City Domination
In NASCAR’s first points-paying international race in decades, SVG delivered a masterclass at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, winning by a staggering 16.567 seconds—the largest margin of the season. It kicked off his road-course sweep, securing Rookie of the Year and five wins in his full-time debut.
4. Christopher Bell’s Early-Season Hot Streak
Bell kicked off the year with three consecutive victories—at EchoPark Speedway, Circuit of The Americas, and Phoenix—marking the longest win streak in the Next Gen era. His dominance set the tone for a competitive season before fading in the playoffs.
5. The Wild Kansas Playoff Finish
A chaotic overtime restart saw intense Toyota infighting and daring passes, reshaping the playoff picture. The race featured one of the season’s most controversial and pivotal battles, highlighting the high-stakes drama of the elimination format.
6. Chase Elliott’s Last-Lap Pass at EchoPark Speedway
Elliott snapped a lengthy winless streak with a thrilling last-lap maneuver at his home track (formerly Atlanta), delighting a sold-out crowd and marking his first multi-win season since 2022.
7. Josh Berry’s Breakthrough First Win at Las Vegas
In just his 53rd Cup start and fifth with Wood Brothers Racing, Berry charged from the pack to claim his maiden victory, delivering the storied team its first win in years and one of the season’s biggest upsets.
8. Ty Gibbs Wins the Inaugural In-Season Challenge Million
Gibbs outlasted the field in NASCAR’s new bracket-style tournament, clinching a $1 million bonus by finishing ahead of Ty Dillon in the Brickyard 400 decider after a series of strong performances.
9. Chase Briscoe’s Back-to-Back Southern 500 Triumphs
Briscoe dominated Darlington’s crown jewel for the second straight year, leading 309 of 367 laps to advance in the playoffs and solidify his contender status.
10. Ryan Blaney’s Nail-Biting Regular-Season Finale at Daytona
Blaney capped the regular season with a photo-finish victory featuring the closest top-four margin in series history (0.049 seconds), locking in crucial playoff points amid four-wide chaos.
The 2025 season also saw airborne crashes prompting new safety flaps, Denny Hamlin’s villainous “11 Against The World” flag celebrations, and ongoing debates over the playoff format. With 14 different winners and international flair, it was a year of evolution and edge-of-your-seat racing that set the stage for even more in 2026.