"Top 10 Narrative Threads to Track in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Season"
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is filled with numerous storylines to follow even before the cars hit the track. The fourth season of NASCAR's Next-Gen car is expected to bring a lot of parity, and every driver in the field has a unique outlook for their 2025 campaign.
Here are 10 storylines and questions to keep an eye on throughout the 38-week season.
1. Can Kyle Busch break his losing streak?
Busch is undeniably one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history, but even he is not immune to a streak of bad luck. In 2024, Busch failed to win a race for the first time in his 20-year career, and it's uncertain if his new team at Richard Childress Racing will have the speed to turn things around. However, a determined and motivated driver can be a dangerous force, and Busch will start his 21st Cup Series season by attempting to win the Daytona 500 for the first time. If he continues to struggle in 2025, there may be questions about his future in the sport.
2. Can Denny Hamlin make it back to the Championship 4?
It's been four years since Hamlin last made it to the Championship 4, and the 54-time Cup Series winner is still searching for his first championship. The changes made to his team over the offseason have raised some concerns among fans, with the loss of longtime sponsor FedEx and crew chief Chris Gabehart moving to an executive role at Joe Gibbs Racing. At 44 years old, Hamlin is also facing pressure from Father Time. It's important for him to at least make it back to the Championship 4 this season.
3. Can Ty Gibbs secure his first Cup Series win?
There is a common belief in the NASCAR industry that young drivers should start performing at a higher level after 100 starts. Ty Gibbs, who is entering his third year in the Cup Series, has already made 87 starts and was named the 2023 Cup Series Rookie of the Year. He made the playoffs for the first time in 2024, but a late-season slump was disappointing after a strong start. It was expected that Gibbs would earn his first win in 2024, but now the pressure is on for him to secure that elusive victory in 2025. The recent crew chief changes at Joe Gibbs Racing may play a role in his performance, as he will have to adapt to a new crew chief in order to find success on the track.
4. Can Chase Elliott return to championship form?
Since suffering a leg injury in 2023, Elliott has not been the same dominant force on the track that he was from 2020 to 2022. During that three-year span, he won 12 races and made the Championship 4 each season. While he did return to victory lane in 2024 after a 42-race winless streak, there is still work to be done for Elliott to get back into championship contention.
5. Who will come out on top at Hendrick Motorsports?
The battle between Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron has been one of the most underrated stories in NASCAR over the past two seasons. In that time, Larson has won 10 races to Byron's nine. Byron has also made the Championship 4 in both seasons, while Larson missed out in 2024. It's difficult to predict who will have the upper hand this season, as both drivers are incredibly talented and have top-notch equipment. Their rivalry will continue to add a new chapter to the story each week.
6. Can Ryan Blaney continue his success?
The past two seasons have been defining for Ryan Blaney's career. After winning the 2023 title, he came very close to becoming the first back-to-back champion of the playoff era. A narrow loss to Team Penske teammate Joey Logano in 2024 should provide extra motivation for Blaney to make it to the Championship 4 for the third consecutive season.
7. Spire and Front Row on the rise
In the past, Front Row Motorsports and Spire Motorsports were seen as teams that simply filled out the field with little hope of being competitive. However, both organizations have made significant improvements and now have driver lineups that could potentially make it to the playoffs. Spire boasts a three-driver lineup including Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell, 2024 Rookie of the Year Carson Hocevar, and fourth-year driver Justin Haley. Front Row is home to fourth
