With 21 out of 26 regular NASCAR Cup Series races completed, only five remain before the playoff field for the 2025 season is finalized. The upcoming races will feature a mix of tracks including a road course, two short tracks, a superspeedway, and a crown jewel event.
So far, 12 drivers have secured playoff spots by winning races, leaving four places still up for grabs. Several drivers are in must-watch positions, while a few others remain in contention based solely on points. Approaching the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, fans will be eyeing key drivers like Tyler Reddick, who holds a strong points position and was a Championship 4 contender last year, yet has not yet won in 2025.
Alex Bowman, nearing a playoff spot and performing well lately, represents the final guaranteed Hendrick Motorsports contender. Meanwhile, Ross Chastain of RFK Racing is steady near the cutoff line but remains vulnerable to setbacks, similar to last year’s near miss. Bubbling just outside the cutoff, Darrell “Bubba” Wallace has no margin for error and faces the challenge of ending his three-year winless streak.
Ryan Preece has consistently hovered near the cutoff throughout 2025, supported by steady performances and multiple top-20 finishes despite some recent points lost due to incidents. Another hopeful is Kyle Busch, who, despite a tough season with frequent incidents, has improved significantly in recent races and could make the playoffs if he maintains his form and avoids surprises from new winners.
Among the Joe Gibbs Racing trio, although Ty Gibbs has lagged his more successful teammates, he has shown marked improvement in the second half of the season, climbing the rankings and reaching the $1 million challenge final in 2025.
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Fan Take: This intense battle for the final playoff spots heightens the excitement for fans as the regular season winds down, showcasing the fierce competitiveness and unpredictability of NASCAR. The upcoming races at diverse tracks like the Brickyard 400 will not only test the drivers’ versatility but also shape compelling storylines for the playoffs, keeping NASCAR thrilling for its loyal fanbase.
