The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season was filled with unforgettable events. From Kyle Larson’s exciting win to Denny Hamlin’s heartbreaking loss, and the terrifying crashes involving Ryan Preece and others, to fierce battles wheel-to-wheel, the season delivered plenty of drama and thrills.
Here are the top 10 moments of 2025:
10. Bowman Gray made a remarkable comeback, creating an emotional atmosphere, with Elliott taking the victory.
9. Ryan Preece caused a stir at Daytona by flipping his car again during the 500-mile race but emerged uninjured. Following this, NASCAR required flap installations on the A posts to prevent cars from going airborne.
8. Denny Hamlin embraced his role as the antagonist after winning in Martinsville, proudly flying the “11 Against The World” flag.
7. William Byron, starting the final lap from 9th place, surged past Denny Hamlin after a crash among the leaders on the last lap to win the Daytona 500 for the second consecutive year.
6. In front of passionate fans in Mexico City, the Cup drivers debuted with familiar storylines: SVG’s win and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. becoming the center of the drama.
5. At Kansas, tension flared within Joe Gibbs Racing as Ty Gibbs clashed with playoff contenders and teammates Christopher Bell and Hamlin, culminating in Gibbs crashing into a wall.
4. In a thrilling four-wide finish at the Daytona fall race, Ryan Blaney claimed victory in the regular season finale, nudging out five drivers desperately trying to secure a playoff spot.
3. The Phoenix title was decided in the final two laps after overtime. Kyle Larson, who took only two tires, managed to hold on while Denny Hamlin, opting for four tires despite having the advantage, couldn’t recover—dashing Hamlin’s championship hopes.
2. Christopher Bell won at COTA by defeating Kyle Busch cleanly, avoiding aggressive tactics from previous encounters and clinching his third consecutive victory.
1. The Kansas race ended with a dramatic moment when Hamlin tangled with Bubba Wallace, allowing Chase Elliott to sneak inside and claim the win.
Bob Pockras, a veteran motorsports reporter for FOX Sports, covered this thrilling season with decades of experience and deep insight into NASCAR.
Fan Take: This incredible season highlighted the intense rivalries and unpredictable nature that keep NASCAR fans hooked. The dramatic moments and fierce competition shown in 2025 bode well for the sport’s future, promising even more excitement and passionate storytelling on the track.
