The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has officially kicked off. The iconic Daytona 500 will mark the start of a 36-race schedule spread over 38 weeks. There will be a single All-Star race in May, and races will occur only once each weekend throughout the season. The All-Star event is set for April 20th, coinciding with Easter weekend. Following that, the top-tier NASCAR series will compete 28 times in 28 consecutive weeks.
Before the season begins, here’s what you need to know about championship favorites and playoff contenders: Comprehensive coverage of driver changes is included to keep fans updated.
Joey Logano’s Odd-Year Pattern
Logano secured his third Cup Series championship after winning the fourth race of the season in November and triumphing in the 2024 finale. His titles came in 2018, 2022, and 2024. Interestingly, Logano tends to qualify for races mostly in even-numbered years. Since 2014, his points finishes in even-numbered years have been notably strong, while his odd-year rankings varied. Look out for Logano as a serious contender for the 2026 championship.
Will Someone Match Him as a Repeat Champion?
Logano occupies unique ground as the only active driver with multiple Cup Series titles. With Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement from full-time racing, only four other active drivers hold Cup titles: Brad Keselowski (2012), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Larson (2021), and Ryan Blaney (2023). All four have strong chances to claim a second Cup Series championship. They have already secured playoff spots, with three of them finishing within the top seven in points last season.
Who’s the Best Candidate for Their First Championship?
The top picks for first-time champions include Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick. Byron and Reddick have previously made the finale, while Bell was poised for his third straight title challenge before NASCAR’s recent dominance in the postseason. Denny Hamlin is also often in this conversation. The three-time Daytona 500 winner surpassed Mark Martin for the most wins without a Cup Series title but hasn’t made the title race since 2021. Now, Hamlin enters 2025 with a new crew chief and lacking a longtime sponsor, raising questions about potential impacts on his performance.
NASCAR’s New Television Deal
The broadcast landscape for the Cup Series is changing with Amazon joining Fox and NBC as rights holders, while TNT will cease broadcasts. Fox will carry the first 12 races, Amazon Prime will air five, TNT five, and NBC the final 14 races. Amazon will also stream practice and qualifying for 16 races. The CW will cover the entire Xfinity series season, while Fox’s main network continues airing the Truck Series. Fans without access to multiple channels or Amazon Prime will find limited antenna broadcasts, with only eight of the 36 points races available on the main Fox or NBC channels, and none in May, June, or July.
Schedule Adjustments
The schedule includes a new race at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, marking the Cup Series’ debut at this track though the Xfinity Series has raced there before. Watkins Glen returns to its August date, Homestead moves out of the playoffs, and Talladega is now the third playoff race. Although Homestead traditionally hosts the title race, it will hold its sixth race on March 23rd this season.
Playoff Predictions
Drivers like Logano, Bell, Blaney, Byron, Elliott, Hamlin, Larson, and Reddick are strong playoff locks. Chase Briscoe, in his first season with Joe Gibbs Racing, and Brad Keselowski with teammate Chris Buescher are expected to be contenders. With five spots left in the 16-driver playoff field, Josh Berry, Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs, and Alex Bowman are strong candidates. The final spot is likely to go to Kyle Busch, even though the team lost playoff momentum after Austin Dillon’s Richmond win in 2024.
Championship Outlook
The top four contenders are Bell, Blaney, Elliott, and Larson. Larson is a preseason favorite, but the prediction leans toward Bell capturing his first Cup Series title, which would also be the first driver championship for Toyota since 2019.
Fan Take: This season promises exciting shifts with new venues and a fresh broadcast lineup that could broaden NASCAR’s reach. For fans, watching emerging talents challenge veterans like Logano adds a fresh dynamic that could redefine the sport’s competitive landscape.
