Because the NASCAR Truck Sequence and Xfinity Sequence put together for a return journey to Rockingham Speedway, the NASCAR Cup Sequence enters its solely off weekend of the season.
With 9 of 36 races accomplished, this is a take a look at who’s scorching and who’s not heading into the break.
Who’s scorching?
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Why not begin with the newest winner within the collection? Larson took it to the sphere at Bristol by main 411 of the five hundred laps. It was his second win of the second (Homestead) and third prime 5 within the final 4 races.
The collection’ subsequent cease at Talladega, the place Larson has by no means received in 20 makes an attempt, may current a roadblock. Other than that, it’s onerous seeing Larson slowing down anytime quickly.
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Sunday’s race at Bristol was the seventh time that Larson and Hamlin have completed first and second in a race, however the first occasion of Larson getting the higher of Hamlin.
Pretty much as good as Larson has been, Hamlin has been much more constant of late. He, too, has a pair of wins (Martinsville, Darlington) and has completed within the prime 5 every of the final 4 races. As a two-time Talladega winner, Hamlin might choose again up the place left off popping out of the break.
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Workforce Penske Ford
The general outcomes haven’t been there for Blaney in comparison with Larson and Hamlin. Nonetheless, with back-to-back fifth-place finishes and a dominant 124 laps led at Homestead earlier than his engine expired, Blaney has had as much speed as anyone in the field in latest weeks.
With some optimistic ends in consecutive weeks, Blaney heads to Talladega the place he’s a three-time winner and the most effective within the collection on superspeedways. There’s a good probability the momentum continues.
Who’s not?
Joey Logano, No. 22 Workforce Penske Ford
The defending champion has had an uncharacteristic begin to the 2025 marketing campaign. Logano’s eighth-place end at Martinsville is his solely prime 10 of the season with three finishes outdoors the highest 20.
He has led laps in 5 of the 9 races and at the moment sits ninth within the standings because of the fifth-most stage factors (70) within the collection. With the outcomes missing, one thing appears off 1 / 4 of the way in which into the season for the No. 22 bunch.
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Other than a Twenty sixth-place outcome at Atlanta, Bowman had 5 prime 10s by means of the primary six races and was in place to win Homestead till a late cost from Larson. Since that opening stretch, Bowman has completed twenty seventh or worse the final three races.
To make issues worse, he was a stable top-five automobile at Bristol earlier than his engine blew up within the last stage. This break couldn’t have come at a greater time for the No. 48 crew as they give the impression of being to reestablish that early-season kind.
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
It has been a brutal begin to the season for the veteran Keselowski. He has scored not more than 26 factors in a race, failed to steer a lap and has but to put up a end higher than eleventh (Las Vegas).
Tied for the second-most wins at Talladega (six) with Corridor of Famers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, maybe an extended overdue prime 10 ends in the type of one other win on the 2.66-mile observe.
