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Articles by Bryan Gable
What is a NASCAR Champion Anymore?
The conclusion to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season should have been a celebration. It should have been a moment that honored the series champion for an entire body of excellent work. But as the sun set over Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 4, evening, the aftermath of the Cup Series championship race felt flatter than one of the many tires that had blown out all afternoon. That is not to take away from what Kyle Larson, the No. 5 team and Hendrick Motorsports accomplished.
Martinsville Rejuvenates Hendrick Motorsports
Just when you thought Hendrick Motorsports was down and out in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, the team made the most of its trip to Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 26. William Byron dominated the race, leading 304 laps and prevailing in a late-race duel over Ryan Blaney. The victory clinched Byron’s place in the Championship 4, and Kyle Larson took the last available transfer spot, scoring more points than Christopher Bell to keep his championship hopes alive.
Front Row Motorsports’ Season of Struggles
As the NASCAR Cup Series season approaches its conclusion, most attention typically shifts toward the battle for the championship. Storylines about teams that do not make it to the playoffs tend to get lost in the shuffle. But before 2025 wraps up, it is worth examining what happened with Front Row Motorsports this season, and why a team that appeared to be poised for a breakout has mostly struggled. Front Row Motorsports had reason to be optimistic going into 2025.
Bad Decisions Set the Round of 8
For the second week in a row, a NASCAR Cup Series race ended with a stunning conclusion. It was not the battle for the win this time, as Shane van Gisbergen ran away with his fifth victory of the season and his first at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. But far behind him, Joey Logano and Ross Chastain’s battle for the last transfer spot in the playoffs came down to the last corner of the last lap.
Will Distractions Derail Denny Hamlin’s Championship Hopes?
After his victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, Denny Hamlin ordered that his detractors get on the bandwagon or get out of the way. Three weeks later, after a close loss at Kansas Speedway, Hamlin, unusually, was at a loss for words. Hamlin had the best car of the afternoon, leading 159 of the 273 laps. But late in the race, problems started to pile up. With 50 to go in the scheduled distance, Hamlin reported an issue with his power steering.
23XI Racing Needs a Turnaround
Sunday’s (Sept. 21) NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway turned into a tale of teammates. Team Penske drivers Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano dominated the afternoon, and pseudo-teammate Josh Berry gave Blaney all he could handle in the closing laps. Denny Hamlin got in a mid-race tiff with Ty Gibbs, dumping his teammate on lap 110 after some rough racing. Hendrick Motorsports placed all three of its remaining playoff drivers in the top 10 after a rocky start to the postseason.
The Championship Favorite Is Still Team Penske
After the Round of 16 concluded at Bristol Motor Speedway Saturday night (Sept. 13), the list of remaining playoff drivers was unsurprising. Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Team Penske advanced three drivers each to the second round of the postseason. It is likely that the 2025 Cup Series champion will come from one of those three organizations.
Kyle Larson Has Bigger Concerns Than Ryan Blaney
If the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway is best remembered for the feud between Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain, Sunday’s (Sept. 7) race there will be remembered for an incident between Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney. During the second stage, Larson and Blaney were racing in the top five, trying to catch the leaders as the stage approached its end. But on lap 135, Larson tapped Blaney from behind, sending the No. 12 spinning in turn 4.
Do not Overlook Austin Cindric in the Playoffs
As the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin, Austin Cindric is set to compete in the postseason for the third time in four years. Cindric, who turns 27 on Tuesday, Sept. 2, has done a respectable job finding ways to win during the regular season. His latest triumph was at Talladega Superspeedway, beating teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano to score the first victory of the Cup Series season for Team Penske.
Unanswered Questions Remain for Hendrick Motorsports
After Saturday night’s (Aug. 23) race at Daytona International Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports officially locked all four of its drivers into the Cup Series playoffs. The only missing piece was Alex Bowman, who came into the race on the playoff bubble and could have been knocked out by a new winner. Bowman did not win the race; his night ended after getting swept up in a crash on lap 27.
Can Kyle Busch Save His Season at Daytona?
Not long ago, Kyle Busch was the driver to beat at Richmond Raceway. He has six wins in 39 NASCAR Cup Series starts at the Virginia short track, as well as 28 top-10 finishes. His average finish at Richmond is 7.8, a great achievement made even more impressive considering that it encompasses 20 years’ worth of races. But Busch’s most ridiculous stat at Richmond is that he has turned over 15,000 laps there in Cup and failed to complete only two laps.
What can Shane van Gisbergen Really do in the Playoffs?
Shane van Gisbergen made it look easy again. Last weekend at Watkins Glen International, he cruised to his fourth NASCAR Cup Series victory of 2025, and he remains undefeated in the last four Cup Series road course races. At the moment, the field does not have an answer for SVG. However, the Cup Series playoffs will begin in a few weeks, and that could be the field’s best opportunity for revenge. While van Gisbergen has been dominant on road courses, he has not been a contender on any ovals.
The Playoff Battle Gets Awkward for RFK Racing
For the second week in a row, RFK Racing placed two cars in the top five. At the Brickyard 400, Ryan Preece earned a fourth-place finish, with teammate and team owner Brad Keselowski just behind him in fifth. One week later at Iowa Speedway, it was Keselowski who led the charge for RFK, winning both stages and scoring a third-place finish. Preece had a strong third stage and was within sight of the leaders late in the race.
NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge Falls Flat
NASCAR is probably relieved that Sunday’s (July 27) Brickyard 400 had an engaging finish. A race that ended with multiple overtime attempts after a short rain delay resulted in Bubba Wallace capturing the victory. Wallace broke a winless drought that was closing in on three years, providing a feel-good ending to an otherwise forgettable race. Mostly lost in the shuffle was the end of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge.
Can Joe Gibbs Racing Rise in the Playoffs?
It is hard to believe that Joe Gibbs Racing’s only NASCAR Cup Series championships in the last 10 years are Kyle Busch’s two titles. Nobody on the team’s current roster has ever taken home the big trophy, even though JGR always seems to have a driver or two in championship contention. Last year was a notable exception as the first season when no Gibbs drivers reached the championship round of the postseason. It is unlikely that that will happen again.
Why Staying Out was the Right Call for Chase Briscoe
Chase Briscoe spent most of Sunday (July 13) afternoon looking at the back bumper of Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. Van Gisbergen put on another dominant road course performance, leading 97 of 110 laps at Sonoma Raceway on his way to victory. Briscoe finished second as the clear best of the rest. He was one of the only drivers who could even keep van Gisbergen in his sights, and even then, it looked like SVG was saving his tires whenever things got close.
NASCAR’s Problem with Major Markets
NASCAR’s top two divisions tackled the streets of Chicago for the third time on July 5-6. It could also be the last time — at least for the foreseeable future. The original plan orchestrated by NASCAR and the city of Chicago called for three race weekends, held on a new temporary course that ran through Grant Park in the heart of the city. The races were first announced in July 2022, nearly a year before the inaugural event.
Tyler Reddick Stands Alone
Last year, Tyler Reddick raced to victory at Talladega Superspeedway without a final assist from any teammates. Most of the other Toyota drivers were wiped out in a crash with 33 laps to go in a drafting attempt gone wrong. Reddick was one of the few who escaped damage, and he was the only Toyota driver to finish in the top 10. After the checkered flag flew, it was Reddick standing in victory lane. Fast forward to Saturday’s (June 28) race at EchoPark Speedway, where Reddick had another strong run.
Kyle Busch Battling Time and Trends
Kyle Busch’s season has taken a turn for the worse over the past couple of weeks. In the NASCAR Cup Series’ first trip to Mexico City, Busch lost control on lap 7 and slid off course in the first turn, triggering a multi-car crash that knocked him out of the race. The resulting last-place finish dropped Busch from the playoff bubble to 50 points below the cut line. Things did not go much better at Pocono Raceway on Sunday (June 22).
Chris Buescher’s Season is at a Crossroads
The first two NASCAR Cup Series road course races of 2025 produced very different results. At Circuit of the Americas back in March, Christopher Bell prevailed in a late-race battle against several drivers who, like himself, have championship aspirations. Compare that to Sunday (June 14) and the second road course race of the year at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. In the Cup Series’ inaugural trip to Mexico City, Shane van Gisbergen took the field to the woodshed in a dominant performance.
Is Daniel Suarez on the Hot Seat at Trackhouse?
The NASCAR Cup Series could be in for a quiet silly season heading into 2026. However, one storyline to keep an eye on is what happens with Daniel Suarez and Trackhouse Racing. Suarez’s current contract ends at the conclusion of this year, and it is not a given that he will be back in the No. 99 car next season. Suarez is Trackhouse’s original driver. He started with Justin Marks’ organization in 2021 when the team was a single-car operation and before Marks bought out Chip Ganassi Racing.
The Battle Only Gets Tighter for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. & Carson Hocevar
Until Sunday’s (June 1) race at Nashville Superspeedway, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was beating the odds. He and the No. 47 team were 15th in the playoff grid, above the cut line by 10 points. Stenhouse has only reached the postseason twice in his career, and in both instances, he qualified by wins. This year, Stenhouse has shown more consistency than usual, finishing no worse than 25th through the season’s first 13 races.
A Trio of Contenders Seek Redemption in Nashville
Last season’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway had a wild ending. In pursuit of a green flag finish, the race went through five overtime attempts, extending its length by 31 laps. Along the way, several drivers either crashed or ran out of fuel during the chaos of the final restarts, making the race a big missed opportunity at what could have been a pivotal victory.
Next Gen, Same Problems in 2025
In 2022, the Next Gen car debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series to considerable enthusiasm. Fans were excited to see that the seventh-generation stock car bore a closer resemblance to its road-going inspirations produced by Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota. The launch of the new car meant an end to the low-horsepower aero packages that NASCAR used on the intermediate tracks for the past few years.
William Byron Weathers the Storm at Texas
During the first two stages of Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, everything went according to plan for William Byron. The No. 24 was a fixture in the top 10 for the first 150 laps of the race. Under caution on lap 168, Byron won the race off pit road and captured the lead, putting him in perfect position for the stretch run to the finish. However, the trip down pit road was not so clean.
Will Talladega Disqualifications Decide the Playoff Field?
By Talladega Superspeedway’s usual standards, Sunday’s (April 27) race was rather orderly. The event ran caution-free for the final 62 laps. There was no Big One, and, for once, the race ended with a green flag finish at its scheduled distance. Even the winner, Austin Cindric, was not a surprise. Cindric won the Daytona 500 in 2022 to earn his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory, and he has been knocking on the door of another drafting track win ever since.
Does William Byron’s Fast Start to the Season Matter?
Nine races into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, it is no surprise to see the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team at the top of the points standings. Jeff Gordon made it a common occurrence during his driving career. More recently, especially over the last four years, William Byron has emerged as one of the best drivers in the sport. The current driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet has begun this season with a victory in the Daytona 500 for the second year in a row.
How Are the Former Stewart-Haas Racing Drivers Running?
In late May 2024, Stewart-Haas Racing announced that the team would close at the conclusion of the season. Although there had been rumors for several months that the team could downsize, it was shocking to hear that the once-powerful organization would not return to NASCAR in 2025. SHR won NASCAR Cup Series championships in 2011 and 2014, and the team came close to a few more titles with Kevin Harvick in the years that followed.
Kyle Larson Is Still Feast or Famine at Darlington
Prior to Sunday’s (April 6) Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, Kyle Larson was undoubtedly one of the pre-race favorites. Perhaps he was not the undisputed driver to beat, but it was a strong bet that he would be fast and at least have an impact on the battle for the win. As it turned out, influencing the fight for the race win was the only part of that prediction that came true.
Can Michael McDowell Take Spire Motorsports to the Playoffs?
Among the drivers who have enjoyed good starts to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, Michael McDowell may be the biggest positive surprise. Through the first seven races of 2025, McDowell is 15th in points and 16th in the playoff grid. His finishes have not garnered much attention because he is still without a top 10 this season. However, McDowell does have five finishes between 11th and 16th and has mostly stayed out of trouble.
Josh Berry Plus the Wood Brothers Equals Victory in Las Vegas
Five races into the 2025 season, the NASCAR Cup Series got its first surprise winner. First, William Byron claimed victory for Chevrolet in the Daytona 500. Christopher Bell and Toyota then went on a hot streak and captured the next three races. Ford then captured its first win of 2025 on Sunday (March 16) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, courtesy of Josh Berry and Wood Brothers Racing.
All That Glitters is Not Gold for Joe Gibbs Racing
At Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday (Feb. 23) evening, it was mission accomplished for Joe Gibbs Racing. Christopher Bell captured his first win on a drafting track and the 10th victory of his NASCAR Cup Series career. In typical Atlanta fashion, the race came down to the last lap with a three-wide battle between Bell, Kyle Larson and Carson Hocevar.
Team Ownership Adds to Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy
On Sunday (Feb. 16), for the 22nd time in his racing career, Jimmie Johnson took the green flag for the Daytona 500. It marked his 13th start in the NASCAR Cup Series as an owner/driver, and the race ended in, by far, Johnson’s best finish in his new role. He and the No. 84 team battled through a long, rainy afternoon turned evening at Daytona International Speedway and managed to hang around and avoid all the late-race crashes.
A Champion Will Rise from the Flat Tracks
If you look ahead to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, you might notice some subtle but significant changes to this season’s schedule. The first round includes a stop at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) at Gateway, which will mark the first time that this track holds a postseason race. New Hampshire Motor Speedway returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, shifting its lone Cup Series race to the second round.
Ralph Moody -- Fast Fords & a Legendary Team
The NASCAR Hall of Fame will induct its class of 2025 this week, and representing the pioneers of the sport among this year’s inductees is owner/driver Ralph Moody. Moody is one of the founders of the Holman-Moody racing team, the powerhouse Ford organization of the 1960s. Not only did Moody help guide the team to great success in NASCAR’s premier series, he also laid the foundation of a team that would have enormous influence on the NASCAR industry for decades to come.
The Playoffs Are at Fault for Martinsville Mess
Okay everyone. First, let’s all take a deep breath. Now, pull up a comfy chair, crack open your favorite beverage and let’s talk about the end of Sunday’s (Nov. 3) race at Martinsville Speedway. At least there is no doubt about Ryan Blaney’s victory. Blaney drove to the lead with 15 laps to go and secured his passage to the Championship 4 for the second year in a row, joining Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick. The fourth and final spot in the championship race took much longer to decide.
Rules, Not Racing, Dominate ROVAL Playoff Weekend
For a few hours after last weekend’s race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, everyone was talking about Tyler Reddick’s heroic drive. An accident during stage two left Reddick’s No. 45 car with a broken toe link, which threatened to knock him out of the playoffs. Even after his crew repaired the damage, Reddick remained buried in the field and appeared unable to make up the necessary points to avoid elimination.
Did Team Penske’s Playoff Strategy Backfire at Talladega?
Sunday’s (Oct. 6) race at Talladega Superspeedway was poised to be a big one for Team Penske. The three-car team includes Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Austin Cindric — all of whom are among the best in the NASCAR Cup Series on drafting tracks. If there is one organization that you can always count on to drive to the front and lead laps at superspeedways, it’s the Penske trio. For much of the race, everything was going according to plan for The Captain’s squad.
Contenders Miss Opportunities at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway may not appear unique at first. It has similarities to the other intermediate tracks on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit, which usually means that you can look at drivers’ results from other intermediates and get a good idea of how the finishing order will look. After 400 miles of racing at Kansas on Sunday (Sept. 29), that strategy proved fruitless. You might have expected big days from racers like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch.
Alex Bowman Versus the Round of 12
After Saturday night’s (Sept. 21) race at Bristol Motor Speedway ended, Alex Bowman got another question about the rumors of his potential departure from Hendrick Motorsports. Parker Kligerman, in his role as an NBC pit reporter, asked Bowman if his strong start to the playoffs was a statement by him and the No. 48 team. Bowman’s response? “Talk. They’ll keep talking.
Will Veteran Experience Pay Off at Bristol?
Last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International shook up the playoff standings, as the only playoff drivers to finish in the top 10 were Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric. Both are in their second postseason and have less overall experience than most of the other title hopefuls. On the other hand, drivers like Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr. all had rough days at Watkins Glen.
Will Austin Cindric Be a Playoff Surprise?
Team Penske stole the headlines Sunday afternoon (Sept. 9) at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Joey Logano captured the victory. Ryan Blaney made a huge rally in the last 50 laps to rebound from a crash and finish third. Their teammate, Austin Cindric, had a great day of his own scoring 19 stage points, including the stage two win, on the way to a 10th-place finish. That increased Cindric’s advantage on the cut line from two to 27 points. It was not a surprise to see Cindric run well at Atlanta.
Up to Speed: Darlington Raceway Brings Out Best in Chase Briscoe
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Darlington Raceway Brings Out Best in Chase Briscoe
Darlington Raceway has a well-earned reputation for being one of NASCAR’s toughest tracks. It demands excellence from its challengers. Drivers must be bold enough to run inches off the wall lap after lap, but savvy enough to know how hard to push their cars over the course of a long race. The most prolific winners at Darlington are titans of the sport: David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt and Jeff Gordon.
Up to Speed: ‘Win and You’re In’ Exposes Playoff Illegitimacy
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'Win and You’re In' Exposes Playoff Illegitimacy
For the second time in three NASCAR Cup Series Races, a driver below 30th in the points standings emerged as the winner. A few weeks ago at Richmond Raceway, Austin Dillon scored his fifth career win after dumping Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap. Then, at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night (Aug. 24), it was Harrison Burton who shocked the NASCAR world.
Up to Speed: Can Martin Truex Jr. Score 1 Last Win?
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Can Martin Truex Jr. Score 1 Last Win?
Can Martin Truex Jr. get that send-off win in his last full-time NASCAR Cup Series season? Lost in the aftermath of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway was how quickly things changed for Truex. Truex, who led over half the laps in Richmond’s first race this season, was one of the favorites to win in the return trip to the Virginia short track. Instead, Truex and the No. 19 team got their nightmare scenario.
What Comes Next for Zane Smith?
Sometimes, life as a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series can be brutal. This season, Zane Smith has experienced just how difficult NASCAR’s top level can be. In 23 races, Smith only has one top-10 finish, a second-place result at Nashville Superspeedway. He and the No. 71 team have regularly been stuck in the back of the pack or getting collected in accidents, sometimes both in one race. Deep in the points standings in 33rd place, it looks like 2024 will be a year to forget for Smith.
Up to Speed: Who Will Win the Playoff Bubble Battle?
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