Five NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Who Need to Deliver Big in 2025
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is set to bring new opportunities, but for some drivers, the stakes are higher than ever. Here are five drivers who need to step up their game next season to solidify their standing in the sport.
Bubba Wallace
Bubba Wallace had the best statistical season of his career in 2024 but fell short of expectations. Despite his growth since joining 23XI Racing in 2021, his progress seems to have plateaued. Wallace missed the playoffs and hasn’t won a race since Kansas in September 2022. Meanwhile, his teammate Tyler Reddick made the Championship 4 in 2024, further emphasizing the pressure on Wallace. With a new crew chief, Charles Denike, Wallace will face intense scrutiny in 2025 to deliver results.
Ryan Preece
The 2025 season will be a make-or-break year for Ryan Preece, as he steps into the new No. 60 car for RFK Racing. This is Preece’s best opportunity in the Cup Series, but he’ll be measured against teammates Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher, both race winners in 2024. While Keselowski and Buescher are playoff favorites, Preece must prove his worth or face questions about his long-term future with the team.
Kyle Busch
Once a dominant force, Kyle Busch has seen his performance decline sharply. After winning three races in early 2023, Busch and Richard Childress Racing struggled, culminating in a winless 2024 season—the first of his career. With his worst season since his rookie year in 2005, Busch needs a strong rebound to regain momentum as he approaches the twilight of his career. Another winless season could prompt serious reflection about his future in the sport.
Denny Hamlin
At 44, Denny Hamlin remains competitive but faces the relentless march of time. Hamlin hasn’t made the Championship 4 since 2021 and has been plagued by a string of bad luck in recent seasons. With Chris Gayle moving over from Ty Gibbs’ team as his new crew chief, Hamlin enters 2025 with renewed hope but heightened expectations. If he doesn’t claim his first Cup Series championship soon, comparisons to Mark Martin—a legendary driver without a title—will only grow louder.
Chase Briscoe
Chase Briscoe steps into the spotlight as the new driver of the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, replacing the retired Martin Truex Jr.. This marks Briscoe’s first time in elite equipment, shedding the constraints of his previous stint with Stewart-Haas Racing. While his job isn’t immediately at risk, driving for a powerhouse team like JGR brings immense pressure. Many have touted Briscoe as a star-in-the-making, and 2025 will be his chance to prove he belongs among NASCAR’s elite.
As the new season approaches, these five drivers find themselves under the microscope. With new opportunities and increased expectations, the pressure is on for them to deliver in 2025.
