2025 NASCAR.com preseason staff predictions
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Best race
Daytona 500
The lowdown: As it does to start every Cup Series season, the Daytona 500 is going to thrill the NASCAR world again come Feb. 16 as drivers will duke it out for 200 laps in hopes of capturing the Harley J. Earl Trophy. A handful of races gave the Daytona 500 a run for its money on the final ballot, but the "Great American Race" was the favorite among the staff.
Vote totals, honorable mentions: Daytona 500 (3 votes); Kansas-2, Las Vegas-2 (2); Southern 500, Coca-Cola 600, Daytona-2, Mexico City, Homestead (1).
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Best candidate for first Cup Series win
Ty Gibbs
The lowdown: For the second straight year, Ty Gibbs takes the crown as the likeliest to score his first win. Entering Year 3 at the Cup level, it's a must-win type of season for the 22-year-old who still made the postseason last year but fell short of grabbing a checkered flag. After an eye-opening rookie season, Carson Hocevar was the only other driver to snag multiple votes among the staff to score his first Cup win.
Vote totals, honorable mentions: Ty Gibbs (6); Carson Hocevar (3); Todd Gilliland, Josh Berry, Riley Herbst (1).
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Most improved/sleeper pick
Justin Haley, Josh Berry (tie)
The lowdown: After 2024 campaigns where both had standout moments, Justin Haley and Josh Berry were both chosen to be the most improved for the 2025 season. With Haley now full-time at Spire and being crew chiefed by the decorated Rodney Childers, the rising talent could be in line for a breakout season. Meanwhile, Berry takes the reins of the Wood Brothers No. 21 in the organization's 75th anniversary in hopes of grabbing win No. 101.
Vote totals, honorable mentions: Justin Haley, Josh Berry (2); Zane Smith, Todd Gilliland, Noah Gragson, Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Bubba Wallace, Kyle Busch, Carson Hocevar (1).
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Craftsman Truck Series champion
Corey Heim
The lowdown: Heim returns to the same No. 11 Tricon Garage ride that he's taken to back-to-back convincing Championship 4 appearances. While he's bound for a Cup ride in the years to come, a first championship would truly show how strong Heim has been so far at the national-series level. He wasn't a unanimous pick, though, as Layne Riggs and Daniel Hemric picked up single votes due to Riggs' breakout at the end of last season and Hemric moving to the contending No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Chevy that was driven last year by Christian Eckes.
Vote totals, honorable mentions: Corey Heim (10); Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric (1).
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Xfinity Series champion
Austin Hill
The lowdown: Hill narrowly took the top spot over an incoming rookie sensation. Austin rode three drafting-track wins and a clutch Homestead victory to punch his first Xfinity Champ 4 berth last year and will look to close the deal this year.
Vote totals, honorable mentions: Austin Hill (4); Connor Zilisch (3); Sheldon Creed, Justin Allgaier, Christian Eckes, Jesse Love, Sam Mayer (1).
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Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year
Shane van Gisbergen
The lowdown: At 35, SVG enters the Cup Series full-time as one of the older rookies in recent memory, but he's likely to make another big splash after his historic victory on the Chicago Street Course in 2023. He was a near-unanimous pick for Rookie of the Year honors as he's in a head-to-head battle with 23XI's Riley Herbst.
Vote totals, honorable mentions: Shane van Gisbergen (11); Riley Herbst (1).
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Daytona 500 winner
Ryan Blaney
The lowdown: The 2023 series champ and 2024 runner-up has a Coke 600 victory under his belt and is now seeking his maiden victory in the "Great American Race." Regarded as one of the best drafting-track racers, Blaney owns a win in the 2021 Daytona summer race and lost a heartbreaker at the finish line in the 2020 edition of the Daytona 500. Looking to keep the Team Penske momentum up, it wouldn't be a shock to see Blaney be the latest name added to the Harley J. Earl Trophy.
Vote totals, honorable mentions: Ryan Blaney (4); Alex Bowman, Bubba Wallace, Kyle Busch (2); Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski (1).
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Cup Series Championship 4
Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin
The lowdown: It's never easy to predict who will march their way toward a title shot at Phoenix and there were a mix of names the staff predicted to make the Championship 4. The most votes went to 2021 champ Kyle Larson, 2023 champ Blaney, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin. Larson was voted to make the Champ 4 by all but one voter while eight different drivers received multiple votes.
Vote totals, honorable mentions: Kyle Larson (11); Ryan Blaney (10); Christopher Bell (8); Denny Hamlin (5); Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe (3); William Byron (2); Brad Keselowski, Ross Chastain (1)
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Cup Series champion
Christopher Bell
The lowdown: After back-to-back Championship 4 appearances in 2022 and 2023 that left Bell empty-handed at Phoenix, he was trending in the right direction in 2024 until a heartbreaking performance at Martinsville halted what was otherwise a textbook playoff run. Bell will have a serious chip on his shoulder for 2025 as the next driver up to win his first Cup Series championship.
Vote totals, honorable mentions: Christopher Bell (7); Denny Hamlin (2); Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick (1)