With his third title last year, Joey Logano maintained a redemptive streak largely overlooked in NASCAR’s premier series.
The past five Cup Series champions were absent from the Championship 4 in the previous season: Logano (twice in 2024 and ’22), Ryan Blaney (’23), Kyle Larson (’21) and Chase Elliott (’20)
It’s a trend that has a 75% chance of continuing this year as Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe and Kyle Larson head to Phoenix Raceway in search of a championship after failing to make the title race last season. Martinsville Speedway winner William Byron is the only repeat championship contender from a 2024 field that included Blaney, Logano and Tyler Reddick.
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Blaney and Logano endured the first title-round shutout for Team Penske in four years Sunday, and they were joined by Elliott and Christopher Bell in Round of 8 ousters at Martinsville.
For those four, it’s back to the drawing board for the 2026 season — but with the knowledge that missing the Championship 4 has annually portended a bright future for at least one driver in five (and possibly six) consecutive seasons.
Here’s what was missing in the 2025 playoffs for the four stars eliminated in the Round of 8 and what areas they need to improve to advance past Martinsville next year:
CHRISTOPHER BELL
Round of 8 results: Three top-10 finishes — third at Las Vegas, eighth at Talladega, seventh at Martinsville — weren’t enough for Bell, who came up seven points short after going winless in the Round of 8 for the second consecutive season. (He advanced to Phoenix with victories in 2022 at Martinsville and in ’23 at Homestead.)
Playoffs performance: After stumbling to 29th in the opener at Darlington, Bell posted the most consistent results of any playoff driver with eight consecutive top 10s and an average finish of 7.4. But while the No. 20 team often was very good, it was only great once (in a victory at Bristol Motor Speedway) and just lacked a little speed.
For a 2025 title, less of this …: streaky appearances in Victory Lane. After three consecutive triumphs at Atlanta, Circuit of The Americas and Phoenix, Bell would go six months before his next (and final) win of 2025. Last year, all three of his wins were in the first half.
… and more of this: Laps led. Bell has been in first place for a paltry 282 laps this season — last among Round of 8 drivers by nearly 150 laps and a staggering 75% decline from 1,145 laps led in 2024.
JOEY LOGANO
Round of 8 results: Unable to muster a top five despite shots to win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (finishing sixth after a strategy gamble) and Talladega Superspeedway (where he finished an inexplicable 16th after leading 35 laps). He finished second in the first stage at Martinsville but faded to eighth while failing to lead a lap as his playoff magic dissipated.
Playoffs performance: The No. 22 Ford had some moments to scare the competition — a streak of three top fives, a pole and 147 laps led in a fourth at New Hampshire, a 20th place escape act at the Roval — but was missing its usual championship speed.
For a 2025 title, less of this …: A slow start (six finishes of 12th or worse, the worst beginning to a season for a defending champion in series history).
… and more of this: Mental toughness. No driver feeds off negativity and shapes his team in an exemplary and positive manner than Logano, who might have turned his best leadership performance this season.
RYAN BLANEY
Round of 8 results: Went awry immediately with a tire failure and last-place finish at Las Vegas. Disappointment continued with a 23rd-place drafting disaster at Talladega. Still nearly overcame it all with an inspired 31st-to-second drive at Martinsville.
Playoffs performance: A feast-or-famine existence reminiscent of his regular season. Four finishes of fourth or better (with 328 laps led). Five finishes of 13th or worse (including three outside the top 20).
For a 2025 title, less of this …: Erraticism. Blaney finished all but one race in the playoffs, but the No. 12 team seemed haunted by a series-high seven DNFs during the regular season that set the tone for a roller-coaster run at the championship.
… and more of this: Dominance. When he’s on top of his game, few are better than Blaney at getting in the zone and harnessing his natural speed. Martinsville, New Hampshire and Nashville were glimpses of how good he can be out front.
CHASE ELLIOTT
Round of 8 results: A third at Martinsville — his first top five since the Round of 12 win at Kansas — was a nice recovery from an 18th at Las Vegas and 40th at Talladega that left Elliott in must-win territory.
Playoffs performance: Four top fives and four finishes outside the top 15. It seemed reflective of a regular season with a hot stretch in June and July, followed by an August-September run of five finishes outside the top 10 in six races.
For a 2025 title, less of this …: Pit stop mistakes. They ultimately weren’t the reason that Elliott missed the Championship 4, but a few issues with uncontrolled tires in the playoffs and a pit entry problem at Bristol will need to be cleaned up.
… and more of this: Victories. After only one win in 2023-24, Elliott enjoyed his first multi-win season since 2022, but he had only one race (238 laps led at Dover) when his car seemed dominant. Improved qualifying and stage finishes would help lay a nice foundation for more checkered flags.