NASCAR Xfinity Series Power Rankings: And so, the 2025 season begins

Posted on February 4, 2025February 10, 2025 by John Crane

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series is finally here, and a new season with plenty of exciting moments to come begins at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 15 (5 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

While there has been plenty of movement within the Xfinity Series compared to last year’s crop, this is still a loaded field. And with 12 full-time drivers set to make the Xfinity Series Playoffs this season, it only makes sense to rank the top 12 drivers before the Florida opener. Let’s get to it.

Sammy Smith looks on. — *Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images*

12. Sammy Smith, No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Analysis: Smith enters his second season under the JR Motorsports banner, and there is plenty to build on in 2025. The Iowa native finished 11th in the 2024 championship standings and logged career highs in top fives (seven) and top 10s (16). Although past Daytona results don’t pop off the page – Smith has averaged a 21st-place finish in two series-opening races there – the 20-year-old still possesses upside. With Phillip Bell returning atop the pit box (he was the No. 8 crew chief for 10 races last season), there’s continuity, too.

Ryan Sieg looks on. — *Sean Gardner | Getty Images*

11. Ryan Sieg, No. 39 RSS Racing Ford

Analysis: Make it a dozen for the 37-year-old Sieg, who enters his 12th full season in the Xfinity circuit. 2024 offered glimpses of hope for Sieg in his hunt for Xfinity Series win No. 1, with his best average finish (14.7) since 2019 and the most laps led in a season (80) since 2020. Daytona has been a mixed bag for Sieg, but his 35 career laps led there have come across two season-opening races (23 in 2021, 12 in 2024).

Parker Retzlaff smiles. — *Meg Oliphant | Getty Images*

10. Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet

Analysis: Retzlaff joins Alpha Prime Racing for 2025 after racing full-time for Jordan Anderson Racing from 2023-24. It’s only natural for a driver to want to make a great first impression, and Daytona could be just the location for the Wisconsin native to accomplish this for his new organization. In four career Xfinity races at Daytona, Retzlaff has finished inside the top 10 three times. Two of those times came in the Xfinity series opener (fourth in 2023, third in 2024). Opportunity knocks.

Nick Sanchez looks on. — *James Gilbert | Getty Images*

9. Nick Sanchez, No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet

Analysis: A banner 2024 in the Truck Series leads to a full-time Xfinity Series gig for the 23-year-old Sanchez, taking over the Big Machine Racing reins from Parker Kligerman. Good news for Big Machine: Sanchez was a playoff driver in 2024, and he brings a Daytona pedigree to the table. One of Sanchez’s two Truck wins last season came in the Daytona season-opener, leading a race-best 26 laps in the process. There’s a bonus — Sanchez raced in six Xfinity contests with Big Machine in 2024, so there’s already a degree of comfort for driver and team alike.

Christian Eckes looks on. — *Meg Oliphant | Getty Images*

8. Christian Eckes, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Analysis: Sanchez isn’t the only Truck Series Playoffs driver making the full-time leap to Xfinity. Enter Eckes, who transitions from McAnally-Hilgemann Racing to Kaulig Racing as the No. 16 driver in place of AJ Allmendinger. Although Eckes doesn’t bring prior Xfinity experience to the table the way Sanchez does, the momentum of being a 2024 Championship 4 driver can’t be ignored. Three consecutive finishes inside the top 10 at Daytona in Trucks — in addition to 29 laps led in that span — help matters, too.

Harrison Burton looks on. — *James Gilbert | Getty Images*

7. Harrison Burton, No. 25 AM Racing Ford

Analysis: Burton returns to the Xfinity fold after three full-time Cup Series seasons with Wood Brothers Racing. Rewind the clocks a touch to catch a glimpse at how Burton fared during his last full-time Xfinity Series stint. Spoiler alert: It was pretty good. From 2020-21, Burton tallied four wins, 25 top fives and 44 top 10s, finishing eighth in the final standings in each season. Daytona, you might ask? Four top 10s in four Xfinity starts there. He also did something … pretty special there in Cup last season.

Sam Mayer looks on. — *Meg Oliphant | Getty Images*

6. Sam Mayer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford

Analysis: Mayer departs JR Motorsports and joins Haas Factory Team in what will be the organization’s inaugural 2025 season. While Mayer’s 2024 was a step back from his 2023 Championship 4 season in terms of average finish (18.0 compared in 2024 compared to 13.2 in 2023), the 21-year-old still won three races and made the playoffs. Mayer’s Xfinity record at Daytona needs work, given he’s yet to log a top 10 there (seven attempts), but under a new team banner and a fresh crew chief to learn from in Jason Trinchere, anything is possible.

Connor Zilisch smiles. — *Meg Oliphant | Getty Images*

5. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Analysis: Yes, Zilisch only has four Xfinity Series starts – and only 10 national series starts total – to his name entering 2025. But if there is one driver who can immediately make a statement out of the gate, it’s the 18-year-old Zilisch, who collected his first pole position and victory in his first career Xfinity start last season at Watkins Glen. Granted, The Glen is not a superspeedway, and Zilisch has never raced a NASCAR machine at Daytona. However, for someone dubbed the “next superstar,” let’s not act shocked if he figures the superspeedway ropes quickly.

Jesse Love smiles. — *Meg Oliphant | Getty Images*

4. Jesse Love, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Analysis: Remember when Love logged his first career Xfinity pole in his first start last season? It was at Daytona. And while he didn’t win the 2024 season opener, the No. 2 pilot illustrated just the kind of speed he could muster on a superspeedway. The reigning Rookie of the Year enters his second season with Richard Childress Racing, and after his inaugural Xfinity campaign saw continued success on superspeedways, it’s anyone’s guess what is in store for the California native who just turned 20 years old.

Sheldon Creed smiles. — *James Gilbert | Getty Images*

3. Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Haas Factory Team Ford

Analysis: Creed’s 2024 Xfinity season was … unique. His 16 top fives ranked second in the entire circuit (Chandler Smith, 17), while his 23 top 10s were tied for first (Cole Custer). He collected not one but six runner-up finishes, including at the Daytona season opener last season. Creed joins Haas Factory Team, his third team in as many seasons, and although he’s yet to find Victory Lane in Xfinity, the 2020 Truck Series champion brings speed and experience to his new organization. The breakthrough has to be coming.

Justin Allgaier looks on. — *Meg Oliphant | Getty Images*

2. Justin Allgaier, No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Analysis: Allgaier ranks highly in this installment for obvious reasons. The 38-year-old is fresh off a 2024 Xfinity Series Championship crown, and with Cole Custer’s departure to Cup, he is now the only returning Xfinity Series driver who led 700-plus laps in 2024 (709). Daytona has been kind to Allgaier of late, with six top 10s over the last seven races, including finishes of fifth (2022), third (2023) and eighth (2024) in the last three Xfinity openers. Can the defending champ kickstart 2025 with his second career Daytona win?

Austin Hill looks on. — *James Gilbert | Getty Images*

1. Austin Hill, No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Analysis: Since his jump into the Xfinity Series three seasons ago, Hill has finished sixth (2022), fifth (2023) and fourth (2024). Coming off his first Championship 4 berth, Hill is hungry for more in 2025, and the winning appetite certainly starts at Daytona, where Hill has won each of the last three season-opening races. Whether the Georgia native can make it four in a row remains to be seen, but make no mistake: Hill will easily be a Daytona favorite, and in due time, maybe the championship favorite, too.

Posted on February 4, 2025February 10, 2025 by Chris Murdock

The 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series campaign begins soon, with the season kicking off at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 14 (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Familiar faces return to the circuit, while newer ones look to leave their mark in a season surely to bring plenty of excitement from start to finish. Before the green flag waves at Daytona, view the top 10 drivers in the series ahead of the season opener.

RELATED: 2025 Truck Series schedule

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

10. Andrés Pérez de Lara, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Analysis: Pérez de Lara is the newest rookie entering a full-time campaign in the Craftsman Truck Series. Pérez comes in as the reigning ARCA Menards Series champion and an experienced road-course racer. With the Truck Series adding additional road courses to the schedule, the Mexico City native could make a surprise appearance in Victory Lane.

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

9. Matt Crafton, No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford

Analysis: You can never really count out Crafton when it comes to fighting for a championship in the Craftsman Truck Series. Crafton enters his 25th full-time season and is the only active three-time Truck Series champion. The pilot of the No. 88 Ford is the only active driver with national series experience as the series prepares to return to Rockingham. Experience that could land him right in the middle of the championship fight in the fall.

James Gilbert | Getty Images

8. Layne Riggs, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford

Analysis: Riggs put together a strong 2024 rookie season, which included two wins to open the Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, the only non-playoff driver in any national series to win the opening two races. With a full season under his belt and with crew chief Dylan Cappello up to speed, the 22-year-old could make a big statement with wins in 2025.

Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media

7. Ben Rhodes, No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford

Analysis: We have all heard about even-year Joey Logano when it comes to winning championships, and a driver who is right along with the reigning Cup Series champ is the Louisville, Kentucky native in Rhodes. Rhodes enters his 10th year in the Truck Series and has been crowned champion two times (2021, 2023). Entering another odd year, Rhodes has the chance to become the first three-time champion since his teammate, Matt Crafton.

Brittney Wilbur | NASCAR Digital Media

6. Chandler Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford

Analysis: Front Row Motorsports expands to a two-truck operation for the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series season, adding 22-year-old Smith to its driver lineup. Smith spent the previous two years in the Xfinity Series, where he scored three wins. The new driver of the No. 38 Ford also has two previous full-time seasons in the Truck Series, where he has amassed five victories. As the new operation gets off the ground, look for Smith to enter the playoff conversation.

Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media

5. Rajah Caruth, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Analysis: Caruth comes into his third full-time Truck Series campaign and his second year piloting the No. 71 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports. In his 2024 season for the Spire organization, Caruth captured his first national series victory at Las Vegas and put the No. 71 in the middle of the championship hunt, making it to the Round of 8. If the recent Winston-Salem State University graduate can keep the momentum moving, 2025 can be another career year.

James Gilbert | Getty Images

4. Daniel Hemric, No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Chevrolet

Analysis: Hemric makes the move from the NASCAR Cup Series and replaces Christian Eckes in the No. 19 Chevrolet for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the Truck Series. The 2021 Xfinity Series champion will have some rust to knock off as he competes in his first full-time Truck Series season since 2016, but if the podium effort by the No. 19 team a year ago is any indication, Hemric could be in prime position to add another national series title to his resume.

James Gilbert | Getty Images

3. Grant Enfinger, No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet

Analysis: The Craftsman Truck Series veteran in Enfinger enters his ninth year competing full-time in the series. The driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet is a 12-time winner and has made the Championship 4 two years in a row. The 2023 runner-up continues to inch closer to hoisting a trophy above his head at the championship finale in Phoenix and always finds a way to wind up in Victory Lane when it matters.

James Gilbert | Getty Images

2. Ty Majeski, No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford

Analysis: Majeski, the reigning and defending Craftsman Truck Series champion, was a late bloomer in the playoff hunt in 2024. Majeski won the final two races of the regular season to cement his spot in the championship hunt. He kept the momentum rolling all the way to Phoenix and cashed in on his first national series championship. Entering 2025, the Wisconsin native looks to become the first repeat champion since his teammate Matt Crafton (2013-14).

David Jensen | Getty Images

1. Corey Heim, No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota

Analysis: Corey Heim will pilot the No. 11 Toyota for his third full-time season in the Truck Series for 2025. Heim is an 11-time victor and has a combined total of 79 top-five and top-10 finishes in the series and scored six wins in his runner-up campaign from a year ago. Making the Championship 4 the past two years leaves Heim as an easy contender for the series title come year’s end.

Posted on February 4, 2025February 6, 2025 by Cameron Richardson

Editor’s Note: Today’s Joe Gibbs Racing preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2025 Cup Series season.

JOE GIBBS RACING

Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Toyota Racing Development
Driver-crew chief pairings: Denny Hamlin-Chris Gayle (No. 11), Chase Briscoe-James Small (No. 19), Christopher Bell-Adam Stevens (No. 20), Ty Gibbs-Tyler Allen (No. 54)

Team outlook: Joe Gibbs Racing enters 2025 still as one of the powerhouses of the Cup Series but saw some big changes in the offseason. Chase Briscoe replaces the retired Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19, and the pair of Denny Hamlin and Chris Gabehart is no more as Gabehart transitions to competition director. Hamlin will enter 2025 with Chris Gayle atop the No. 11 box, who used to call the shots for Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 team. Tyler Allen assumed the role of crew chief for Gibbs. Despite the changes, JGR is still bound for another deep playoff run with multiple drivers, if not all four teams after being shut out of the Championship 4 last season. The addition of Briscoe alongside Bell and Gibbs also provides another jolt of youth to the longtime stable.

DENNY HAMLIN, NO. 11 TOYOTA

Experience: 19 full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series; 686 total starts
2024 stats: Eighth in final Cup Series standings; 3 wins, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s, 3 poles
2025 championship odds (DraftKings): 15-2

Outlook: Another heartbreaking playoff exit at Martinsville for Hamlin means another go-around to return to the Championship 4 for the first time since 2021. At 44, Hamlin has yet to show signs that he’s lost a step but will have to find a new cadence and build up a strong relationship quickly with incoming crew chief Gayle. Hamlin has climbed every peak at the Cup Series level except one — the championship. Yes, every victory Hamlin collects toward the end of his career will carry serious value toward his legacy, but that elusive title is one that will forever cling to said legacy unless the goose egg is removed. Every year is a potential chance for the No. 11 to win the championship, but it will be that much harder with a new crew chief.

CHASE BRISCOE, NO. 19 TOYOTA

Experience: Four full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series; 144 total starts
2024 stats: 14th in final Cup Series standings; 1 win, 3 top fives, 9 top 10s
2025 championship odds (DraftKings): 18-1

Outlook: Briscoe delivered one of the most thrilling moments of the 2024 season by holding off Kyle Busch in the Southern 500 to claim the final checkered flag in Stewart-Haas Racing’s last season. Despite the then-imminent shutdown of SHR, Briscoe still utilized his skill to not only make the playoffs but also reach the Round of 12 for a second time in three years. At the milestone age of 30, Briscoe is on the relatively young side of the JGR program and that should pay dividends for the Indiana native. In one of the best rides the Cup Series has to offer, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Briscoe inserts his name as a title contender from the jump. The last time he was a title contender in the national series, he won nine races in 2020 at the Xfinity level, falling just short of a championship to fellow Cup competitor Austin Cindric. Briscoe will have the raw speed to be a race-winning contender almost every weekend this year. It’ll all come down to his execution and whether or not he is ready to live up to the moment at JGR.

CHRISTOPHER BELL, NO. 20 TOYOTA

Experience: Five full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series
2024 stats: Fifth in final Cup Series standings; 3 wins, 15 top fives, 23 top 10s
2025 championship odds (DraftKings): 11-2

Outlook: Last year marked the first time Bell was left out of the Championship 4 in the Next Gen car, but 2024 was arguably Bell’s best season to date. The 30-year-old wheelman has emerged as one of the top talents in the sport and is only bound to break his own numbers moving forward. Even with the great success from last year, Bell still feels JGR ‘left a ton on the table’ after the organization failed to win the rest of the way in 2024 after Bell’s victory at New Hampshire. With a clean slate for 2025, Bell will be aiming for a win total of five or more, matching his asphalt and dirt competitor Kyle Larson in terms of week-to-week success. As a co-title favorite, expect Bell to continue to ascend his stardom at the Cup level and lead all drivers in victories in 2025. Will it culminate in his first title? Well, we’ll wait for Nov. 2 to answer that.

TY GIBBS, NO. 54 TOYOTA

Experience: Two full-time seasons, plus one partial season in the NASCAR Cup Series
2024 stats: 15th in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 8 top fives, 12 top 10s, 2 poles
2025 championship odds (DraftKings): 22-1

Outlook: Yes, Gibbs broke through for his first postseason appearance last year. A feat that wouldn’t go overlooked for almost anyone else in their second full-time season, but after Gibbs’ hot start in 2024, it seemed likely he’d grab his maiden Cup win. That didn’t happen. And Gibbs’ postseason ended quickly with a Round of 16 exit. Gibbs eclipsed his numbers compared to his rookie campaign, but it was only on a few occasions where Gibbs appeared to be a legitimate threat to win. He scored just two top fives in the final 12 races of 2024 and his best finish in the final five races of last year was — 30th at Las Vegas. Safe to say that 2025 needs to be much better for Gibbs in his third campaign behind the wheel of the No. 54. A new crew chief calling the shots could be exactly what the doctor ordered for Gibbs, but he’ll need to fire off from the get-go if he wants to be on par with his teammates.

BOLD PREDICTION: Joe Gibbs Racing returns as the class of the Cup Series field and gets all four Toyotas into the Round of 8. Both Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe clinch berths into the Championship 4 with Bell finally hoisting in the Bill France Cup in his third appearance at the Phoenix season finale. Briscoe will be among drivers with multiple wins in 2025 while Gibbs finally breaks through for Cup win No. 1 in the midseason.

Posted on February 4, 2025February 4, 2025 by Staff Report

Drivers in all three NASCAR national series will have an additional way to earn points in 2025.

NASCAR competition officials announced Monday that drivers who record the fastest lap in every points-paying race — the Xfinity Fastest Lap — will earn one additional bonus point in both the driver and owner standings.

In addition to earning a bonus point in each race, the driver in each national series who ends the season with the most fastest laps will receive a donation to the charity/community-related cause of their choosing.

The payouts are $30,000 for the Cup Series driver, $20,000 for Xfinity and $10,000 for the Craftsman Truck Series. Comcast also has the right to match these donations.

MORE: 2025 Cup Series schedule | What’s new for 2025

Further details:

All drivers in the race are eligible for the award, but only championship-points earning drivers in each respective series will earn a point in the driver standings in that series.
If the fastest-lap winning driver is not eligible for championship points in the series, only the team will receive an owner point.
If there is a tie for the fastest recorded lap in the race, the tie will be broken by finishing position.
Drivers who have been disqualified from the race are not eligible for the fastest lap program.
The Championship 4 drivers are still eligible for the Fastest Lap program in the championship race, but Championship 4 drivers will not be awarded a bonus point if they drive the fastest lap in the championship race.

In 2024, Kyle Larson ran the fastest lap in five races to lead the Cup Series. All came in the regular season, which in this format would have given him five total points (one for each instance) in the driver standings. Larson lost the Regular Season Championship by one point to Tyler Reddick last year.

Other drivers with multiple instances of recording the fastest lap during a race last season were Christopher Bell (3), Shane van Gisbergen (3), Denny Hamlin (3), Joey Logano (2) Brad Keselowski (2), Martin Truex Jr. (2) and Ty Gibbs (2).

Posted on February 4, 2025February 4, 2025 by NASCAR Official Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 4, 2025) — NASCAR and Comcast today announced the renewal of their decade-long partnership, with Comcast continuing its role as both a Premier Partner of the NASCAR Cup Series and title sponsor of the Xfinity Series. The Comcast and NASCAR relationship began in 2014 and the collaboration between the two companies has significantly contributed to the sport’s growth and fan engagement. The Premier Partnership has been renewed for multiple years with the Xfinity Series title sponsorship being extended for one year.

New to the sport starting in 2025, race fans can look forward to the “Xfinity Fastest Lap,” a program that awards one race point to the eligible driver and owner with the fastest single lap in each race, adding extra intensity and strategy to the competition. This new feature will be part of all three national series — Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series — enhancing the competitive landscape and fan experience.

“We’re not just entering year 11 of our partnership. We’re embarking on year one of a renewed relationship with NASCAR filled with fresh energy and exciting opportunities to enhance the competition on the track in a way that has never been done before, and continue to connect with fans in new and engaging ways,” said Matt Lederer, Vice President of Brand Partnership & Engagement at Comcast.

Comcast is expanding its NASCAR partnership to include more of its connectivity and entertainment brands — Xfinity Mobile and Xumo. Xfinity Mobile is joining the partnership as an Official Wireless Partner of NASCAR. Xumo, Comcast’s and Charter’s streaming platform joint venture, will become an Official Video and Streaming Partner of NASCAR, with plans to offer its customers immersive viewing experiences and unique content.

“NASCAR is incredibly appreciative of Comcast’s continued partnership and their commitment to innovation and fan engagement within our sport,” said Michelle Byron, Executive Vice President and Chief Partnership and Licensing Officer at NASCAR. “Their contributions over the past decade, from enhancing the fan experience to supporting community initiatives, have been invaluable. We look forward to building on the success of our partnership during the 2025 season and beyond.”

MORE: NASCAR unveils Xfinity Fastest Lap for 2025 season

Comcast’s commitment to NASCAR extends beyond the track and is woven into its activations. From the title sponsorship of the Xfinity 500 to the Comcast Community Champion of the Year program, which recognizes individuals within the NASCAR community who demonstrate exceptional dedication to philanthropic endeavors, Comcast has consistently championed the sport and its values. This program underscores Comcast’s commitment to social responsibility and its alignment with NASCAR’s values of community engagement.

This renewed partnership ensures that Comcast and NASCAR will continue to deliver thrilling racing action and engaging fan experiences for years to come.

Posted on February 3, 2025February 4, 2025 by Zack Albert

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A longtime symbol of Winston-Salem pride is the coffee pot. A 7-foot-tall version built by local tinsmiths as an advertising device in 1858 has moved around town since its construction but still stands today near the original Old Salem settlement. The relocation came in part because of its size but also partly because curious rubberneckers would cause car accidents, and because one driver crashed into it back in the horseless-carriage age. That accident predates the construction of Bowman Gray Stadium, so no Madhouse regulars needed to be called in for questioning.

The coffee pot has come to symbolize community and the city’s welcoming spirit. So when Winston’s hometown track opened its gates Sunday evening to a national — even international — crowd for the first Cook Out Clash there, a measure of initiation from the locals felt like a mandatory rite of passage. The coffee pot became a melting pot, and the wide-eyed newbies joined the homegrown, diehard locals as the congregation.

This latest spin on what NASCAR’s preseason Clash exhibition is (and what it could be) created a rock-star atmosphere at one of its rugged original venues. The Cup Series’ first race of any sort at Bowman Gray Stadium since 1971 was greeted with lusty appreciation from a vibrant, knowledgeable crowd, one that frequently made its opinions known, whether it was to cheer a brilliant move on the quarter-mile oval’s contours or to shout out encouragement or jeers from the ever-proximate bleachers during driver introductions.

“I thought the pre-race ceremony was pretty cool,” said defending Cup Series champ Joey Logano, who finished fourth but caught his share of hoots and gibes before the engines fired. “The fans being right there, it’s what Bowman Gray is, right? You have the fans heckling you, saying whatever they want, saying you’re No. 1 in two different ways. That’s what Bowman Gray was built off of. I don’t know if you guys got the boos I got.”

At this point, Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney shrugged in response as he sat alongside in post-race interviews. “Overall, I would say it was successful, right?” Logano added. “When fans are cheering and screaming, the drivers’ brands are being exposed to everybody, which is great, right? Everyone has a favorite or not. You’re passionate about it.”

NASCAR officials noted post-race Sunday that fans from 44 states, five countries and three continents bought tickets to the 17,000-seat arena for its first major-league event in five decades. Those numbers blended with roughly 40% of ticketholders from the greater Piedmont Triad area of Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem and its surrounding communities.

SHOP: Latest Chase Elliott gear

One veteran radio voice provided anecdotal evidence that there was a sort of vetting process for the Bowman Gray first-timers, that buy-in to the rowdy atmosphere that’s given the stadium its Madhouse moniker was necessary for proper admission. For the fans, the middle-finger salute — a taboo gesture almost everywhere else — became like a secret handshake. For the drivers, any razzing from the railbirds during pre-race ceremonies was hard to ignore.

“It was neat to hear them cheering, supporting you. There’s not a lot of places we go where they’re that close and that passionate,” Blaney said. “For whatever reason, everyone wants to have their opinion heard here that’s in the stands, which is awesome to me. Good or bad, it’s awesome that they’re there and they’re wanting to interact. That is a hardcore race fan.”

NASCAR officials have taken a more aggressive approach to hosting unique events in recent years, and the non-points Clash has been a focal point for exploring where the schedule might go. The suggestion that the exhibition race might rotate to another showcase arena, to another historic venue or even to an international locale has been burbling ever since the series proved that the Olympic-style setting of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum could work.

MORE: At-track photos: Bowman Gray | All-time Clash win list

The City of Angels handed the torch to the Camel City for this year’s edition, and the rabid home crowd turned out. The venerable stadium was also ready for its prime-time network TV debut, with a thorough refresh to the arena that dates back to FDR’s second term.

“They took a facility here that’s been around for a long time and made it feel like a brand-new one,” said Denny Hamlin, who led briefly before settling for third Sunday. “The fans obviously were very, very excited to see us. They were enthusiastic. We feed into that. It felt like a big event. Even though it’s not a points-paying event or anything like that, it still feels big. You want to go wherever can give you that feel and atmosphere. There’s surely bigger venues and bigger cities to go to, but will you have this type of feel or not? That’s really what matters.”

This year’s racing calendar has barely begun, so what the 2026 schedule might hold is plenty far off. But the suggestion of putting on another pot of coffee at Bowman Gray is already out there, with many ready for that second cup of stadium joe.

“You’re going to pack it out,” Blaney said. “There’s going to be just as many people here next year as there was tonight. I don’t think it would lose any of its luster.”

Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media

Posted on February 3, 2025February 3, 2025 by Adam Fenwick

The 40th anniversary season for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour begins Saturday night at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway with the running of the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 (7:30 p.m. ET on FloRacing).

Saturday’s race at New Smyrna marks the fourth consecutive year the Modified Tour season has launched at the Florida half-mile as part of the track’s World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. Matt Hirschman claimed the first Tour event at New Smyrna in 2022, and Ron Silk won the last two events in 2023-24.

More than 30 competitors are entered to compete at New Smyrna this weekend, led by four-time and defending Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore. He’ll look to deny Hirschman, Silk and the rest of the field as he pursues his fifth title.

Tickets to the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 are available trackside. Below is everything you need to know about the opening race of the 2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season.

Cars in action during the 2024 New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 at New Smyrna Speedway. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 at New Smyrna Speedway

Making history is something with which Justin Bonsignore has become familiar. He captured his fourth NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship one season ago, making him just the fourth driver in series history with four or more titles.

Bonsignore also won his 45th Modified Tour race last fall at Martinsville Speedway, which moved him past Reggie Ruggiero for second on the all-time win list. If he can win Saturday’s New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200, he’ll add his name to yet another exclusive list.

In the history of the Modified Tour, a driver has won three consecutive races 17 times. Of those 17 times, it’s been accomplished by 11 drivers. Of those 11 drivers, only two – Richie Evans and Mike Stefanik – have won four or more. Bonsignore enters Saturday’s opening race of the 40th anniversary season riding a three-race winning streak dating back to the end of 2023. A win Saturday would put him alongside Evans and Stefanik as just the third driver to win at least four consecutive races.

A stacked field of competitors will look to deny Bonsignore another historic moment Saturday night. Among them are Ron Silk and Matt Hirschman, the only two drivers to win Modified Tour events at New Smryna. Silk has won the last two Modified Tour events at the track; Hirschman claimed the inaugural event at the venue in 2022.

Craig Lutz, who is back in the Goodie Motorsports No. 46 this year, should be considered a contender after winning the pole and leading 80 laps last year. Patrick Emerling returns for Year 2 in the No. 1 for team owner Rich Gautreau after winning three races together last year.

Jeremy Gerstner will be making his return to the Modified Tour on Saturday at New Smyrna. Gerstner was seriously injured in a crash during practice last year at New Smyrna, and his injuries forced him to sit out nearly the entire 2024 racing season.

Trevor Catalano and Austin Beers, both of whom scored Modified Tour victories last year, are among the 31 entries for Saturday’s opener. Other notables include Eric Goodale, Luke Baldwin, Tommy Catalano, Chase Dowling, Kyle Bonsignore and Tyler Rypkema, among others.

The complete entry list for Saturday’s New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 is available here.

Cars in action during the 2024 New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 at New Smyrna Speedway. (Photo: Adam Glanzman/NASCAR)

RACING REFERENCE

RACE FACTS

Race	New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200
Date	Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025
Track	New Smyrna Speedway
Layout	Half-mile asphalt oval
Location	New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Start time	7:30 p.m. ET
Laps	200
Posted Awards	$149,447
Tickets	Trackside
How To Watch	FloRacing

SCHEDULE: Saturday, Feb. 8… Practice from 2 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. ET … Final practice from 3:05 to 3:35 p.m. … Qualifying at 5:30 p.m. ET … New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 at 7:30 p.m. ET (FloRacing).

QUALIFYING: Two consecutive qualifying laps. Faster lap determines qualifying position. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on the vehicle after the vehicle has taken the green flag at the start/finish line. NASCAR reserves the right to have more than one vehicle engage in qualifying runs at the same time. Starting field for the New Smyrna Beach Area Visitors Bureau 200 is limited to 32 starters including Provisional Positions.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: The maximum tire allotment available for this event is ten (10) tires per team. All tires used for qualifying and the race must be purchased at the track and scanned by Hoosier, unless otherwise approved in advance by the Series Director. Four (4) tires must be used for qualifying and to begin the race. All qualifying tires must remain in impound until released by NASCAR Officials. The remaining tire allotment may be used for practice and/or change tires during the event. The tire change rule is two (2) tires, per stop.

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Chris Murdock

Corey Heim will once again strap in behind the wheel of the black and red No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage full-time when the Craftsman Truck Series season gets underway at Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) — and the bar is higher than ever.

The return to Truck Series action will mark Heim’s third full-time campaign in the national series division, an easy decision for the 22-year-old from Marietta, Georgia when it came time to firm up his 2025 plans.

“Those guys are awesome,” Heim said with a smile in a mid-January sitdown with NASCAR.com. “You know, it wasn’t a hard decision when they gave it to me to go back with those guys at Tricon Garage and have the same team from top to bottom, with Scott Zipadelli and the whole No. 11 crew.”

Through his previous two years in the Truck Series, Heim and his familiar Toyota team present an impressive résumé bolstered by nine wins and a combined total of 26 top-five finishes. It is a performance review that produces self-admitted high expectations for the rising talent in his quest to chase the elusive championship at season’s end.

“Certainly, I’ve had my fair share of success with those guys and couldn’t do without them,” Heim said. “Having them back for another year is, you know … our expectations are just as high as ever and we’ve yet to close it out with a championship. So, of course, that’s our primary goal, but I want to get a lot of race wins along the way.

“I certainly can’t wait to work with these guys. It’s always a privilege to be able to work with a team that’s capable of winning on a weekly basis, and I can’t wait to get started.”

There are many changes planned for the upcoming 2025 Truck Series season throughout the garage. New teams will welcome fresh faces, and several familiar names will return to the series to join Heim in the hunt for a title, as he aims to make the Championship 4 for the third year in a row.

“This year, specifically, it’s a lot of fresh faces, as you mentioned, my new teammates and some other guys coming in,” Heim said. “I saw, you know, Kaden Honeycutt is going be full-time; Layne Riggs is coming back. He was really good at the end of the year and then there are still very good guys you have, like ThorSport (Racing) and whatnot. So, yeah, some good guys are leaving, some good guys are coming in.

MORE: On the Move: Changes to know for the 2025 season

“But it’s cool to see a lot of talent in the Truck Series right now. I’m fortunate to be a part of it, and our goal remains the same: to keep winning some races and have fun while doing it.”

In addition to Heim’s full-time job for Tricon Garage, he is also a student of the sport, taking time to expand his horizons when his schedule allows him to. Heim races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing on a part-time basis, and made three Cup Series starts in 2024 split between Legacy Motor Club and 23XI Racing.

“When you’re in a development stage kind of like I am, I want to be in the Cup Series within the next few years and be full-time, of course, and compete for wins as early as possible,” Heim said. “From a development standpoint, the more you race, I feel like the more you learn. So I’ve been fortunate in the past couple of years to really make my schedule diverse and race a lot of different things to keep my mind open and fresh about different things. And you know, everyone knows how different these Cup Series cars are compared to an Xfinity car and a truck. So, having that open mind is pretty big in that sense.

“In 2020, I think I ran like seven different series, and I feel like that was a big year in my development; I finally started to win some races. And I feel like through 2021 in ARCA and beyond, up to this point, I’m unfortunate to learn some new everyday kind of thing. So it’s very important as a young driver like myself.”

The start of the 2025 season is just around the corner, with the Truck Series set to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway before you know it. At a track where anything can happen at any moment, preparations for the driver and team can be pretty tricky.

Superspeedway racing is something Heim, he admits, struggles to prepare for. For now, he’s choosing to take each event as it comes, trying to find different ways to be up front when it matters and the checkered flag flies.

“I’m not the greatest superspeedway racer by any means,” the 22-year-old acknowledged. “I’m a pretty safe guy, so I don’t make any crazy moves. And I think a guy who might, you know, lean more towards that direction of making more off-the-wall moves in the middle of the race to get track position, wherever it may be, they might do some more research on when to make those moves and whatnot.

“I feel like there does come a point, though, where I hope to be in the Cup Series, as I mentioned. And if I do race some superspeedways, eventually, I feel like I’m going to have to be more aggressive. So I think the main thing, I guess, to answer your question is just to have more of an open mind and look at how these guys, especially in the Cup Series, the best superspeedway racers, end up at the front at the end of the race.”

Only time will tell if the No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota contends up front when the Truck Series kicks off its 2025 season at Daytona next month.

And Heim knows the expectations are higher than ever — but he’s ready to deliver.

Posted on February 3, 2025February 3, 2025 by Zack Albert

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Ryan Blaney has made a recent habit of dramatic charges in the preseason Clash exhibition, with 2025 being the latest instance. In this case, this year’s drive from the back of the pack put him squarely behind old friend Chase Elliott.

Blaney managed to avoid all the chaos of the inaugural Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, but — importantly — he also sidestepped the potential formation of an angry mob had he put a Madhouse-style maneuver on NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver.

“I think we were pretty evenly matched,” Blaney said, sizing up his No. 12 Team Penske Ford against Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. “But yeah, I just, when I started to go, I just didn’t have enough right-rear (tire) and I’m like, ‘Oh, (expletive).’ Like, I’m not gonna make this pass, right? And I’m not gonna just bulldog him into him and get chased out of here with pitchforks.”

Blaney completed a stirring march from last place in the 23-car field to secure a runner-up finish in Sunday’s Cook Out Clash. It was a near-replica of his Clash effort last season, in the event’s final running at the similarly tiny Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, when he also drove from 23rd to finish third.

It wasn’t quite enough to unseat race-long dominator Elliott, who led 171 of the 200 laps. But Blaney dazzled on the tricky, historic quarter-mile, putting on a show in front of a raucous, approving crowd.

“I had a blast,” Blaney said post-race. “I was saying last year we came from last to third, this year last to second. Got to not start last and have a shot to win one of these things. Yeah, that was fun. That was a blast.”

Blaney was put in that position by trouble in Saturday’s preliminaries, where a late spin resulted in a last-place finish in his qualifying heat. His team later discovered a faulty radiator that needed replacement, and Blaney started at the rear of the Last Chance Qualifier. He started Sunday’s 75-lapper to shake his car down but relied on earning the final provisional berth in the main event as the highest points finisher in last year’s NASCAR Cup Series standings.

“We had a slight, just a radiator leak — something that we certainly don’t have,” said No. 12 crew chief Jonathan Hassler. “So fortunate that wasn’t a points race, obviously, for it to be as big a penalty for us. That kind of put us behind the eight ball, but like I said, we had a good car and were able to move forward.”

Some of the customary stadium shenanigans eventually reared up, but Blaney kept his car clean and clear of the fender fracas, methodically picking his way toward the front.

MORE: At-track photos: Clash | Race Rewind: Bowman Gray

When Blaney found his way to the No. 9 Chevy’s back bumper, Elliott confessed to some initial surprise at seeing the bright No. 12 there. But Elliott also quickly recalled Blaney’s knack for navigating tracks where passing tends to be most difficult, noting his determined drive to victory in last year’s Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway.

“I think the race track was racy, and there was enough tire wear that it allowed that to happen where a guy could conserve and make smart decisions and claw his way up there. Ryan certainly did that,” Elliott said. “He has become elite at places like Martinsville and here and Phoenix and some of these shorter tracks. You really have to be mindful of all those things.

“Yeah, when I saw him, I was, like, ‘Man, didn’t he start last?’ Then I thought about it a little more. I thought, ‘That’s really not all that surprising at all as good as he was at Martinsville in the fall.’ This isn’t super different from that. It is different, don’t get me wrong, but there are a lot of similarities. Not super-surprised to see him up there by the end.”

It was a sentiment shared by Hassler, who will have to do one finishing position better in next year’s Clash to continue the team’s trend.

“He’s a great short-track racer,” Hassler told NASCAR.com. “I mean, he’s able to pass on a lot of tracks where guys struggle to pass at, like Martinsville. This is our second year in a row to come from the back — we were third last year at LA and to get to second this year — so he’s just a really good short-track racer, and obviously, we gave him a good car as well.”

Posted on February 2, 2025February 3, 2025 by Reid Spencer

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Pole winner Chase Elliott held off a dramatic charge from Ryan Blaney to win Sunday night’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in front of a teeming, vociferous sellout crowd at the historic quarter-mile.

Adroitly working lapped traffic in the closing stages of the 200-lap season-opening exhibition race, Elliott crossed the finish line 1.333 seconds ahead of Blaney, who started last among the 23 competitors on a driver points provisional.

Elliott claimed his first victory in The Clash, which came to Bowman Gray after a three-year stint at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet reveled in the NASCAR Cup Series’ return to the iconic short track after an absence of 54 years.

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos

“This environment is special,” said Elliott, who led 171 laps, including the first 96, before surrendering the lead to eventual third-place finisher Denny Hamlin. “This is a place that has a deep history in NASCAR. I think they deserve this event, truthfully.

“I hope we didn’t disappoint. It was fun for me at least, and we’ll hopefully come back here one day.”

Hamlin led twice for 28 laps but faded after Elliott retook the top spot from him on Lap 126. And when Blaney slipped past Hamlin’s Toyota on Lap 147, it became a two-driver race.

But Blaney’s car tightened up in the late going, preventing the No. 12 Team Penske Ford driver from challenging for the win. Blaney thought better of making an overly aggressive move on the series’ seven-time Most Popular Driver Award winner.

“I’m not going to bulldog into him and get chased out of here with pitchforks,” Blaney quipped. “… I just didn’t quite have enough right rear at the end to make a move on him.”

WATCH: Elliott discusses Clash victory | Elliott on how “experience” makes Bowman Gray win all the more special

Joey Logano finished fourth, followed by Bubba Wallace, who advanced from his 14th-place starting position. Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Tyler Reddick, Shane van Gisbergen and Chris Buescher completed the top 10.

Hamlin rued the final restart on Lap 121 after the seventh caution for Brad Keselowski’s spin off Wallace’s bumper.

“I just didn’t do very well on that restart there and kind of lost the bottom, and Chase took advantage of it,” Hamlin said. “Once you get the lead, it’s a lot easier to hang on to it.

“I thought that they were just a little better that second half than we were, along with the 12 (Blaney) was as well. We just have to get a little bit better, but overall, a good day for our Sport Clips Toyota.”

In the Last Chance Qualifier that determined positions 21 and 22 in the main event, Kyle Larson charged from the 10th starting position and survived nine cautions to win the 75-lap event and advance to the Clash.

On Lap 72, Larson grabbed the lead from Josh Berry, who was making his first competitive start for Wood Brothers Racing at the track where team patriarch and NASCAR Hall of Famer Glen Wood secured all four of his Cup Series victories.

SHOP: Chase Elliott winner’s gear

Larson took the top spot for the first time on Lap 30 and led a race-high 36 circuits en route to the win. However, Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet sustained damage after he surrendered the lead to Erik Jones for a restart on Lap 65.

In a melee moments after racing resumed, Jones spun in a three-wide mishap with Berry and Larson and dropped out of contention.

“My car was way better than it was yesterday,” said Larson, whose eighth-place finish in his Saturday heat relegated him to the Last Chance Qualifier. “That was fun. I was able to get to the front without really getting into too many people.

“But then after that long break (for local champion Burt Myers’ hard wreck on Lap 61), I cycled really tight for that restart and allowed Erik to get in front of me and just kind of lost control of the race at that point. Then, the next restart, it got crazy, and I got a bunch of damage.”

Berry, who started 13th, held second to secure the 22nd spot in the Clash. Berry and Larson finished 13th and 17th, respectively, in the main event.

“It got pretty rough,” Berry said. “You hate that it comes to that, but it is what it is—it’s the ‘Madhouse,’ it’s Bowman Gray Stadium, it’s a tight race track, and you’re going to run into each other.”

MORE: 2025 Cup Series schedule

The Cup Series will officially kick off the 2025 regular season at Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 16 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

NOTE: Post-race inspection was completed without issue in the Cup Series garage, confirming Chase Elliott as the winner.