What We Know and Don’t Know After Five Races in the NASCAR Cup Season
Top Teams Remain Strong Without Rule Changes
What we know: With no major changes to car regulations, top teams continue to perform well. Despite lacking a top-10 finish, reigning champion Joey Logano has led the most laps so far. William Byron has carried his strong form from last season into this year, winning the Daytona 500 and earning multiple top finishes. Christopher Bell has dominated early, winning three of the first five races.
What we don’t know: Whether this season will see underdog drivers break through like last year when Harrison Burton and Ty Gibbs made the playoffs for the first time. Several drivers, including Josh Berry (who won at Las Vegas) and others like John Hunter Nemechek and Ryan Preece, are looking for their first playoff berths.
Champions Often Start Slow
What we know: The past three Cup champions didn’t secure their first wins until May, and all three titles went to Team Penske, which historically starts the season slow before peaking later.
What we don’t know: Whether this will be the breakout year for Christopher Bell or William Byron. Three of the last five champions won their first Cup title, and both drivers are strong contenders to follow that trend.
Points Leader vs. Race Wins
What we know: Despite Christopher Bell winning three races, William Byron leads in points due to his consistent stage finishes. Byron has outscored Bell by 31 in stage points, helping him maintain a 29-point lead. Bubba Wallace has also gained significantly from stage points, which account for 44% of his total.
What we don’t know: Whether stage wins will remain evenly distributed. So far, nine different drivers have won the 10 stages this season, with Kyle Larson being the only driver to claim more than one.
Pit Road Mistakes Are on the Rise
What we know: Pit road has been chaotic, with 21 speeding penalties in the past two races—almost matching the total from the first five races last season. There have also been multiple incidents of wheels coming off, including for Kyle Larson’s team at COTA.
What we don’t know: Whether teams will clean up mistakes or continue pushing pit stop limits. Officials are investigating possible reasons for loose wheels, including rushed execution and timing issues.
Hendrick Motorsports Leading, But Championship Uncertain
What we know: William Byron leads the standings, and all three of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates—Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman, and Kyle Larson—are in the top six.
What we don’t know: Whether the team can break its championship drought, having gone three seasons without a title, which would be its longest since 2006.
Kyle Busch Shows Progress, But Winless Streak Continues
What we know: Kyle Busch has found consistency, securing three top-10 finishes in a row, his longest streak since last season.
What we don’t know: Whether he can finally snap his 62-race winless streak. Upcoming races at Darlington and Bristol could present strong opportunities for him to return to victory lane.
