Five NASCAR Drivers Who Should Be Feeling More Pressure
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is still in its early stages, with only five races completed. However, despite the mix of superspeedways, road courses, and traditional oval tracks, some drivers have already established themselves as top contenders, while others have struggled to find success.
One of the biggest surprises so far has been Christopher Bell, who pulled off an impressive streak of three consecutive wins at three vastly different tracks—Atlanta Motor Speedway, Circuit of the Americas (COTA), and Phoenix Raceway. Another unexpected development was Josh Berry’s first career Cup Series victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, leading a top-three finish that included two other drivers with minimal past success.
While some drivers have exceeded expectations, others have underperformed. However, despite their lack of results, these five drivers are not currently seen as being in danger of losing their seats—though perhaps they should be if they don’t improve.
1. Ty Gibbs
At one point, Ty Gibbs was considered NASCAR’s next superstar. However, despite driving for his grandfather’s team and having solid sponsorship from Monster Energy, his performance has been lackluster. Currently sitting in 34th place in the standings with no top-15 finishes, Gibbs’ struggles date back to the end of the 2024 season, where he finished outside the top 30 in the last five races.
Some might compare his slow start to Chase Elliott, who also needed three seasons to secure his first Cup win. But unlike Elliott—who was consistently competitive in his early years—Gibbs hasn’t shown the same promise, especially given that his team has already won three of the first five races this season.
2. Austin Dillon
Another driver racing for his grandfather’s team, Austin Dillon, finds himself in a similar position. He currently sits 32nd in the standings and hasn’t finished inside the top 16 in regular season points since 2016.
One thing working in Dillon’s favor is his ability to pull off unexpected victories to clinch playoff spots. Since the current postseason format was introduced in 2014, he has done this four times—more than any other driver. However, after finishing 29th and 32nd in the standings over the past two seasons, his reliance on these surprise wins may no longer be a sustainable strategy.
3. Riley Herbst
Riley Herbst took four full seasons to win his first Xfinity Series race, and even after improving in 2024 with two wins and a strong playoff push, many doubted whether he would be competitive at the Cup level with 23XI Racing.
So far in 2025, those concerns seem valid. Herbst’s best finish in five races is 17th place, and he currently ranks 27th in the standings. Meanwhile, his teammates Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace are both inside the top 12.
Adding to the uncertainty, Joe Gibbs Racing’s sponsorship situation with Denny Hamlin is reminiscent of what happened to Kyle Busch after M&M’s left. With Hamlin owning his own team, it’s not unthinkable that he could eventually replace Herbst if 23XI decides to make a change.
4. Shane van Gisbergen
While many are willing to give rookie Shane van Gisbergen time to adjust, his early Cup Series performances have been underwhelming. Trackhouse Racing signed him as a third driver despite a relatively disappointing 2024 season, likely hoping he could secure a road course win and earn a playoff spot.
Van Gisbergen currently sits 31st in points, with his only top-22 finish being a sixth-place run at COTA. Though he was in contention at Homestead-Miami Speedway, his restart struggles proved costly.
If he can win on a road course and lock himself into the playoffs, the doubts may subside. But if he doesn’t, Trackhouse Racing could have a problem—especially given their apparent willingness to move on from Daniel Suárez, who just finished second at Las Vegas. With young talent like Connor Zilisch waiting in the wings, van Gisbergen’s time to prove himself could be shorter than expected.
5. Chase Briscoe
Chase Briscoe was one of the most hyped drivers entering 2025 after moving to Joe Gibbs Racing, particularly after securing a win with a struggling Stewart-Haas Racing team last season. However, he has struggled to deliver consistent results so far.
Since starting the year with a pole and a fourth-place finish in the Daytona 500—the best finish by a pole-sitter in that race since 2000—Briscoe has failed to place higher than 14th. His lack of speed is even more concerning when considering that his teammate Christopher Bell has already won three races.
Even though Briscoe signed a multi-year contract to replace Martin Truex Jr., expectations remain high at Joe Gibbs Racing. With the No. 19 team now in a long winless drought dating back to July 2023, the pressure is mounting for Briscoe to step up and prove he belongs.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season continues this Sunday, March 23, at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Straight Talk Wireless 400. The race will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 at 3:00 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action through a free trial of FuboTV.
