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The cup series hosted five races this year at many of the types of tracks that will play a key role throughout the season, including the cut that the title race will offer.
The series ran at a Superspeedway (Daytona), a 1.5 mile set-up (Atlanta), a pad (Circuit of the Americas), a flat track of 1 mile or less (Phoenix) and a traditional 1.5 mile lane (Las Vegas).
Phoenix is holding the championship race for the sixth consecutive season in November. Las Vegas will be the opening race in the third round, which will determine which four drivers will chase for the title on Phoenix.
What we know and don’t know after five points -racing this season? This …
When rules do not change, top teams remain the same
What we know: There was no significant rule change with the car last season. So far, the transfer from the end of last year to this year has been clear.
While Joey Logano does not have a top 10 final, the Reigning Cup champion has led the most rounds this season as it was 247 of 1,141 rounds ahead-21.6% of the rounds. He shows some of the power he had in last year’s playoffs just without the results.
William Byron also ended last season with seven consecutive top -10s. He started this year with a Daytona 500 win, a runner-up at Cota and a fourth place in Las Vegas.
Christopher Bell, who achieved eight top five finals in the last 12 races of last season, won three of the first five races this year.
What we don’t know: If it’s a year of underdogs like last year. In 2024, Harrison Burton and Ty Gibbs each made the playoffs for the first time. Burton was one of the four drivers who were out of the top -16 at the end of the ordinary season in points that scored a play -off match with a win. The other three were Chase Briscoe, Daniel Suarez and Austin Cindric.
Will there be any other newcomers or so many drivers outside the top 16 in points to make the playoffs?
Josh Berry’s victory last weekend at Las Vegas assures everyone, but assures his first cup play -off match. Others who are looking for their first appearance in the Cup play -offs are John Hunter Nemecheek (15th in points for Legacy Motor Club), Ryan Preece (18th in points for RFK races), Carson Hcevar (22nd in points for Spire Motorsports) and Todd Gilliland (24th in points for front row).
Josh Berry achieves his first win in the Career Cup and gives Wood Brothers with his 101st series win.
Will this year break a trend?
What we know: Over the past three years, the cup champion has not won the first time to May. Of course, the last three championships of Team Penke, which in each of the years began slowly to claim the title.
What we don’t know: If this is truly Christopher Bell’s year or William Byron’s year? Three of the last five Cup champions won the crown for the first time. Bell and Byron are strong candidates to continue the trend.
Las Vegas had part of the highs and lows for some in the cup.
How the stage points affect the season
What we know: While Christopher Bell achieved three wins, William Byron is the score leader. Stage points are a factor in it. Byron leads Bell with 29 points. Byron exceeded Bell by 31 in stage points.
Another driver who benefited from the stage points this season is Bubba Wallace. He scored 55 stage points, including the 10 points he earned to win his Daytona qualifying race. Those 55 points represent 44% of its point total this season. He entered Sunday’s race at Homestead 11th in the standings. At this time last year, the stage points represented only 11.2% of its point total, after scoring 12 stage points below his 107 points.
What we don’t know: If the parity wins in the stage, victory will continue. Nine different drivers won the ten phases in the first five races of the season. Kyle Larson is the only driver to have won a stage more than once and did so in Atlanta and Las Vegas.
What happens on Pit Road?
What we know: Pit Road had his share in chaos this season. The past two races have been 21 fast penalties – almost equal to the number of fines that have been in the five races last season in the five races. Las Vegas also saw two teams lose wheels on the track. Kyle Larson’s team also lost a wheel on the track at Cota.
What we don’t know: In the search for faster pit stops and winning track position, teams push the limits. It is also early in the season and teams can be prone to more mistakes.
Brad Moran, managing director of the cup series, spoke about wheels on Siriusxm Nascar Radio’s “The Morning Drive” on Tuesday, saying: ‘For whatever reason, it seems like we have something going on. I discussed it with many of the crew heads and (team). I wouldn’t say fast (the matter for wheels, temporarily and trying to do it, but it happened, but I think it has a good time, but I think it’s a good time to do as much as possible in the shortest period.
Will it be Hendrick Motorsports year?
What we know: Daytona 500 winner William Byron leads the points and his teammates are all in the top six. Chase Elliott is fourth, Alex Bowman is fifth and Kyle Larson is sixth.
What we don’t know: If the organization, which has not won the championship for the past three years, will avoid the drought of the longest title since 2006.
What about Kyle Busch?
What we know: He finished in the top -10 in Atlanta, Cota and Phoenix, his longest line since he scored four top -10s in a row last year in Michigan, Daytona, Darlington and the play -off game in Atlanta.
What we don’t know: While Busch sees progress with Richard Childress Racing. While his winless streak is at 62 races, this team looks closer to a win than it has done throughout the past season. Upcoming races at Darlington and Bristol could be places where he wins again in the cup.
