On Sunday, Josh Berry earned the primary win of his NASCAR Cup Sequence profession at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and the a hundred and first win for the legendary Wooden Brothers. Right here’s the place the Cup Sequence area stands following the fifth race of the 2025 season.
(Final week: 1)
Bell’s quest for a four-peat got here up quick in Las Vegas, however it wasn’t totally his fault. A throttle physique challenge after qualifying pressured Bell to start out on the again, and a unfastened wheel in the midst of Stage 2 relegated Bell to the again of the pack. He was in a position to drive again to twelfth by the point the checkered flag flew.
(Final week: 2)
Byron had one of many quickest vehicles on Sunday, however a puzzling technique possible price him a shot at his second win of 2025. Byron nonetheless completed fourth, however he had a chance to finish up in victory lane if he was on the appropriate facet of pit technique.
(Final week: 4)
Las Vegas could have been Bowman’s most spectacular race of the 2025 season. After ending second in Stage 2, Bowman was trapped a lap down for a portion of the race. Nevertheless, he rebounded to complete seventh, notching his fourth top-10 end within the first 5 races. Bowman’s been one of the crucial constant drivers to date this season and presently sits fifth within the standings.
(Final week: 8)
Mar 16, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Kyle Larson through the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Photos
Larson lastly appeared like himself at Las Vegas, and sure had the most effective automobile on Sunday. He led 61 laps and gained Stage 2 en path to a ninth-place end, however like Byron, a method transfer that was poor on reflection doomed his probabilities of successful. The excellent news? The circuit travels to a different one in all Larson’s finest tracks in Homestead-Miami Speedway subsequent week.
(Final Week: 3)
Reddick was relegated to a Twenty fourth-place end after he, too, was bitten by a poor technique name. Regardless of the poor end, he’s nonetheless third within the standings after Las Vegas and has been in a position to hold tempo with Bell and Byron early within the season. He’s additionally the defending winner at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the place the Cup Sequence will race subsequent week.
(Final week: 9)
Elliott hasn’t had a lot pace to talk of early within the season, however he and the No. 9 staff hold discovering a approach to grind out good finishes. Elliott’s common operating place was 14.35 on Sunday, and he completed tenth. His quiet driving type to date this yr has him sitting fourth in factors.
(Final week: 10)
Chastain hasn’t had race-winning pace to date in 2025, making his fifth-place effort at Las Vegas on Sunday a breath of contemporary air. If Trackhouse and Chastain can proceed to carry quick vehicles to the observe, extra top-five runs are within the playing cards.
(Final week: 11)
Mar 8, 2025; Avondale, AZ, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Bubba Wallace throughout qualifying for the Shrines Youngsters’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Photos
Like his 23XI Racing teammate in Reddick, extenuating circumstances relegated Wallace to a Twenty eighth-place end on a day the place he led 20 laps and earned 14 stage factors. If the No. 23 staff can begin to end the place they run, Wallace shouldn’t have a problem making the playoffs.
(Final week: 6)
Buescher silently completed thirteenth on Sunday and sits ninth within the factors after 5 races. His quiet, constant method of racing ought to hold him within the playoff hunt for the remainder of the common season.
(Final week: 12)
A observe crash on Saturday pressured Blaney to start out final. Nevertheless, he was in a position to make his manner by means of the pack fairly effectively – till he was concerned in a crash with 73 laps to go. He in the end completed thirty fifth to cap a irritating weekend.
(Final week: 13)
A Sixteenth-place end wasn’t ideally suited on a day the place McDowell began on the pole and led the opening lap, however it was a good outcome nonetheless. McDowell sits 14th in factors after 5 races and has given Spire Motorsports the soundness it wants because it grows right into a contender.
12. Josh Berry
(Final week: 16)
Mar 16, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Josh Berry celebrates his victory following the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Photos
Berry’s first profession Cup Sequence win was a sight to see on Sunday. In Berry’s finest Cup Sequence efficiency up to now, Berry led 18 laps and ran inside the highest 10 all day. It’s time for Berry and the Wooden Brothers to be thought of a top-10 risk each week.
(Final week: 7)
Hamlin didn’t have a lot pace on Sunday, and a Twenty fifth-place end dropped him to twelfth in factors. The No. 11 staff hasn’t appeared like itself to date in 2025, however an excellent run at Homestead-Miami Speedway would go a great distance in altering that.
(Final week: Not Ranked)
Cindric gained Stage 1 and completed sixth on Sunday in his finest non-superspeedway efficiency of 2025. If Cindric can constantly put collectively good days on intermediate tracks, he’ll be regarded as a a lot larger risk weekly.
(Final week: 15)
Nemechek hasn’t had a flashy begin to 2025, however he snagged one other top-20 end on Sunday and sits fifteenth in factors. Homestead-Miami will likely be one other litmus take a look at to see what the No. 42 staff is made from.
(Final week: Not ranked)
Mar 16, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Ryan Preece through the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Photos
Preece used technique to his benefit on Sunday, ending third to earn his first top-10 of 2025. RFK Racing struggled to seek out pace as a complete on Sunday, however Preece led the best way for the group when the checkered flag flew.
