The 2025 NASCAR season presents a fresh slate for the Cup Series field, but a few drivers will be under pressure to deliver standout performances. Here are five drivers who need a big season next year:
Bubba Wallace
Although Wallace had his best statistical season in 2024, it still fell short of expectations. Since joining 23XI Racing in 2021, his growth has been evident, but his progress appears to have plateaued. Wallace missed the playoffs in 2024 and hasn’t visited Victory Lane since Kansas in September 2022. With teammate Tyler Reddick making the Championship 4 in 2024, Wallace, alongside new crew chief Charles Denike, will face heightened scrutiny as the 2025 season unfolds.
Ryan Preece
Preece’s move to RFK Racing and the new No. 60 car gives him his best shot yet in the Cup Series. However, he’ll be measured against teammates Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher, both of whom were race winners in 2024. With Keselowski and Buescher considered strong playoff contenders for 2025, Preece will need to deliver solid performances to secure long-term stability with the team and avoid criticism in his debut year at RFK.
PKyle Busch
After a strong start in 2023 with three wins in the first 15 races, Busch and Richard Childress Racing have struggled, culminating in a winless 2024 season—his first since debuting in 2005. While his seat at RCR isn’t in jeopardy, Busch must return to Victory Lane to regain momentum as he approaches the twilight of his career. Another winless season could bring retirement discussions closer to reality.
Denny Hamlin
Despite remaining highly competitive, Hamlin faces mounting urgency to win his first championship. At 44, time isn’t on his side, and his last Championship 4 appearance was in 2021. A string of unusual setbacks has kept him from serious contention in recent years. With a new crew chief, Chris Gayle, joining him from Ty Gibbs’ team, 2025 could be Hamlin’s best chance to break through. If not, comparisons to NASCAR legend Mark Martin as one of the best without a title will continue to grow.
Chase Briscoe
Briscoe will be under the spotlight as he takes over the No. 19 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing, replacing the retired Martin Truex Jr. While his job isn’t immediately at risk, driving for a top-tier team brings high expectations, even in his first season. Briscoe, who has long been considered a rising star hindered by underperforming Stewart-Haas Racing equipment, now has the chance to prove he belongs among NASCAR’s elite with JGR’s superior resources.
Each of these drivers has something to prove, making the 2025 season a pivotal one for their careers.
