With the start of the NASCAR season, here is a glance at five cutting races not to be missed in 2025.
1. Talladega eliminatory race (October 19 on NBC)
The event of last year was the intermediate race in the second round and presented an accident of 23 cars.
This year’s race is entering the third round. This means that it will have a direct impact on who – and perhaps who does not – in the championship race.
So many things can happen in a superspeedway race and put it so deep in the playoffs can only add to chaos and Talladega drama.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won last year’s race, stifling Brad Keselowski by 0.006 seconds. Could this be the difference between a pilot going to championship 4 this year?
2. Daytona 500 (February 16 on Fox)
This highly anticipated event rarely manages to deliver theater and excitement.
The last four years have presented a first winner of Daytona 500: Michael McDowell (2021), Austin Cindric (2022), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (2023) and William Byron (2024).
Primer by Daytona 500: What to know about the opening of the Nascar Cup season in 2025
It will not take long before the cars are on the right track at Daytona International Speedway and the Daytona 500 takes the green flag.
Kyle Busch did not win this race. He will make his 20th attempt to do so. Dale Earnhardt won his only Daytona 500 in 1998 in her 20th departure there.
Denny Hamlin seeks to win his fourth Daytona 500, who would bind him with Yarborough for second place on the list of all time of the victories of Daytona 500.
3. Martinsville Playoff Race (October 26 on NBC)
The last race before the championship event experienced its share of fireworks and drama.
The arrival of last year saw the controversy Some drivers helping William Byron and Christopher Bell, based on their manufacturer Alliance and Nascar Criminalization Bell for having led the wall in the last round in a decision similar to what Ross Chastain did in 2022 to make the 4 championship.
Last year also saw Ryan Blaney Rally to win to move forward. In 2022, Christopher Bell had to win in Martinsville to obtain a place in the championship race and did it.
So many things can happen on this track, you never know what could come.
4. Phoenix Championship Race (November 2 on NBC)
Everything comes down to this race for four pilots. The Penske team won the Championship in Phoenix each of the last three years – Joey Logano in 2022 and ’24 and Ryan Blaney in 2023. Hendrick Motorsports won the title before that with Kyle Larson in 2021 and Chase Elliott in 2020.
5. Mexico (June 15 on the premium video)
Nascar becomes international with his first points race in the modern era.
The series will run on the 2.674 mile road route which housed the XFINITY series from 2005 to 2008.
This race could create interesting scenarios. Shane Van Gisbergen – Or another star of the road race – can he mark a victory to win a place in the playoffs? Will Hendrick Motorsports continue his domination on road lessons? Or will someone else emerge to win this inaugural event?
