Ranking 5 unforgettable moments of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season ended on November 2 with Kyle Larson celebrating his second career title. Larson finished third in the Phoenix finale, which was the highest among the Championship 4.

Denny Hamlin finished second in points, followed by Chase Briscoe and William Byron. Ryan Blaney won the season finale. Chevrolet won the Constructors title.

The season was also the first year of a new TV deal and a new charter agreement. Starting in 2026, the championship race leaves Phoenix for Homestead-Miami Speedway, although Phoenix will stay in the playoffs.

Bob Pockrass posted his rundown of the top five moments from this NASCAR Cup Series season via Fox Sports. Below is the breakdown of the NASCAR Cup Series' 2025 season's 5 unforgettable moments.

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#5 “Too scared to make the call” shakes up the NASCAR Cup Series

In this NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire, Ty Gibbs fought hard against teammates Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell even though he was not in the playoffs. Around lap 110, Hamlin and Bell had faster cars and needed to move forward.

Gibbs did not give up the spot and raced them for several laps. Hamlin grew frustrated and eventually bumped Gibbs. Gibbs hit the outside wall, and his race ended.

Right after the contact, Hamlin asked over the radio if the team was “too scared” to give Gibbs orders.

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#4. Blaney’s Daytona win keeps Bowman alive in the NASCAR Cup Series

The regular-season finale at Daytona turned into one of the biggest moments of the NASCAR Cup Series season. Ryan Blaney was 13th with two laps left in the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

The 31-year-old caught a strong run in the high lane and pushed forward. At the line, Blaney won in a four-wide photo finish. Daniel Suárez finished second by 0.031 seconds and Justin Haley third by 0.036 seconds. Both Suárez and Haley needed a win to get into the playoffs.

Blaney’s win locked Alex Bowman into the final playoff spot. If any new winner had taken the race, Bowman would have missed the postseason.

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#3. Tire calls decide the NASCAR Cup Series championship fight

The Phoenix title race came down to one caution and one choice. Denny Hamlin dominated the day, leading 208 of the 312 laps. With three laps left, a crash brought out a caution that destroyed his lead. During the final pit stops, Hamlin took four tires. Kyle Larson took two right-side tires.

Hamlin restarted 10th among traffic. Larson restarted ahead of all the other title contenders. With only two laps of overtime, Larson kept his track position while Hamlin could not climb through the pack. Larson finished third in the race and won the NASCAR Cup Series championship by out-finishing the rest of the Championship 4.

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#2. Bell sticks to his word in the NASCAR Cup Series race at COTA

At COTA on March 2, Christopher Bell won his third straight win in the NASCAR Cup Series. He had said he wanted to race Kyle Busch clean after spinning him the year before.

Late in the race, he waited for Busch to slip. Busch made back-to-back mistakes in Turn 2, and Bell moved past without any contact.

Busch lost momentum and dropped to fifth, partly because early light contact had bent his right-rear toe link. Bell’s clean pass was one of the most respected moves of the season and completed a strong three-race win streak.

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#1. Elliott grabs opening in wild NASCAR Cup Series Kansas finish

The top moment of the NASCAR Cup Series season, as per Fox Sports, happened during the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas. Bubba Wallace led on the final lap of double overtime. Denny Hamlin was under him entering the final turns.

Hamlin’s car tightened because of power steering trouble and slid up into Wallace. Both cars lost speed and drifted toward the wall. Chase Elliott was close behind. As both cars slowed, he cut to the inside and passed them.

Elliott won the race by 0.069 seconds. Wallace hit the wall and finished fifth. The sudden opening and Elliott’s timing made this the season’s No. 1 unforgettable moment.