Before the attention pivots to the exciting 2025 season, which kicks off with the highly-anticipated Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 2 and the prestigious Daytona 500 on February 16, let’s delve into the highlights and lowlights experienced by Cup teams during the 2024 campaign.
23XI Racing — Good news: Tyler Reddick achieved an impressive fourth-place finish in the points standings, signifying a milestone for the organization as it marked the first instance of having a car reach the Championship 4. This season saw Reddick achieving a remarkable career high in top-five finishes (12) and top-ten placements (21), complemented by his notable three race victories. Additionally, he clinched the coveted regular-season championship. Meanwhile, teammate Bubba Wallace also celebrated a career achievement, setting record highs with six top-five finishes and 14 top-ten results this season. Bad news: Despite these successes, Wallace’s failure to qualify for the playoffs left questions unanswered about the organization’s future plans for 2025, especially in light of the ongoing legal proceedings against NASCAR. When questioned about participation in the upcoming Clash and Daytona 500, co-owner Denny Hamlin responded with an ambiguous “TBD” (to be determined) and expressed hope for resolution, saying, “There’s certain things that we’re going to have to navigate so I hope so.”
Michael Jordan’s passion for racing, a love that traces back to his father’s influence, remains an important foundation of 23XI Racing.
Front Row Motorsports — Good news: Michael McDowell celebrated a career milestone, claiming a personal-best of six poles this season after having never previously won a Cup pole. His outstanding performance included leading a career-high 256 laps throughout the year. Moreover, Todd Gilliland showcased his potential by leading 130 laps, marking a significant improvement for the team. Bad news: The organization faces uncertainty regarding its plans for 2025, with ongoing litigation against NASCAR raising concerns. To compound challenges, the team failed to secure any victories this season after previously celebrating a notable win in 2023.
Hendrick Motorsports — Good news: William Byron triumphed in the prestigious Daytona 500 event, making headlines as he spearheaded a stunning 1-2-3 finish for Hendrick at Martinsville during the spring race. Additionally, Kyle Larson had an outstanding season, capturing a series-high six victories, winning 12 stages, and leading an impressive 1,700 laps—the most in the series. Larson’s jaw-dropping victory at the spring Kansas race came by the narrowest margin in NASCAR history, finishing just .001 seconds ahead of his competitors. Alex Bowman’s hard-fought win on the streets of Chicago broke an 80-race winless drought, while Chase Elliott’s celebrated victory at Texas marked the end of a 42-race winless streak for him. Overall, Hendrick Motorsports dominated the season, clinching the most wins (11) and making history by achieving this feat for the fourth consecutive year, a remarkable accomplishment not seen since Hendrick’s dominance from 1995 to 1998. Bad news: Adverse weather conditions interrupted Larson’s ambitious plans to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, a goal he intends to pursue in 2025. Furthermore, Alex Bowman faced disqualification at the Charlotte Roval during the playoffs due to his car failing to meet minimum weight specifications, costing him a critical playoff spot in the Round of 8.
NASCAR’s controversial decision during the playoffs proved pivotal, propelling William Byron into the title race while eliminating Christopher Bell from contention.
Joe Gibbs Racing — Good news: Christopher Bell celebrated a significant victory at the grueling Coca-Cola 600, solidifying his place among the season’s top competitors. He also excelled in stage performances, finishing with 11 stage wins, just behind Kyle Larson’s tally of 12. Denny Hamlin continued to demonstrate his prowess by winning three races this season, achieving the noteworthy milestone of securing multiple wins for six consecutive seasons. Meanwhile, Martin Truex Jr. showcased sustained excellence by leading 555 laps, marking the 10th straight season he has commanded over 500 laps—an extraordinary feat achieved by only five other drivers in NASCAR history. Bad news: In a surprising development, Joe Gibbs Racing faced a significant setback by failing to place a car in the Championship 4 for the first time since 2014. Furthermore, the organization endured an agonizing stretch, going winless in the final 18 races of the season. In what marked a poignant conclusion to his full-time Cup career, Truex was unable to secure a victory, while rookie Ty Gibbs concluded the season with five consecutive finishes of 30th or worse, raising concerns about his performance.
JTG Daugherty Racing — Good news: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. captured victory at Talladega, marking his fourth career win in the series and achieving the remarkable milestone of securing wins in consecutive seasons for the first time in his professional journey. Bad news: Stenhouse concluded the season in a disappointing 25th position in the points, recording his second finish of 25th or worse in the last three years, highlighting a need for improvement moving forward.
Kaulig Racing — Good news: Shane van Gisbergen made waves by grabbing the team’s inaugural Cup pole this season at the Charlotte Roval, while AJ Allmendinger led the team with a commendable five top-10 finishes during the campaign. Daniel Hemric showcased remarkable consistency, uniquely completing 99.4% of all laps run this season, totaling an impressive 9,744 laps. Bad news: Despite some bright spots, Kaulig Racing’s overall performance left much to be desired, with its cars finishing 28th and 30th in owner points after disappointing results of 21st and 25th respectively in the previous season.
Legacy Motor Club — Good news: Jimmie Johnson has confirmed his return to the track, expressing intentions to race in select events in the upcoming season, although the exact number remains unclear. Erik Jones distinguished himself with the team’s best finish this season, securing a commendable fifth-place result at Talladega during the playoffs, while John Hunter Nemechek managed an impressive sixth-place finish at Bristol in the spring. Bad news: Despite some highlights, the struggles were evident as Jones and Nemechek combined to finish 25th or worse a staggering 41 times throughout the season. Adding to the difficulties, Nemechek concluded the year ranked 34th in driver points, the lowest among drivers participating in every race this season.
The final 14 Cup races — including all 10 playoff races — are set to air on either NBC or USA Network in 2025, providing fans with extensive coverage of the thrilling events.
Richard Childress Racing — Good news: Austin Dillon’s impressive win at Richmond in August ensured that the organization maintained its streak of at least one victory for three consecutive seasons, an achievement not accomplished since the period of 2011-2013. Meanwhile, Kyle Busch showed strong form with back-to-back runner-up finishes at Daytona and Darlington late in the regular season. Bad news: However, the season was marred by disappointment as Kyle Busch concluded it winless, marking the end of his remarkable NASCAR record streak of 19 consecutive seasons with at least one victory. Furthermore, Busch’s early playoff elimination was compounded by Dillon’s win at Richmond not counting towards playoff eligibility after he received penalties for contact with Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap.
Rick Ware Racing — Good news: Achieving a significant milestone, the organization secured its second career top-five finish with Cody Ware finishing a commendable fourth at Daytona in August. Additionally, Corey LaJoie participated in the final seven races of the season with the team, where his best finish was a respectable 14th at Las Vegas. Bad news: Despite these successes, the team faced challenges as their cars ranked 34th and 36th in owner points throughout the season, indicating a need for substantial improvement going forward.
RFK Racing — Good news: Brad Keselowski ended a long winless streak, claiming his first victory since joining RFK Racing ahead of the 2022 season by winning at Darlington in May—a highly anticipated win after 110 races without a victory. In addition, Chris Buescher achieved a milestone by winning at Watkins Glen, marking at least one victory for him in three consecutive Cup seasons. Bad news: Despite his impressive performance, Buescher ultimately failed to qualify for the playoffs. His heart-wrenching defeat at the spring Kansas race was particularly memorable, as he lost to Larson by a NASCAR record margin of just .001 seconds.
Spire Motorsports — Good news: Carson Hocevar emerged as the rookie of the year, boasting a total of six top-10 finishes during the season, showcasing his significant potential. Additionally, Justin Haley demonstrated consistency by ranking second in laps completed this year, managing a remarkable 99.3% completion rate. Zane Smith also made headlines with a career-best second-place finish at Nashville. Overall, the organization experienced its most successful season to date, achieving a career-best 14 top-10 finishes in 2024 compared to only three in 2023. Bad news: However, challenges persisted, as Hocevar’s car ranked 21st in owner points, while the team’s other two cars lagged behind, finishing 31st and 32nd in owner points.
Stewart-Haas Racing — Good news: Chase Briscoe concluded a challenging season on a high note, scoring a much-celebrated win in the regular-season finale at the Southern 500, which also marked the end of an extensive 93-race winless period. Noah Gragson showcased his progress with a season-best third place at Talladega during the spring, while Josh Berry also impressed, matching Gragson with a third-place finish at both Darlington and New Hampshire. Ryan Preece had reasons to celebrate too, achieving a season-best fourth-place finish at Nashville. Bad news: Regrettably, the team confirmed its closure with the end of the season, signaling a bittersweet conclusion to its operations.
Team Penske — Good news: Team owner Roger Penske’s establishment has triumphed in the past three Cup championships, solidifying its status as a formidable force in racing. Joey Logano added to the narrative by brilliantly claiming his third Cup title at Phoenix, marking his second championship victory in the past three years. Logano was particularly formidable in the playoffs, garnering three of his four wins during this critical period, including the thrilling season finale at Phoenix, which also signified Team Penske’s 150th Cup victory. In a strong rebound, Ryan Blaney finished second in the points a year following his championship win. Additionally, Austin Cindric broke an extensive 85-race winless streak with his notable victory at Gateway in June. Bad news: Is there truly any bad news to report for a team basking in championship glory?
Joey Logano stands out as one of only five drivers in NASCAR history to secure three Cup titles before reaching the age of 35, demonstrating an impressive career trajectory.
Trackhouse Racing — Good news: Daniel Suarez ended a long 57-race winless streak, securing a dramatic victory at Atlanta, triumphing by narrowly edging out Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in what was an unforgettable finish—the closest 1-2-3 finish in NASCAR series history. Additionally, Ross Chastain showcased his racing prowess by clinching a win at the fall Kansas race, marking at least one victory in three consecutive seasons. Bad news: Despite these accomplishments, Chastain faced disappointment as he fell short of making the playoffs, leaving fans and the team hopeful for a more competitive future.
Wood Brothers Racing — Good news: Harrison Burton achieved a remarkable victory at Daytona in August, earning his first-ever playoff berth and showcasing his considerable potential. Bad news: However, the joy was tempered by inconsistency, as Burton unfortunately finished in 30th or worse in 16 of the 36 points races this season, pointing to areas for improvement in the coming year.
What were the main factors contributing to the team’s inconsistent performance throughout the season?
Bad news: Despite the success, the team’s overall performance was hampered by inconsistent results throughout the season, with Logano’s victory being one of the few highlights. Additionally, Ryan Blaney struggled to find form, finishing outside of the top 10 in multiple races, and the team faced challenges in securing a strong playoff presence, leaving fans eager for improvement in the upcoming season.
