With the 2024 NASCAR Cup Collection season within the rearview, let’s hand out report playing cards to the full-time drivers who made up the sector.
Drivers are listed so as of automobile quantity they predominantly had throughout the season.
No. 1 Ross Chastain: B-
Chastain’s win at Kansas on Sept. 29 obscured a irritating 2024 marketing campaign. Chastain missed the playoffs for the primary time with Trackhouse Racing, and his 2022 run appears a long time away. He’ll want a giant 2025 to make sure he is nonetheless counted as certainly one of NASCAR’s elite.
No. 2 Austin Cindric: C+
Like Chastain, Cindric’s lone win in 2024 — which got here in St. Louis on June 2 — hid an in any other case mediocre season. Driving the flagship automobile at Workforce Penske shouldn’t be a activity for the weak, and thru three seasons, Cindric hasn’t regarded worthy of the trip.
No. 3 Austin Dillon: D+
There’s not a lot to say about Dillon that hasn’t been mentioned already. His win at Richmond on Aug. 11 is ceaselessly tainted because of the nature during which he gained the race, and 2024 continued a slide for the No. 3 workforce that does not appear to have an finish in sight.
No. 4 Josh Berry: C+
At one time, it appeared as if Berry may problem Carson Hocevar for Rookie of the 12 months. A second-half collapse ensured that did not occur, however there’s loads of causes for optimism for Berry going into 2025.
No. 5 Kyle Larson: A+
Larson did not win the championship, however he gained six races and was a risk to win on a weekly foundation. He enters 2025 as one of many championship favorites, and can as soon as extra be a weekly contender to win.
No. 6 Brad Keselowski: B
Talking of wins, on Might 21 at Darlington, Keselowski discovered his manner again to victory lane for the primary time since April 2021. The No. 6 workforce could not put collectively a playoff run, however Keselowski and RFK Racing are on the rise.
No. 7 Corey LaJoie: D
In a “show it” 12 months for LaJoie, issues could not have gone a lot worse. He traded rides with Justin Haley with seven races left, and whereas Haley has a deal signed for 2025, LaJoie presently doesn’t. 2025 can be a vital 12 months as LaJoie seems to be to regain momentum and confidence.
No. 8 Kyle Busch: C-
Busch’s first winless season ranks among the many worst of his profession. As his profession wanes, each alternative to snag a win should be jumped on.
No. 9 Chase Elliott: B+
Like Keselowski, Elliott additionally broke an extended winless streak at Texas on April 7. He additionally made the playoffs a 12 months after lacking out attributable to his leg damage, and almost gained at Martinsville to advance to the Championship 4. Count on him to be again in title competition in 2025.
No. 10 Noah Gragson: C
Gragson’s 2024 season featured just a few strong top-10 runs amid an in any other case common marketing campaign. His first 12 months with Entrance Row Motorsports in 2025 can be his finest Cup Collection alternative but.
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: B+
Regardless of a three-win season, it is laborious for Hamlin to really feel thrilled after as soon as extra arising shy of a championship. He didn’t make the Championship 4 for the third 12 months in a row, and with time operating out on his driving profession, 2025 is the most important 12 months of his profession.
No. 12 Ryan Blaney: A
Blaney got here up one spot in need of his second consecutive title, however he solidified himself as among the best within the sport. Do not be shocked if he is competing for the title once more in 2025.
No. 14 Chase Briscoe: C+
Briscoe’s 2024 season wasn’t spectacular, however he delivered Stewart-Haas Racing’s remaining Cup Collection win on the Southern 500. For a driver who grew up a Tony Stewart fan, that is a reminiscence that may ceaselessly outline his season.
No. 17 Chris Buescher: B
Do not look now, however Buescher has rapidly develop into probably the most constant drivers within the Cup Collection. Whereas he missed the playoffs, he discovered his manner again to victory lane at Watkins Glen, bumping Shane van Gisbergen out of the best way in an epic end.
No. 19 Martin Truex Jr: B-
It appeared like Truex Jr.’s thoughts was already on the lake for a lot of his swan track season, however he did sufficient to make the playoffs. He additionally gained the pole for the ultimate two races of the season, a particular reminiscence for a driver who has contributed a lot to the game.
No. 20 Christopher Bell: A-
Bell’s 2024 season will at all times be remembered for the race manipulation scandal at Martinsville that knocked him out of the Championship 4, however the No. 20 workforce put collectively one other strong marketing campaign. Bell has taken over Hamlin’s place as the highest canine at Joe Gibbs Racing — no small feat for a driver in solely his fifth Cup Collection season.
No. 21 Harrison Burton: D-
Burton’s 2024 season was horrendous, save for his first profession win at Daytona — the one hundredth for the Wooden Brothers — that acquired him into the playoffs. He’ll must rebuild his profession to get one other Cup Collection alternative, and a trip with AM Racing within the Xfinity Collection for 2025 would be the first step.
No. 22 Joey Logano: A+
Because the champion, Logano receives an A+ by default, however do not let that idiot you. Logano and the No. 22 workforce performed the system to a T, however they weren’t aggressive for a majority of the season.
No. 23 Bubba Wallace: B-
Wallace went winless in 2024 and missed the playoffs, however he put collectively his finest statistical season to this point. With a brand new crew chief in Charles Denike for 2025, he’ll have a chance to take a giant step ahead.
No. 24 William Byron: A-
Like Bell, the insanity at Martinsville would be the story of Byron’s 2024 season. Nevertheless, a second consecutive Championship 4 berth and a Daytona 500 victory made for a season that solidified Byron as a contender for years to return.
No. 31 Daniel Hemric: D
Hemric’s 2024 season was simply probably the most forgettable of any driver. An unremarkable Twenty ninth-place factors end led to Hemric being demoted in 2024 to the Truck Collection, the place he’ll take over the No. 19 truck for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.
No. 34 Michael McDowell: C
McDowell was at all times quick in qualifying — he led the Cup Collection with six poles — however he was unable to get again to victory lane. He’ll start 2025 with a brand new workforce (Spire Motorsports).
No. 38 Todd Gilliland: C+
Gilliland’s regular growth within the Cup Collection has been enjoyable to observe. With McDowell leaving Entrance Row Motorsports, Gilliland would be the chief of the workforce in 2025, and might be a sleeper choose to earn a playoff berth.
No. 41 Ryan Preece: D
Not a lot went proper for Preece in 2024, however it wasn’t completely his fault. Just like the groups of Berry, Gragson and Briscoe, his workforce was shutting down on the finish of the season. He’ll get his finest Cup Collection alternative but with RFK Racing in 2025.
No. 42 John Hunter Nemechek: F
A final-place factors end tells you all there’s to learn about Nemechek’s 2024 season. The excellent news is the one manner for Nemechek and Legacy Motor Membership to go is up.
No. 43 Erik Jones: D+
Like Nemechek, Jones and LMC did little to impress in 2024. A again damage suffered by Jones at Talladega damage his factors end, however the workforce should make main strides in 2025.
No. 45 Tyler Reddick: A
The one factor holding Reddick from incomes high marks is the workforce’s lackluster efficiency within the championship race. Except for that, although, the No. 45 workforce was spectacular, profitable the regular-season championship and three races. Reddick can be a title risk as soon as extra in 2025.
No. 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr: C+
Stenhouse Jr.’s 2024 was fairly forgettable — till he beat Keselowski to the road in an exciting photograph end at Talladega to earn his fourth profession win. With a rebranded No. 47 workforce in 2025, he is hoping to search out extra velocity.
No. 48 Alex Bowman: B+
Bowman broke an extended winless streak within the Chicago Road Race and initially made the Spherical of 8 earlier than being disqualified in post-race inspection. His quiet consistency exhibits that regardless of his critics, he is not a driver to be taken evenly.
No. 51 Justin Haley: D+
For all of the hype surrounding Haley, a Thirty first-place factors end was slightly disappointing. The excellent news is Haley is aware of the place he’ll be racing in 2025, as he’ll reunite with Spire Motorsports — this time as a full-time driver.
No. 54 Ty Gibbs: B-
Gibbs made the Cup Collection playoffs for the primary time in 2024, however his season was marred by mechanical points. He is nonetheless in search of his first Cup Collection win going into 2025, in addition to consecutive playoff appearances.
No. 71 Zane Smith: C-
Smith’s abysmal first half of the season gave approach to a strong second half. He is now a scorching free agent, and a few rumors have him reuniting with Entrance Row Motorsports to drive its third Cup Collection entry in 2025.
No. 77 Carson Hocevar: B-
Except for just a few remoted incidents, Hocevar largely saved a cool head in his rookie season. Mixed along with his stellar efficiency, all indicators level to Hocevar being a future Cup Collection star and a possible dark- horse playoff driver in 2025.
No. 99 Daniel Suarez: C+
Suarez’s thrilling three-wide victory at Atlanta was the height of his season. A visit to the second spherical of the postseason was good, however he should put collectively consecutive strong seasons to solidify himself as a contender.
