Looking at the NASCAR Cup Series grid, there are eleven multi-car teams with sizes ranging from two to four cars. But which driver from each can claim to be the best?
Motorsport.com considered race wins, average finish, head-to-head weekly battles, and the final championship result of each of the team’s full-time drivers in deciding who was the ‘No. 1 driver’ within each organization. Part-time drivers for each team were not included in these statistics.
Race wins, top fives and top tens will also play a critical role. Other data and variables could be factored in and mentioned in the explanations in order to differentiate those drivers who ended the year on similar footing. Now, here are the numbers:
Hendrick Motorsports — Kyle Larson
Championship result: Larson (1st) beats Byron (4th), Elliott (8th), and Bowman (13th)
Head-to-head: Larson (13) beats Byron (11), Elliott (8), and Bowman (4)
Race wins: Larson/Byron equal (3), beating Elliott (2) and Bowman (0)
Top 5s: Larson (15) beats Byron (11), Elliott (11), and Bowman (6)
Top 10s: Larson (22) beats Elliott (19), Byron (16), and Bowman (16)
Average finish: Elliott (12.6) beats Larson (13.2), Byron (14.5), and Bowman (17.4)
EXPLANATION: While Larson has been quiet (until Sunday), he has been consistent, steadily marching his way through the season and ending it with more top fives and top tens than any of his teammates, despite no wins since May. He earned as many wins as Byron, but he did it all in the first third of the year. And of course, that championship trophy makes this an easy decision, even without him leading five of the six categories.
Joe Gibbs Racing — Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Championship result: Hamlin (2nd) beats Briscoe (3rd), Bell (5th) and Gibbs (19th)
Head-to-head: Hamlin/Bell equal (12), beating Briscoe (9) and Gibbs (3)
Race wins: Hamlin (6) beats Bell (4), Briscoe (3), and Gibbs (0)
Top 5s: Briscoe (15) beats Hamlin (14), Bell (13) and Gibbs (5)
Top 10s: Bell (22) beats Briscoe (19), Hamlin (18), and Gibbs (10)
Average finish: Bell (11.2) beats Briscoe (12.7), Hamlin (14.0), and Gibbs (17.9)
EXPLANATION: Each of the JGR drivers have their own strengths, but in the end. Hamlin leads two categories, Bell leads two, Briscoe leads one, and Hamlin/Bell are tied in head-to-head matchups. Bell was the most consistent of the JGR quartet, but Hamlin was clearly the fastest. Hamlin managed to lead over 1000 laps, more than triple what Bell achieved, while also out-pacing Briscoe. Briscoe was impressive in his first year with the organization, especially in qualifying, but without that win at Talladega vaulting him into the final four, it would be easy put him behind Bell and third among the JGR drivers.
Team Penske — Ryan Blaney
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford; Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Photo by: Michael Bush – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Championship result: Blaney (6th) beats Logano (7th) and Cindric (14th)
Head-to-head: Blaney (21) beats Logano (12) and Cindric (3)
Race wins: Blaney (4) beats Logano and Cindric (1)
Top 5s: Blaney (15) beats Logano (7) and Cindric (2)
Top 10s: Blaney (19) beats Logano (13) and Cindric (5)
Average finish: Blaney (14.6) beats Logano (15.3) and Cindric (20.9)
EXPLANATION: This was a clean sweep for Blaney! Had he won at Martinsville, we could be calling him champion right now with his victory in the finale. He led his teammates in all of the above categories, and enjoyed his winningest season yet as a Cup driver. Interestingly, the Penske drivers are consistent across the board with the order being Blaney-Logano-Cindric in every category.
Trackhouse Racing — Ross Chastain
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Championship result: Chastain (10th) beats Van Gisbergen (12th) and Suarez (29th)
Head-to-head: Chastain (17) beats Van Gisbergen (10) and Suarez (9)
Race wins: Van Gisbergen (5) beats Chastain (1) and Suarez (0)
Top 5s: Van Gisbergen (5) beats Chastain (4) and Suarez (2)
Top 10s: Chastain (12) beats Van Gisbergen (7) and Suarez (7)
Average finish: Chastain (15.8) beats Suarez (20.9) and Van Gisbergen (21.0)
EXPLANATION: SVG’s numbers got boosted by his incredible prowess on road and street courses, giving him a historic rookie season, but still, there’s no dethroning Chastain as Trackhouse’s flagship driver. He was the top-finisher in almost half of the races, and ended the year with an average finish 5+ positions higher than his teammates.
23XI Racing — Tyler Reddick
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Championship result: Reddick (9th) beats Wallace (11th) and Herbst (35th)
Head-to-head: Reddick (18) beats Wallace (15) and Herbst (3)
Race wins: Wallace (1) beats Reddick and Herbst (0)
Top 5s: Reddick (7) beats Wallace (6) and Herbst (0)
Top 10s: Reddick/Wallace equal (14), beating Herbst (0)
Average finish: Reddick (14.5) beats Wallace (18.5) and Herbst (26.4)
EXPLANATION: This was a very difficult one, even though Reddick led Wallace in four categories. Wallace still won a crown jewel event while Reddick went winless, and he was also one corner away from another victory that would have pushed him into the Round of 8. But even with a huge win in the Brickyard 400, Reddick was right with or narrowly surpassing Wallace in many of these categories. They were equal on top tens, while Reddick had one more top five. Looking beyond these numbers, Wallace did lead over 200 laps more than Reddick this season, but Reddick secured two poles to Wallace’s zero. It’s definitely the closest these two teammates have ever been over the course of a single year, but it’s still advantage Reddick…barely.
RFK Racing — Chris Buescher
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Championship result: Buescher (17th) and Preece (18th) and Keselowski (20th)
Head-to-head: Buescher (17) beats Keselowski (10) and Preece (9)
Race wins: Buescher/Preece/Keselowski equal (0)
Top 5s: Buescher (5) beats Keselowski (6) and Preece (3)
Top 10s: Buescher (16) beats Preece (14) and Keselowski (13)
Average finish: Buescher (14.3) beats Preece (15.7) and Keselowski (18.5)
EXPLANATION: Advantage Buescher in every category, despite an impressive first year by Preece with the team. None of the RFK drivers made the playoffs or won a race, but Buescher was the best of the rest (drivers who failed to make the playoffs) for the second consecutive year. However, this trio remains tightly linked in terms of overall performance.
Spire Motorsports — Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet; Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Photo by: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Championship result: McDowell (22nd) beats Hocevar (23rd) and Haley (31st)
Head-to-head: McDowell (15) beats Hocevar (13) and Haley (8)
Race wins: McDowell/Hocevar/Haley equal (0)
Top 5s: McDowell (3) beats Hocevar (2) and Haley (1)
Top 10s: Hocevar (9) beats McDowell (6) and Haley (2)
Average finish: McDowell (18.2) beats Hocevar (21.6) and Haley (22.2)
EXPLANATION: This was a surprise as one would likely be quick to place Hocevar as the No. 1 driver at Spire this year, but the controversial driver had trouble getting to the end of races without trouble. He has raw speed that surpasses his teammates on most weekends, but the execution still isn’t there. McDowell is a solid veteran, and led the team in most of these categories this year, but it could have easily been Hocevar if he cleaned it up a bit.
Front Row Motorsports — Todd Gilliland
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Photo by: Logan Riely / Getty Images
Championship result: Gilliland (27th) beats Smith (28th) and Gragson (34th)
Head-to-head: Smith (14) beats Gilliland (13) and Gragson (9)
Race wins: Gilliland/Smith/Gragson equal (0)
Top 5s: Gilliland/Smith/Gragson equal (1)
Top 10s: Gilliland/Smith equal (5), beating Gragson (3)
Average finish: Gilliland (20.8) beats Smith (21.1) and Gragson (25.2)
EXPLANATION: An extremely tough one. Smith and Gilliland were very close, especially towards the end of the year. They even matched each other in top fives and top tens, and were separated by just one point at season’s end! On facts alone, Gilliland is ahead in two of the above categories while Smith wins one, while being tied in three! Since Gilliland did manage to come out on top in the final points result and average finish, it’s Gilliland by the narrowest of margins.
Richard Childress Racing — Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Championship result: ADillon (15th) beats Busch (21st)
Head-to-head: Busch (21) beats ADillon (15)
Race wins: ADillon (1) beats Busch (0)
Top 5s: Busch (3) beats ADillon (1)
Top 10s: Busch (10) beats ADillon (5)
Average finish: Busch (17.9) beats ADillon (20.8)
EXPLANATION: Another interesting one, and while Dillon only beat Busch in the final standings due to an impressive win at Richmond, Busch beat him in 21 of 36 races, even with the No. 8 finding a lot of trouble on track. He also beat him in top fives, and notably earned twice as many top tens. For these reasons, Busch leads the way for RCR.
Legacy Motor Club — Erik Jones
Erik Jones; Legacy Motor Club Toyota; John Hunter Nemechek, Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Photo by: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Championship result: Jones (24th) beats Nemechek (25th)
Head-to-head: Nemechek (20) beats Jones (16)
Race wins: Jones/Nemechek equal (0)
Top 5s: Jones (4) beats Nemechek (2)
Top 10s: Nemechek (8) beats Jones (5)
Average finish: Jones (20.2) beats Nemechek (20.3)
EXPLANATION: Things were close at FRM, but this is even harder. Jones and Nemechek were also separated by a single point in the final standings, and they nearly ended the year with the exact same average finish. Nemechek did beat Jones in head-to-head finishes and top tens, but Jones scored twice as many top fives. In the end, Jones leads three categories, while Nemechek leads two. Jones was also a slightly better qualifier, and while it’s a bit of a coin toss, the numbers lean Jones.
Kaulig Racing — A.J. Allmendinger
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images
Championship result: Allmendinger (26th) beats TDillon (33rd)
Head-to-head: Allmendinger/TDillon equal (18)
Race wins: Allmendinger/TDillon equal (0)
Top 5s: Allmendinger (2) beats TDillon (0)
Top 10s: Allmendinger (7) beats TDillon (1)
Average finish: Allmendinger (21.8) beats TDillon (24.6)
EXPLANATION: An easy decision here as the veteran Allmendinger dominated Dillon for most of the year. However, they did end 2025 tied in head-to-head matchups, but a big factor in that is Allmendinger’s many DNFs — eight total, including four in the final eight races. Whenever they aren’t tied, Allmendinger as the advantage, so it has to be A.J. in the end.
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