FitStop Performance 2025 Week 24 Power Rankings

The road course portion of the season has now come to a close. Tip for NASCAR next year: do not schedule 4 of road course races within a 9 week span unless you fix the car. Watkins Glen hosted one of the quickest Cup Series races in recent memory. Clocking in at about 2 hours long, it was a brisk race that managed to drag. Yes, Shane van Gisbergen continued his dominate ways as he picked up his fourth straight road course win. However, the racing issues stemmed outside of the lead. Passing was near impossible until tire falloff hit the extreme. Before then, the track looked like your local go-kart track with single file lines. Luckily, fans were saved from another fuel mileage race like last week. For Watkins Glen, how did it alter the FitStop Performance 2025 Week 24 Power Rankings?

#10 – Chris Buescher

Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention

Breaking back into the rankings this week is Chris Buescher. Outside a so-so qualifying effort, the Watkins Glen weekend went nearly perfect. Buescher managed to pick up the Stage 1 win. Despite falling down the leaderboard on the following restart, the strategy played well into Buescher’s hands at the end. Only a last lap pass by Christopher Bell spoiled the inverse 1-2 finish from last year.

#9 – Bubba Wallace

Previous Ranking: 10

For the first time in his career, Bubba Wallace has strung together 4 straight Top-10s. An improved road racer, Wallace did not falter in upstate New York. While he never established himself as a top car, the 23 driver did manage the race well and finished ahead of his 23XI teammate.

#8 – Ryan Preece

Previous Ranking: 9

Up a spot this week, Ryan Preece continued to demonstrate his growth on the lefts and rights. A fumbled last pit stop placed Preece deeper in the field than expected for the final run. Although he slipped out of the Top-10, it was a strong effort from the 60 team. However, his points position is starting to look bleak against his RFK Racing teammate.

#7 – Kyle Larson

Previous Ranking: 5

The summer slump continued for Kyle Larson at Watkins Glen. A brake issue early sent the 5 car behind the wall for 15 laps. Despite the negative track position, Larson did manage to set the fastest lap for the day. At least there was something worthwhile to his race. Still, Larson has only managed 2 Top-10s since Pocono.

#6 – Tyler Reddick

Previous Ranking: 7

The question raised last week is continuing to look more valid as time goes on. Tyler Reddick’s road racing expertise has been shockingly missing from the 45 team. This was another race where Reddick simply vanished into the mid-pack. It is surprising to see that he managed to pick up a Top-10 based on how his overall race felt.

#5 – Chase Elliott

Previous Ranking: 3

Of all places for the Top-20 streak to end, it is bizarre that it happened at Watkins Glen. Chase Elliott played for the points in Stage 1 and that decision seemingly bit the 9 team in the rear-end. Unlike Ryan Preece and Chris Buescher, Elliott could never find his way forward after finishing Stage 1 in fourth. After showing strength at Mexico City and Sonoma, Watkins Glen being a struggle for Elliott certainly is a surprise.

#4 – Denny Hamlin

Previous Ranking: 2

Back-to-back bad races for Denny Hamlin has him falling down the rankings a bit. Before his spin from contact with Ross Chastain and Kyle Busch, Hamlin remained marred deep in the field. That scuffle in Turn 7 (or 11) only helped to worsen the day.

#3 – Chase Briscoe

Previous Ranking: 6

There are few drivers on a hotter streak than Chase Briscoe. While being the front row master of the 2025 season, Briscoe is also on a stretch where he has a Top-5 in 5 of the last 8 races. If you remove Atlanta, the 19 car has been one of the best cars in the field in each of those races. Briscoe surges ahead in the rankings this week, which might have been deserve earlier than Week 24.

#2 – Ryan Blaney

Previous Ranking: 4

The biggest shock of the weekend was that Ryan Blaney claimed the pole on Saturday. Besting Shane van Gisbergen in qualifying, Blaney also led the initial 18 laps of the race. Deciding to flip the first stage, Blaney would regain the lead at the end of Stage 2. Blaney scored the stage win and led the initial part of the final stretch of the race. Barely missing out on a Top-5 finish was still enough to put him second in the rankings.

#1 – William Byron

Previous Ranking: 1

After a brief bit of hot potato for the top spot, William Byron holds the lead in the FitStop Performance Power Rankings. Coming off the win in Iowa, Byron put together another solid race. As per usual, the 24 team starts to regain their form as the regular season draws to a close. Currently, Byron leads the way in the regular season championship battle. With a strong performance at Richmond, the 24 team can lock up that championship with a race left to go. However, the top spot in the rankings will remain a battle through the end of the year.

Honorable Mention

Christopher Bell – Despite finishing second, Christopher Bell barely misses out on rejoining the power rankings this week.

Alex Bowman – Alex Bowman faded late in the running after pitting early for tires. He drops out of the rankings this week while losing points to Chris Buescher.

Ross Chastain – A Top-10 at Watkins Glen snaps a four race streak without one for Ross Chastain.

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