FitStop Performance 2025 Week 25 Power Rankings

After weeks of disappointing racing, the NASCAR Cup Series delivered a quality race. This time, it was on a short track of all places. A huge credit has to be given to Goodyear for the tire they brought. Essentially copying the option tire from last year, the falloff was enough to allow for passing all race long. Tire management played a huge role, as different drivers could maximize their runs by saving early. Since this is NASCAR though, a good race cannot be without a downside. Austin Dillon once again pulled out an upset win by dominating the final third of the race, which locked himself into the playoffs despite sitting 25th in points. Putting that aside, it is refreshing to write a power rankings article after a good race compared to last week‘s drag. How did Richmond shake up the FitStop Performance 2025 Week 25 Power Rankings?

#10 – Brad Keselowski

Previous Ranking: Not Ranked

Overlooked despite his recent improvement in performance, Brad Keselowski features inside the Power Rankings for the first time this season. Since the Coca-Cola 600, Keselowski and the 6 team have stepped up their game. Through the first 12 races, Keselowski was averaging a 27.2 finish with no Top-10s. Over the past 13 races, that has improved to 8 Top-10s with an average finish of 13.8. His last 7 races on ovals have seen the 6 car finish no worse than 10th.

#9 – Alex Bowman

Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention

Breaking back into the power rankings this week, Alex Bowman looked to be the fastest car on track in the closing laps. However, he had too much distance to cover mixed with stubborn lapped traffic. Despite the second place finish, Bowman now heads to Daytona uneasy about his playoff chances.

#8 – Tyler Reddick

Previous Ranking: 6

The first of two “what ifs” for 23XI Racing. Tyler Reddick lagged a bit behind his teammate, but the 45 had contending speed. However, an impatient Daniel Suarez bumped Ty Gibbs into Reddick. That caused Reddick to smack the outside wall. From there, the car was never the same. Despite leading 41 laps and winning Stage 1, Reddick slides down the rankings this week.

#7 – Bubba Wallace

Previous Ranking: 9

Part 2 of the 23XI Racing “what ifs”. Bubba Wallace looked to be the car to beat on Saturday night. He led the most laps in the race. Although Austin Dillon jumped him on the restart to start the final stage, clean execution would have kept the 23 car in contention. Instead, the pit crew failed to secure one of his tires on a green flag pit stop. Wallace managed to find Toyota’s safety crew (the 19 team) on pit road, but the race was lost during this incident.

#6 – Chase Elliott

Previous Ranking: 5

The week after finishing outside the Top-20 for the first time this season, Chase Elliott followed it up with his first DNF. Outside of a questionable call to not pit during the first stage, the DNF was purely bad luck. After avoiding the stack up in Turn 3, Elliott got clipped by a recovering Kyle Busch. Finishing last on Saturday, this also took Elliott out of the running for the regular season championship.

#5 – Kyle Larson

Previous Ranking: 7

Was Saturday night a return of the Kyle Larson of old? No. Was it some positive momentum after a summer of bad results? Yes. Larson picked up a 6th place finish and managed to lead 9 laps in the Cook Out 400. A solid, yet unremarkable night helps boost the team morale after one of the worst stretches for Larson in the 5 car.

#4 – Denny Hamlin

Previous Ranking: 4

The 11 car looked fast and Denny Hamlin knows his way around Richmond Raceway. Unfortunately, his pit crew decided to get all of the potential playoff gaffes out of the way on Saturday night. Three straight pit stops had issues for Hamlin. Despite the strong car, Hamlin constantly being buried in traffic kept him from sniffing a better finish.

#3 – Chase Briscoe

Previous Ranking: 3

When Chase Briscoe went spinning after contact with Kyle Busch, his night looked to be essentially over. However, there was limited damage from the incident and Briscoe managed to finish on the lead lap. In fact, he was the last car on the lead lap by the time the checkered flag waved.

#2 – William Byron

Previous Ranking: 1

It is a bit odd to write that William Byron clinched the regular season championship on Saturday while he falls out of the top spot. With all of the trouble the other contenders have faced in recent week, Byron managed to clinch the championship despite a mediocre day. Only scoring 2 stage points all race, Byron never factored for more than a Top-10. Still, the regular season championship should be a good boost for this team heading into the playoffs after Daytona.

#1 – Ryan Blaney

Previous Ranking: 2

For the first time all season, there is a Ford driver sitting at the top of the FitStop Performance Power Rankings. Ryan Blaney manages to climb his way to the top of the rankings this week after a podium finish at Richmond. For a majority of the final stage, it looked to be a battle between Austin Dillon and Blaney. During the first pit cycle, Blaney jumped Dillon. After a lengthy battle, Dillon pulled ahead and left the 12 team scrambling to answer the call. Although Blaney did not manage to pick up the win, he does enter Daytona as the top driver in the rankings.

Honorable Mention

Christopher Bell – Christopher Bell should have made his way back into the rankings this week. However, a pit lane violation spoiled Bell’s race.

Ryan Preece – What happened to RFK Racing this week? For Ryan Preece, the 60 car never drove the same after their strategy sent them to the mid-pack.

Chris Buescher – Short tracks have been the 17 team’s undoing. Richmond was another bad car Chris Buescher as he falls out of the rankings and playoffs.

The brainchild of Hunter Smith, FitStop Performance is dedicated to training the toughest around – from motorsports athletes to multi-tasking soccer moms. He desires to help everyone who walks through the doors of his gym to perform optimally throughout life. FitStop Performance is in its second season sponsoring the weekly FitStop Performance Power Rankings which tracks the highest-performing NASCAR Cup Series drivers throughout the season. Give them a follow (Facebook, Instagram, X) and thank them for their sponsorship!