Man, what a year. If you’re looking for the nascar playoff standings today 2025, you probably already know that the dust has finally settled on one of the most polarizing seasons in recent memory. We’ve moved past the checkered flag at Phoenix, but the impact of those final points is still rippling through the garage area as teams prep for 2026.
Honestly, the way Kyle Larson clinched his second title was kinda wild. He didn't even win the final race. He finished third at Phoenix, but because he was the highest-placing driver among the Championship 4, he took home the big trophy. It’s that classic playoff drama where consistency throughout the year matters, but being the best on one specific Sunday in November matters more.
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The Final 2025 Playoff Picture
Let’s get straight to the numbers. The final standings aren't just a list of names; they’re a roadmap of who survived the gauntlet.
Kyle Larson ended the year at the top with 5,034 points. He’s now a two-time champ, joining a very elite club. Right on his bumper was Denny Hamlin with 5,031 points. Seriously, three points. That is a heartbreaking margin for Hamlin, who is basically the greatest driver to never win a Cup title at this point.
Chase Briscoe took third in the final tally with 5,019 points. His move to Joe Gibbs Racing clearly paid off way faster than people expected. Rounding out the top four was William Byron at 5,004 points. Byron actually won the Regular Season Championship, which usually gives you a huge buffer, but it wasn't quite enough to seal the deal in the finale.
Beyond the Championship 4
It’s easy to forget about the guys who got knocked out in the Round of 8 or the Round of 12, but their final positions still carry weight for end-of-year bonuses and bragging rights.
- Christopher Bell: Finished 5th (2,403 pts). He was a threat all year but just couldn't crack that final four.
- Ryan Blaney: 6th place. The 2024 champ had a solid title defense, but the consistency wasn't quite there in the closing weeks.
- Joey Logano: 7th place. You can never count him out, but 2025 felt like a "down" year by Penske standards.
- Chase Elliott: 8th place. He’s back to his winning ways, but the deep playoff run fizzled out late.
- Tyler Reddick: 9th place.
- Ross Chastain: 10th place.
It’s worth noting that Shane van Gisbergen—yeah, the road course wizard—finished 12th in his rookie full-time season. That’s massive. He didn't just win on street circuits; he actually learned how to hang on the ovals.
The Controversy Nobody Talks About
The "win and in" format has been the law of the land for a decade, but 2025 was the final straw for some fans. Larson won the title without a victory in the final months of the season.
Experts like Dale Earnhardt Jr. have pointed out on various podcasts that while Larson was the "best" driver statistically over 36 races, the playoff format almost made him a victim of his own success. He had so many playoff points banked that he could afford a few bad finishes. Some say that cheapens the title; others say he earned that "buffer" by dominating the summer.
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What Happens to the Standings Now?
Technically, the nascar playoff standings today 2025 are frozen. The books are closed. However, NASCAR just dropped a massive bombshell for the 2026 season. They are ditching the "win and in" knockout rounds and returning to a "Chase" style format that emphasizes season-long consistency.
If we had used the 2026 rules for the 2025 season, Larson still would have won, but the margin would have been different. It’s basically NASCAR’s way of admitting that the "Game 7" moment at Phoenix was starting to feel a bit forced.
Key Takeaways for Fans
If you're tracking these stats to see how your driver fared, here's the reality:
- Chevrolet Dominance: Hendrick Motorsports and Trackhouse kept the Bowtie on top.
- Toyota's Heartbreak: Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell were right there but couldn't close.
- The Ford Struggle: Outside of Blaney and Briscoe, the Fords looked a step behind on the intermediate tracks.
If you want to keep up with the 2026 transition, you should start looking at the "Regular Season" points more closely. The days of winning a random race at Talladega and "resting" until the playoffs are pretty much over.
You should definitely check out the official NASCAR entry lists for the 2026 Daytona 500 soon. Teams like Haas Factory Team (the remnants of Stewart-Haas) and the expanded 23XI Racing are already moving pieces around. The 2025 standings tell us who was fast, but the 2026 rule changes tell us who will actually be "smart" enough to win under the new system.
Keep an eye on the Next Gen car updates too. There's talk of another horsepower bump for the short tracks, which could completely flip the standings we saw this past year. For now, Larson wears the crown, but the throne looks a lot more unstable than it did a year ago.
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Next Steps:
- Review the 2026 NASCAR schedule to see how the new playoff tracks like Homestead-Miami (the new finale!) change the strategy.
- Track the "silly season" driver movements, especially with veterans like Martin Truex Jr. having officially stepped away from full-time racing after 2025.