NASCAR Cup Series 2025: Unpacking the Fiercest Intra-Team Rivalries

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, a whirlwind of high-octane competition, also showcased intense internal rivalries within its multi-car teams. Motorsport.com’s comprehensive analysis, utilizing race wins, average finishes, head-to-head weekly battles, and final championship standings, reveals the drivers who emerged as the undisputed leaders within their respective organizations. This deep dive aims to identify the "No. 1 driver" in each of the eleven multi-car teams, excluding part-time competitors from the statistical evaluation.

Hendrick Motorsports: Kyle Larson Secures Top Honors Amidst Strong Team Performance

Hendrick Motorsports, a perennial powerhouse in NASCAR, fielded a formidable quartet in 2025. While Kyle Larson ultimately claimed the championship title, his intra-team dominance was a multifaceted achievement. Larson’s championship result saw him finish ahead of Alex Bowman (13th), Chase Elliott (8th), and William Byron (4th). In head-to-head battles throughout the season, Larson secured 13 victories against his teammates, significantly outperforming Bowman (4), Elliott (8), and Byron (11).

In terms of race wins, Larson and Byron were equally impressive, each securing three victories. Elliott trailed with two wins, while Bowman ended the season winless. Larson’s consistency shone through in top-five finishes, where he amassed 15, surpassing Byron (11), Elliott (11), and Bowman (6). This trend continued in top-ten finishes, with Larson accumulating 22, followed by Elliott (19), and then Byron and Bowman, both with 16. However, William Byron demonstrated superior consistency in average finish, placing 12.6, slightly ahead of Larson’s 13.2, Byron’s 14.5, and Bowman’s 17.4. Despite not leading every statistical category, Larson’s championship trophy and superior top-five and top-ten counts cemented his position as Hendrick Motorsports’ leading driver, even with a mid-season lull in victories.

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Joe Gibbs Racing: Denny Hamlin Edges Out a Tight Competition

Joe Gibbs Racing’s driver lineup presented a compelling intra-team battle, with Denny Hamlin ultimately emerging as the team’s top performer. Hamlin’s championship finish at second place placed him ahead of Christopher Bell (5th), Chase Briscoe (3rd), and Jenson Gibbs (19th). The head-to-head matchups were incredibly close, with Hamlin and Bell tied at 12 wins each against their teammates, narrowly edging out Briscoe (9) and Gibbs (3).

When it came to sheer number of victories, Hamlin led the charge with six wins, a significant margin over Bell’s four and Briscoe’s three. Jenson Gibbs did not record a win in the 2025 season. In terms of top-five finishes, Chase Briscoe showed remarkable strength with 15, just ahead of Hamlin (14) and Bell (13), with Gibbs securing five. Christopher Bell showcased exceptional consistency, leading the team with 22 top-ten finishes, followed by Briscoe (19), Hamlin (18), and Gibbs (10). Bell also maintained the best average finish among the JGR drivers, with a 11.2, followed by Briscoe (12.7), Hamlin (14.0), and Gibbs (17.9). While Bell demonstrated superior consistency, Hamlin’s speed and significant lap-leading advantage—over triple that of Bell—and his impressive win total ultimately distinguished him as the team’s premier driver. Briscoe’s strong debut season, marked by impressive qualifying efforts, also warrants recognition, though a win at Talladega was crucial in placing him in contention for the championship four.

Team Penske: Ryan Blaney’s Dominant Season

Team Penske saw a clear leader emerge in Ryan Blaney, who outperformed his teammates across the board. Blaney concluded the championship standings in sixth place, ahead of Joey Logano (7th) and Austin Cindric (14th). His dominance was evident in head-to-head battles, where he secured 21 victories against Logano (12) and Cindric (3). Blaney also led the team in race wins with four, compared to Logano and Cindric’s one each.

His consistency was further demonstrated by his 15 top-five finishes, significantly outpacing Logano (7) and Cindric (2). This trend continued with 19 top-ten finishes, ahead of Logano (13) and Cindric (5). Blaney also maintained the best average finish among the Penske drivers, with a 14.6, followed by Logano (15.3) and Cindric (20.9). Blaney’s season was his most successful to date, and had he secured a victory at Martinsville, he could have been a contender for the championship. The consistent ordering of Blaney, Logano, and Cindric across all statistical categories underscores Blaney’s clear leadership within Team Penske.

Trackhouse Racing: Ross Chastain Reigns Supreme

Trackhouse Racing’s internal dynamics saw Ross Chastain maintain his position as the team’s leading driver, despite a strong rookie season from Shane van Gisbergen. Chastain finished the championship in 10th place, ahead of van Gisbergen (12th) and Daniel Suarez (29th). In head-to-head contests, Chastain secured 17 victories, outperforming van Gisbergen (10) and Suarez (9).

Shane van Gisbergen impressed with five race wins, a notable achievement for a rookie, surpassing Chastain’s one win and Suarez’s zero. However, van Gisbergen’s road course expertise significantly boosted his win total. In terms of top-five finishes, van Gisbergen led with five, followed by Chastain (4) and Suarez (2). Chastain demonstrated greater consistency in top-ten finishes, accumulating 12, while van Gisbergen and Suarez each had seven. Chastain also secured the best average finish for the team at 15.8, ahead of Suarez (20.9) and van Gisbergen (21.0). While van Gisbergen’s road and street course prowess was a highlight, Chastain’s overall consistency and higher championship standing solidify his role as Trackhouse Racing’s premier driver.

23XI Racing: Tyler Reddick Clinches a Narrow Victory

The battle at 23XI Racing between Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace was remarkably close, with Reddick ultimately securing the top spot by a slim margin. Reddick finished the championship in 9th place, slightly ahead of Wallace (11th) and Ryan Herbst (35th). Reddick held the edge in head-to-head battles, winning 18 matchups compared to Wallace’s 15 and Herbst’s 3.

Bubba Wallace achieved the team’s sole victory in the Brickyard 400, a crown jewel event, while Reddick and Herbst went winless. Reddick, however, secured more top-five finishes with seven, compared to Wallace’s six and Herbst’s zero. Both Reddick and Wallace recorded 14 top-ten finishes, while Herbst had none. Reddick also posted a better average finish at 14.5, significantly ahead of Wallace (18.5) and Herbst (26.4). Wallace led in laps led by over 200, and Reddick secured two pole positions to Wallace’s zero. Despite Wallace’s significant win, Reddick’s slight advantages in top-fives and average finish, coupled with his qualifying speed, give him a narrow lead as the team’s top driver.

RFK Racing: Chris Buescher Dominates Intra-Team Competition

Chris Buescher solidified his position as the leading driver at RFK Racing, outperforming his teammates in nearly every metric. Buescher finished the championship in 17th place, narrowly ahead of Ryan Preece (18th) and Brad Keselowski (20th). Buescher’s superiority was evident in head-to-head matchups, where he secured 17 wins against Keselowski (10) and Preece (9).

None of the RFK drivers achieved a race win in 2025. Buescher led in top-five finishes with five, surpassing Keselowski’s six and Preece’s three. Keselowski’s six top-fives represent a slight anomaly in Buescher’s overall dominance. Buescher also led in top-ten finishes with 16, ahead of Preece (14) and Keselowski (13). His average finish of 14.3 was also the best among the RFK trio, followed by Preece (15.7) and Keselowski (18.5). Despite Preece’s impressive debut season, Buescher’s consistent performance, particularly in head-to-head battles and overall finishes, confirms his status as the team’s top driver. Buescher also achieved the distinction of being the best among drivers who did not make the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Spire Motorsports: Michael McDowell’s Veteran Presence

Michael McDowell emerged as the leading driver for Spire Motorsports, demonstrating veteran consistency over the raw speed of his teammates. McDowell finished the championship in 22nd place, just ahead of Carson Hocevar (23rd) and Noah Gragson (31st). McDowell also led in head-to-head matchups with 15 wins, followed by Hocevar (13) and Gragson (8).

No Spire Motorsports driver secured a race win in 2025. McDowell led the team in top-five finishes with three, ahead of Hocevar (2) and Gragson (1). Hocevar, however, showcased more speed and potential, leading the team with nine top-ten finishes, compared to McDowell’s six and Gragson’s two. McDowell’s average finish of 18.2 was the best on the team, followed by Hocevar (21.6) and Gragson (22.2). While Hocevar displayed flashes of speed, his execution issues and tendency to be involved in incidents prevented him from consistently capitalizing on his potential. McDowell’s solid performance and steadier results secured his position as the team’s most consistent driver.

Front Row Motorsports: Todd Gilliland’s Narrow Victory

The intra-team competition at Front Row Motorsports was exceptionally close, with Todd Gilliland ultimately claiming the lead by the narrowest of margins. Gilliland finished the championship in 27th place, just ahead of Zane Smith (28th) and Noah Gragson (34th). Zane Smith held a slight advantage in head-to-head battles, with 14 wins compared to Gilliland’s 13 and Gragson’s 9.

All three drivers went winless in 2025. Gilliland and Smith were tied in top-five finishes with one each, while Gragson also had one. In top-ten finishes, Gilliland and Smith were tied with five, outperforming Gragson’s three. Gilliland secured the best average finish at 20.8, closely followed by Smith (21.1) and then Gragson (25.2). Despite the statistical parity, Gilliland’s slightly better average finish and higher championship standing edge him out as the team’s leading driver.

Richard Childress Racing: Kyle Busch’s Edge Over Austin Dillon

Richard Childress Racing’s lineup featured a compelling rivalry between Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon. While Dillon secured a higher championship standing (15th) due to a victory at Richmond, Busch demonstrated stronger overall performance throughout the season. Busch led in head-to-head battles, winning 21 races to Dillon’s 15.

Dillon claimed the team’s sole victory, while Busch remained winless. Busch, however, significantly outperformed Dillon in top-five finishes with three compared to Dillon’s one, and also doubled Dillon’s top-ten tally with 10. Busch also posted a superior average finish of 17.9, compared to Dillon’s 20.8. Despite Dillon’s crucial win, Busch’s consistent performance in head-to-head battles, top finishes, and average performance solidify his position as RCR’s leading driver.

Legacy Motor Club: Erik Jones Edges Out John Hunter Nemechek

The competition at Legacy Motor Club was incredibly tight, with Erik Jones emerging as the team’s top driver by a slender margin. Jones finished the championship in 24th place, just ahead of John Hunter Nemechek (25th). Nemechek held an advantage in head-to-head finishes, winning 20 matchups to Jones’s 16, and also led in top-ten finishes with eight compared to Jones’s five.

Neither Jones nor Nemechek secured a race win in 2025. However, Jones recorded twice as many top-five finishes with four, compared to Nemechek’s two. Jones also achieved a slightly better average finish at 20.2, compared to Nemechek’s 20.3. While Nemechek’s head-to-head and top-ten performance was commendable, Jones’s advantage in top-fives and average finish, coupled with his slightly better qualifying record, gives him the edge.

Kaulig Racing: A.J. Allmendinger’s Dominance

A.J. Allmendinger clearly established himself as the leading driver at Kaulig Racing, outperforming Ty Dillon throughout the 2025 season. Allmendinger finished the championship in 26th place, ahead of Dillon (33rd). The veteran driver also led in top-five finishes with two, while Dillon had none. Allmendinger further demonstrated his superiority in top-ten finishes, securing seven compared to Dillon’s one. His average finish of 21.8 was also significantly better than Dillon’s 24.6. While both drivers were tied in head-to-head matchups, Allmendinger’s higher placings in most statistical categories, despite numerous DNFs, confirm his leadership within the team.