After Sunday’s race at Sonoma Raceway, Kyle Busch received a much-needed lift in his NASCAR Cup Series playoff campaign. Although winless so far in 2025, Busch, driving for Richard Childress Racing, improved his position in the playoff chase as the regular season nears its conclusion.
Before the race, Busch trailed Bubba Wallace by 47 points for the last playoff spot, but his top-10 finish at Sonoma cut that deficit to 37 points. With six races remaining in the regular season, Busch’s chances to qualify for the postseason through points accumulation or an eventual race win remain strong.
Tight Playoff Battle Near the Cutoff Line
Bubba Wallace currently holds the final spot in the NASCAR playoffs, just three points above the cut line, with Ryan Preece trailing closely behind. Both drivers are fighting to secure their place in the top 16 as the playoff cutoff looms.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman experienced a setback, finishing 19th at Sonoma and dropping one position to 15th in the playoff standings, only 32 points above the cutoff. Even more concerning for Bowman is his fall from 10th to 12th in the regular season standings, marking a challenging stretch for the Hendrick Motorsports team.
Hendrick Motorsports Maintains Strong Hold on Regular Season Leaderboard
Despite Bowman’s struggles, Hendrick Motorsports still dominates the regular season standings. William Byron remains in first place, while Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson hold second and third respectively. This stronghold by Hendrick drivers highlights the team’s consistent performance across the season so far.
Rounding out the top five in the regular season are Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin, ensuring a competitive mix of drivers vying for playoff positioning as the regular season reaches its critical phase.
Current NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings Explained
The playoff table following Sonoma Raceway shows several drivers locked into the postseason based on wins and points. Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Shane van Gisbergen, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Chase Elliott, and Tyler Reddick are all currently secure in their playoff spots.
Positions 14 through 16 remain volatile, with Chris Buescher, Alex Bowman, and Bubba Wallace just above the playoff cut line, while Ryan Preece, Kyle Busch, AJ Allmendinger, and Ty Gibbs sit below, needing strong performances to punch their ticket to the postseason.
Regular Season Standings Highlight Competitive Field
The regular season leaderboard, updated after Sonoma, lists William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) leading with 668 points. Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson, both Hendrick drivers as well, follow closely with 654 and 624 points, respectively.
Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin complete the top five, representing strong performances from 23XI Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. This tight points battle shows how critical each remaining race will be for drivers aiming to secure their playoff berths through consistent results.
Implications of Recent Standings and What Lies Ahead
Kyle Busch’s improved playoff standing provides hope for the two-time NASCAR Cup champion, particularly with multiple races left in the regular season. His gradual ascent suggests a promising path to either close the points gap or claim a win that would guarantee playoff entry.
Meanwhile, Alex Bowman’s slip in standings serves as a reminder of the competitiveness and challenges facing even established drivers, with the Hendrick Motorsports teammate of Byron, Larson, and Elliott needing to regain momentum quickly.
As the regular season advances, every race will be pivotal, especially for drivers like Busch, Wallace, and Bowman, who hover near the playoff cutoff. Their performances in upcoming events will shape the final playoff field and define who competes for the championship.
“Winless so far in 2025, the two-time champion is trying to point his way into the postseason, and heading into this weekend’s race, the Richard Childress Racing driver was 47 points adrift of Bubba Wallace in 16th in the playoff standings.” —Unattributed
“Busch secured another top 10 finish at Sonoma on Sunday, however, which has now seen that gap close to just 37 points.” —Unattributed
“His teammate William Byron continues to lead the regular season standings, with fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson in second and third, respectively.” —Unattributed
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Where will Kyle Busch go in 2026?
A. Pressing escape will dismiss and shut the window. CONCORD, N.C. — Kyle Busch has confirmed he will still be driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing until the end of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. This news was shared by Busch and RCR on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Q. Why is Kyle Busch so famous?
A. Busch has the highest total of wins in NASCAR’s national series, with 231 victories. This includes 63 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, 102 in the Xfinity Series, and 66 in the Truck Series. For ten consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2022, he has won races in all three national series. In 2004, he was named the NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year.
Q. Where is Kyle Busch going in 2026?
A. Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing have decided to work together until the end of the 2026 season.
Busch will keep driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for RCR. This agreement was made public at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.
Q. Why is Kyle Busch famous?
A. Many people think he is one of the top drivers of his time and in NASCAR history. He is famous for excelling in NASCAR’s three big series. Busch also had a short stint as the WWE 24/7 Champion.
