William Byron, representing Hendrick Motorsports, clinched the 2025 Regular Season championship following a race at Richmond Raceway where he narrowly defeated teammate Chase Elliott, his closest competitor. This victory awarded Byron 15 bonus points entering the playoffs, complementing points earned from his two race wins. However, 2014 Cup champion Kevin Harvick expressed reservations about Byron’s title, highlighting what he perceives as inconsistencies throughout Byron’s season.
Harvick, a seasoned driver, reflected on Byron’s performance during the latest Happy Hour podcast. Although Byron secured two race wins and achieved thirteen top-10 finishes out of 25 races so far, he also placed outside the top 20 in eight events. Harvick questioned how Byron could secure the regular season title despite having fewer wins than competitors like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, and Shane van Gisbergen, who all recorded more victories.
Harvick Attributes Fluctuations to Era Changes and Competitive Field
According to Harvick, the current era, marked by Next Gen racing technology, has introduced new levels of unpredictability and inconsistency. He noted that many front-runners experienced uneven seasons, a trend he believes reflects the challenges drivers face adapting to the evolving competition landscape.
“When I look at it, William Byron has won two races. When I think of his season as a whole, it’s been pretty up and down. But I think they performed pretty well. I think Next Gen Racing, in general, is more inconsistent than what we’ve been used to in the past.” —Kevin Harvick, via Happy Hour podcast.
Harvick emphasized that tighter competition in the top tier results in more race incidents, such as DNFs (Did Not Finish), increasing the frequency of “off weeks” for many leading drivers. Despite these challenges, Byron and Denny Hamlin managed to limit points losses during their less successful races, with Byron outperforming to claim his first regular season crown.
“I think you’re going to have more DNFs, you’re going to have more off weeks, and how do you minimize those off weeks? …As I look at this list, I can’t pick anybody out that’s had a better regular season. …I think that William Byron and Denny Hamlin have probably been the best two cars.” —Kevin Harvick.
Harvick Highlights Stage Points as a Key to Byron’s Success
On the same episode, Harvick praised Byron’s ability to consistently earn stage points, which reward drivers for leading or placing well during segments of the race, not just the final result. This strategy significantly contributed to Byron’s points total and overall standing despite some difficult finishes.
Byron amassed 241 stage points over the season, a figure substantially higher than the next competitor, Ryan Blaney, who gained 217. This reflects Byron’s frequent presence near the front of the pack, even during races where he did not finish top-ranked.
“Here’s the thing that stands out to me with William Byron winning the regular season championship: he’s got 241 stage points. The driver with the second-most stage points is Ryan Blaney with 217, and Harvick said that when a driver has that many stage points, that means the driver is running up front consistently.” —Kevin Harvick.
Byron’s Performance Sparks Debate on Consistency Versus Wins
Harvick’s remarks underline a broader debate about the criteria for earning championships in the Next Gen era. While Byron’s consistent high finishes in stages and overall points accumulation propelled him to the title, critics, including Harvick, question whether his relatively low number of race wins truly reflects the strongest season performance compared to rivals with more victories.
Despite his skepticism, Harvick acknowledged that minimizing poor finishes is crucial in the current competitive field. The championship points system rewards consistency and stage performance alongside race wins, which may have favored Byron’s approach. Still, Harvick’s concern lies in whether this balance sufficiently recognizes the drivers who secured more wins but experienced more variability in other races.
What This Means for the Future of NASCAR Competitions
The discussion raised by Harvick points to evolving challenges within NASCAR as teams and drivers adapt to the Next Gen vehicle model. Increased parity in the field, coupled with revised points structures emphasizing stage points, could shape future championship battles differently than in past seasons. Whether Byron’s 2025 championship sets a precedent for upcoming seasons remains a topic watched closely by fans and analysts alike.
As drivers like William Byron continue to thrive under these conditions, their ability to manage consistency amid heightened competition will become increasingly vital. For the rest of the season and beyond, how teams leverage stage points and reduce off weeks could be decisive in pursuing championship success.
