Nicely, now we have received the Daytona 500 out of the way in which. Now it’s on to Atlanta, the place the racing might be related in a way I really feel however perhaps a bit much less chaotic. Both approach, a ton occurred in the course of the Daytona 500, so now we have to make some changes to the 2025 NASCAR Energy Rankings earlier than the Ambetter Well being 400 this weekend at Atlanta.
Backside Feeders
Issues get stacked up. Plenty of bother. #NASCAR #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/zuLmY5Mh20
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 17, 2025
The Daytona 500 actually didn’t go how Ross needed it to with that fortieth-place end. Ross was a sufferer of Joey Logano’s throttle physique crapping out on the flawed time. Which brought on the 42 automobile to gather Ross, and ended his day. The excellent news is that Ross ought to be capable to rebound this weekend at Atlanta.
Very similar to his counterpart under him on these 2025 NASCAR Energy Rankings. Brad received caught up in a type of final large wrecks that wasn’t his fault. When Cole Custer principally dumped C Bell into the wall. Brad has averaged round a Fifteenth-place end within the final six Atlanta races, so perhaps he can also look to rebound this weekend.
Bubba impressed me together with his wreck avoidance for a short time, in addition to his maneuvers in the course of the race however like just about half of the sphere he additionally received caught up in another person’s dumb determination and completed Twenty ninth. He doesn’t have one of the best current historical past at Atlanta so I don’t need to say he can hold climbing simply but but when he can hold his Camry up entrance this weekend he might have an opportunity late.
Rowdy appeared robust earlier than the chaos. Actually, I assumed if he might’ve averted the wrecks he was going to be one other RCR driver successful the five hundred on his twentieth try. He was part of the wonderful three-wide end final yr right here at Atlanta. Plus he has executed fairly properly since taking on the 8 automobile for Richard Childress within the Peach State. Within the final 4 races, he’s completed prime ten in all of them. Rowdy’s redemption this weekend?
Denny actually sort of underwhelmed me for a majority of the Daytona 500. I anticipated him to be up entrance extra typically however he solely led one time for six whole laps. Denny additionally received taken out in another person’s wreck and completed twenty fourth. I simply was anticipating extra from the three-time winner of “The Nice American Race.” Plus heading into Atlanta, sorry to say DH followers however his fall down these 2025 Energy Rankings might proceed if historical past repeats itself.
2025 NASCAR Energy Rankings Center of The Pack
Chris didn’t have a spectacular day at Daytona. He didn’t lead any laps however he did seize stage factors on the finish of stage two. In addition to end tenth as soon as the checkered flag was out. He claimed the sixth most factors amongst drivers. Atlanta hasn’t been variety to Chris both in recent times. He solely has two top-fifteen finishes for the reason that repave.
Nicely earlier than the information dropped concerning the modifications to the automobile. Chase received a top-ten end at Daytona. After ranging from the pole place for Toyota’s first-ever time within the 500. He nonetheless will get the end from what I’m understanding however he’s in a single heck of a degree gap. I assumed total although the motive force had a strong race. He doesn’t management the modifications as a lot I’d wish to assume anyway so we are going to give him a small increase this week.
Chase appeared to have a automobile that would go anyplace on the observe he needed it to direction-wise anyway. Pace didn’t appear to be there as a lot as I’d’ve anticipated from the 2nd era driver. He solely led as soon as for 2 laps and he completed fifteenth. He heads to Atlanta the place he has received in recent times and actually hasn’t completed too awfully dangerous both. Simply trying to climb up the 2025 NASCAR Energy Rankings.
Most of Larson Nation most likely anticipated to see a little bit of a drop within the rankings following Daytona. In line with Jeff Gordon, Kyle is simply in his head an excessive amount of on these super-speedway races. He completed the 20 th this previous Sunday, and I wouldn’t count on to see a lot better this weekend. In his final six Atlanta races, Kyle has averaged round a Twenty ninth-place end and hasn’t even touched the highest fifteen since July of ’22.
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I touched on this one within the Publish-Daytona 500 episode of SpeedGeeks. Alex held his personal towards the Penske workforce for some time. He led 5 totally different occasions for eleven whole laps and completed sixth. Stable opening weekend for Alex. He completed fifth within the fall of the race final season so he’s proven he can do it performance-wise. Let’s see if he can keep away from the chaos as soon as once more and end properly. Who is aware of he might crack the highest 5 subsequent week.
The High 5
Again to again, Daytona 500 winner has a pleasant ring to it. He grabbed stage factors on the finish of stage one and led a complete of ten laps. Apart from that although it was a quiet day for William. To not discredit him however he was capable of get fortunate sufficient to keep away from all the late chaos and seize one other Daytona 500 win. He can head into Atlanta too with further confidence figuring out he’s received twice on this configuration.
One other have a look at the incident. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/6Y2nK1gYhj
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 17, 2025
One other driver, I touched on in the newest episode of SpeedGeeks. I imply what the heck? You’re a three-time champion and made one of many stupidest strikes approach too quickly within the largest race of the season. He had one of the best automobile all race after which simply determined to push the problem. Oh properly, Joey isn’t horrible at Atlanta both so he positively might rebound this week ranking-wise.
Christopher Bell goes into the wall. Ryan Preece flips. Wow. pic.twitter.com/T89oxCUJQz
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 17, 2025
One other one in all Cole Custer’s victims. I imply for no matter motive the Toyota’s didn’t appear to take pushes properly from different producers. So that would’ve performed a consider it as properly. We don’t understand how C Bell might’ve completed tho as a result of he didn’t have that likelihood so I received’t fault him an excessive amount of this weekend.
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I’m undecided how he has executed it lately however he received final yr at ‘Dega by being in the fitting locations. He grabbed a second-place end, as properly grabbed the fourth most factors of all of the drivers. It was a great way to start out off the season for Tyler and 23XI Racing. He might hope a few of that luck continues with him to Atlanta although as a result of he hasn’t faired as properly for the reason that reconfiguration with solely two top-ten finishes within the final six races.
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A seventh-place end, twenty-three whole laps led, and essentially the most factors scored of any driver. Fairly strong day in my eyes for positive. Plus he was one of many strongest automobiles like his different two teammates. Ryan goes into Atlanta with one of the best ending common within the final six races on the excessive banks. If he can keep away from the chaos as he has been capable of do up to now It’s going to take a heck of a day from another person to knock YBR off the highest spot.
This Week’s Checkered Flag
Daytona was a strong race total in my view. Some bonehead strikes on the finish ruined what might’ve been a greater end. It’s the Daytona 500 in any case although and typically our favourite drivers appear to lose their minds on the considered successful it. Is that an excuse I’m undecided however both approach as I mentioned to start we’re onto Atlanta. If you’re in search of some picks on drivers to put some cash on you might be within the flawed spot! What I’ll say although is just a few drivers look higher to me, however total I count on a number of the identical names to be up entrance that we usually see for the reason that reconfiguration of Atlanta.
Featured Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Photos
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