The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season concluded in Phoenix, where Kyle Larson took the championship, while other 2025 NASCAR Cup Series drivers struggled to deliver strong performances and left many fans disappointed. Throughout the year, a handful of competitors faced challenges that saw their campaigns fall short of expectations, igniting frustration and debate among supporters of the sport.
Drivers Who Struggled to Meet Expectations During the 2025 Season
While Larson emerged victorious, not every member of the racing field found fortune on their side. Several drivers saw their ambitions dashed by underwhelming results in both individual races and overall standings. The following are five drivers whose 2025 efforts fell short in the eyes of viewers and analysts alike.
5. Cody Ware: Consistently at the Back
Among all the drivers this season, Cody Ware statistically endured the greatest struggles. He recorded an average finishing position of 30.444, highlighting his repeated difficulties moving up the pack. Completing only 90.22 percent of the season’s total laps, Ware rarely managed to threaten the front runners, with just two top-20 finishes throughout the year.
The season finale in Phoenix was representative of his campaign, ending in 30th position amid the chaos on track. Despite his efforts, the consistency of results simply was not there, further deepening the disappointment for his supporters.
4. Ty Dillon: Inconsistent and Off the Pace
Driving for Kaulig Racing, Ty Dillon’s performance was marginally better than Ware’s, but still far from meeting expectations. Dillon’s average running spot settled at 25.47, a clear indication of his challenges keeping up with the competition. His best moment came early in Atlanta, where he secured a lone top-10 result, but subsequent events saw him slip out of contention.
Dillon’s season closed with a disappointing 35th-place finish in Phoenix, which underlined the extent of the speed gap he faced relative to the sport’s elite competitors and his issues adapting to this year’s competition.
3. Brad Keselowski: A Veteran’s Unfulfilled Year
Brad Keselowski, a 2012 series champion, entered the 2025 campaign as part of the experienced RFK Racing trio. Expectations were high due to his veteran status, but the equipment and on-track outcomes did not match. Despite his experience, Keselowski saw teammate Chris Buescher consistently outperform him, with Keselowski emerging as the top RFK finisher on just 10 occasions during the year.
This imbalance between his potential and his actual results left many followers and experts puzzled, as Keselowski failed to harness opportunities that seemed within reach for both himself and his team.
2. Kyle Busch: Former Champion Loses Form
Kyle Busch, another prior Cup Series champion, continued to struggle after joining Richard Childress Racing in 2023. While he collected three wins in the first half of his debut season with the team, he was unable to return to victory lane in either 2024 or the entire 2025 schedule. This year, Busch only achieved three top-five finishes during the extensive 36-race schedule, marking a stark contrast to his earlier dominance.
Fans took notice of Busch’s difficulties in adjusting to his new surroundings, as the lack of wins and podiums became an unusually persistent trend for a driver once associated with regular success.
1. Daniel Suarez: A Challenging Final Run with Trackhouse
Daniel Suarez’s 2025 campaign with Trackhouse Racing ended on a sour note, marking one of his most disappointing years to date. Suarez stood out as the only full-time Trackhouse driver who failed to secure a victory, a notable shortcoming that is believed to have contributed to his exit from the team. He managed to complete just 88.94 percent of the season’s laps and only claimed two top-five results.
This series of setbacks made his season particularly difficult and underscored why his departure became a focal point for questions about what’s next for the driver and the organization alike.
The Broader Impact of Underperforming Drivers in NASCAR
The struggles of these drivers not only attracted intense discussions among fans but also raised important questions for the teams and the future of the NASCAR Cup Series. Established names such as Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch, alongside others including Cody Ware, Ty Dillon, and Daniel Suarez, have not matched the level expected of 2025 NASCAR Cup Series drivers this season. These underwhelming performances may prompt changes in team strategies, personnel decisions, and driver futures as the series prepares for its next chapter.
