Winners and losers from an action-packed NASCAR Cup race at Richmond

There have been 24 lead modifications at Richmond Raceway in a 400-lap occasion that featured nonstop motion. The tire falloff made for an interesting race with a number of methods all through the sphere. And in the long run, the NASCAR Cup Sequence had its 14th completely different winner of the 2025 season as Austin Dillon locked himself into the playoffs.

Here is a have a look at the largest winners and losers from Richmond:

WINNER: Austin Dillon erases the stain of 2024 Richmond controversy

Watch: Austin Dillon ‘too drained to be indignant’ after Richmond victory

Coming into Richmond this weekend, everybody was speaking in regards to the notorious end from one 12 months in the past, the place Dillon deliberately wrecked two drivers to win, and was later kicked out of the playoffs for it. The one technique to overcome that was to return again right here and win it once more, however few thought that it was doable. And but, the driving force of the No. 3 Chevrolet led over 100 laps and captured the checkered flag (cleanly), securing himself a spot within the playoffs. It was one of the best race of Dillon’s profession, managing tires properly and executing completely. And, he did it whereas recovering from a damaged rib!

LOSER: RFK Racing faces a dire playoff state of affairs

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures

There have been excessive hopes for RFK at Richmond. Brad Keselowski almost gained the final brief monitor race on the schedule, and Ryan Preece began from pole place. Chris Buescher additionally held the sixteenth and remaining playoff spot. Sadly, after 400 laps of racing, all three RFK drivers at the moment are in a must-win state of affairs coming into the common season finale at Daytona. Buescher completed thirtieth, Preece thirty fifth, and whereas Keselowski earned a high ten, that does not assist their state of affairs. At greatest, they’ll hope one in all their three vehicles win at Daytona, or all of them will probably be eradicated.

WINNER: Goodyear for bringing a tire with important falloff

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Samuel Corum / Getty Pictures

After a irritating race at Iowa, Goodyear stepped as much as the plate and introduced a tire with important falloff to Richmond. The consequence? Essentially the most thrilling brief monitor race of the 12 months, masking the various shortcomings of the Subsequent Gen automotive and giving the followers motion from begin to end. The race grew to become a chess match as groups selected how you can use their eight units of sticker tires, resulting in fixed passing and a plethora of methods. 

LOSER: 23XI’s unimaginable run falls aside

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Photograph by: Sean Gardner / Getty Pictures

At one level, 23XI Racing was operating 1-2 at Richmond. Tyler Reddick gained Stage 1 and Bubba Wallace gained Stage 2, combining to guide 164 of 400 laps. However like RFK, no matter may go incorrect did go incorrect. Reddick received spun out in the midst of the race, whereas Wallace misplaced a wheel in a late-race pit cease. In the long run, Wallace completed a disappointing twenty eighth and Reddick was thirty fourth. Reddick continues to be in a reasonably stable place to make the playoffs on factors, however he didn’t clinch a spot like he had hoped to do.

WINNER: SVG continues to enhance on ovals

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Samuel Corum / Getty Pictures

Whereas there’s a slice of the NASCAR world that does not wish to recognize the greatness of SVG on street programs, or the unimaginable job he is endeavor at 36 years outdated to be taught ovals, he continues to point out unimaginable enchancment. At Richmond, he beat teammate Ross Chastain and earned a 14th-place end, matching his greatest oval results of the 12 months. And with the playoffs simply across the nook, that form of tempo plus his bonus factors can be sufficient to hold him by means of the Spherical of 16.

LOSER: Kyle Busch and an evening to neglect

Richmond

After topping the pace charts in follow, there have been excessive hopes for Busch at Richmond. However whereas his teammate gained the race, he was fortunate to complete inside the highest 20. The automotive was uncontrolled initially of the race, and he received caught dashing on pit street. In a while, he was on the epicenter of a serious wreck in Flip 3, and unintentionally hooked Chase Elliott into the wall after the very fact as he was making an attempt to drive by means of the smoke. 

WINNER: William Byron clinches the common season title

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Pictures

With Elliott’s Richmond DNF, which Byron had a entrance row seat for, the No. 24 was capable of clinch the common season title with one race to spare. He now has 15 bonus factors in his pocket, which can go a great distance in his efforts to win the NASCAR Cup title for the very first time. Nevertheless, the common season champion has but to go on to win the massive prize in three earlier years of the Subsequent Gen period, however possibly Byron will break the streak.

LOSER: Alex Bowman faces an uncomfortable week at Daytona

Watch: Alex Bowman ‘did not get any breaks’ with runner-up end

Bowman was annoyed with lapped site visitors within the closing laps at Richmond, the place he completed second to Dillon. It was an important consequence, however when you have a look at the playoff image, you may perceive why he was so careworn. Dillon’s victory places him on the bubble for Daytona, so any new winner from under the cut-line will knock him out of the championship hunt. And being Daytona, that could be a very probably consequence.

WINNER: Joey Logano rebounds from follow wreck and qualifying woes

Joey Logano, Group Penske Ford

Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Pictures

Logano’s weekend began with a wreck in follow, attributable to a flat proper entrance tire. The crew scrambled to restore the No. 22 automotive in time for qualifying, however he needed to abandon his lap resulting from a extreme tire rub. Regardless of all that, Logano fought by means of the sphere after beginning thirty eighth. He completed fourth as a part of a triple high 5 for Group Penske.

LOSER: Unforced errors damage Carson Hocevar’s high 5 run

Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Samuel Corum / Getty Pictures

Within the remaining stage of the race, Hocevar was in place to doubtlessly end inside the highest 5 at Richmond. Sadly, he missed pit street whereas making an attempt to make a late-race cease underneath inexperienced. To make issues worse, the crew dropped the jack prematurely on two separate pit stops. In the long run, Hocevar completed fifteenth.

Images from Richmond – Race

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