Honestly, the Daytona 500 standings 2025 looks like a fever dream if you actually watched the race. Usually, when we check the box score of a NASCAR race, we expect the fastest cars to be at the top. But Daytona is different. It’s always been different. On February 16, 2025, the "Great American Race" reminded us that you can lead 59 laps—like Austin Cindric did—and still end up staring at the back of a Chevy while the winner only led ten.
William Byron did it again.
He didn't just win; he became the first driver since Denny Hamlin in 2020 to go back-to-back. It’s a short list of legends who have pulled that off: Petty, Yarborough, Marlin, Hamlin, and now Byron. But if you look at the final standings, the names behind him tell a much weirder story about how the 67th running of this race actually played out.
The Chaos That Shook the Daytona 500 Standings 2025
The final leaderboard is a survivor’s list. Basically, if you didn't have a torn-up fender, you weren't trying hard enough.
The race was defined by two massive wrecks in the closing stages that completely scrambled the Daytona 500 standings 2025. First, there was the Lap 186 "Big One." Joey Logano, who had been dominant early and won Stage 1, got into it with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. That mess swallowed up heavy hitters like Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, and Brad Keselowski.
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Then came the overtime restart.
Coming to the white flag, it looked like a battle between Denny Hamlin and Austin Cindric. But then, Cole Custer—making a massive statement for the Haas Factory Team—gave a shove that went wrong. Hamlin got turned, the field imploded, and Byron somehow threaded the needle.
Official Top 10 Finishers
- 1. William Byron (No. 24 Chevrolet): The "Houdini" of Hendrick Motorsports. He was 6th on the backstretch and 1st at the line.
- 2. Tyler Reddick (No. 45 Toyota): Finally broke his Daytona curse. Before this, his best finish here was 27th.
- 3. Jimmie Johnson (No. 84 Toyota): The shock of the night. At 49 years old, the seven-time champ finished 3rd, his best result in years.
- 4. Chase Briscoe (No. 19 Toyota): Started on the pole and stayed relevant all night in his first big outing for Joe Gibbs Racing.
- 5. John Hunter Nemechek (No. 42 Toyota): A massive day for Legacy Motor Club with two cars in the top five.
- 6. Alex Bowman (No. 48 Chevrolet): Quietly stayed out of trouble to grab a solid points haul.
- 7. Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Ford): Despite being involved in the Lap 186 wreck, he salvaged enough to leave Florida as the points leader.
- 8. Austin Cindric (No. 2 Ford): Led a race-high 59 laps. Heartbreaking finish, but 8th is still a top ten.
- 9. Justin Allgaier (No. 40 Chevrolet): JR Motorsports' Cup debut was a massive success. 9th place is incredible for a one-off entry.
- 10. Chris Buescher (No. 17 Ford): Rounded out the top ten after a typically gritty Buescher performance.
Ryan Preece and the Heart-Stopping Moment
We have to talk about Ryan Preece. It was scary. Again.
On Lap 196, Christopher Bell got a shove from Custer that sent him hard into the wall. Preece had nowhere to go. His No. 60 Ford went airborne, wheelied down the backstretch, and flipped. This was the second time in three years Preece has gone for a tumble at Daytona.
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He walked away, which is a testament to the Next Gen car's safety, but his 32nd-place finish in the Daytona 500 standings 2025 doesn't reflect how well he was running before the sky turned into the ground.
The Points Situation Leaving Daytona
You've gotta remember that the race winner isn't always the points leader after week one. Because of stage points, the standings look a little different than the finishing order.
Ryan Blaney actually left Daytona with the most points (51) because he won Stage 2 and ran up front most of the night. Byron is right there with 50, and Austin Cindric—despite the late-lap chaos—is third in the season standings with 48.
It's a weird quirk of the NASCAR points system. You can win the biggest race in the world and still be second in the rankings on Monday morning.
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What Most People Get Wrong About These Results
A lot of folks look at the Daytona 500 standings 2025 and assume it's just luck. Sure, Byron got lucky that the sea parted on the final lap. But look at his stats. He has the best top-10 rate on superspeedways since 2013. That isn't a fluke.
Also, Jimmie Johnson’s third-place finish wasn't just him "being there." Legacy Motor Club showed real speed during Speedweeks. They weren't just field-fillers; they were genuine contenders.
Practical Next Steps for Following the Season
If you’re looking at these standings and wondering what’s next, here is how you should play it:
- Watch Atlanta: The "new" Atlanta races a lot like Daytona. If Byron and Reddick were fast here, expect them to be the favorites next week.
- Keep an eye on Chase Briscoe: He's clearly comfortable in the No. 19 car. Replacing Martin Truex Jr. is a tall order, but a pole and a 4th-place finish is the perfect start.
- Don't panic about Kyle Busch: He finished 34th. He’s now 0-for-20 in the Daytona 500. It's a bummer, but his season isn't over. He usually bounces back fast at the intermediate tracks.
- Check the Manufacturer Standings: Chevrolet took the win, but Toyota put four cars in the top five. The "Bonsai" nose on the Camry is clearly working on the high banks.
The 2025 season is officially underway, and while the Daytona 500 standings 2025 gave us some unexpected names at the top, the usual suspects are already flexing their muscles. Now, we head to the 1.5-mile tracks to see who actually has the raw horsepower to chase a championship.