Winners and losers from an action-packed NASCAR Cu...

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 Collection 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

Getting into Richmond this weekend, everyone was talking about the infamous finish from one year ago, the place Dillon deliberately wrecked two drivers to win, and was later kicked out of the playoffs for it. The one strategy to overcome that was to return again right here and win it once more, however few thought that it was attainable. 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 the very best race of Dillon’s profession, managing tires properly and executing completely. And, he did it while recovering from a broken rib!

LOSER: RFK Racing faces a dire playoff state of affairs

Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford

Photograph by: Chris Graythen – Getty Photographs

There have been excessive hopes for RFK at Richmond. Brad Keselowski almost received the final brief observe race on the schedule, and Ryan Preece started from pole position. Chris Buescher additionally held the sixteenth and last 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 among their three vehicles win at Daytona, or all of them can be eradicated.

WINNER: Goodyear for bringing a tire with important falloff

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: Samuel Corum / Getty Photographs

After a irritating race at Iowa, Goodyear stepped as much as the plate and introduced a tire with important falloff to Richmond. The end result? Probably the most thrilling brief observe race of the yr, masking the various shortcomings of the Subsequent Gen automotive and giving the followers motion from begin to end. The race turned a chess match as groups selected the way to 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 Photographs

At one level, 23XI Racing was working 1-2 at Richmond. Tyler Reddick received Stage 1 and Bubba Wallace received Stage 2, combining to steer 164 of 400 laps. However like RFK, no matter may go incorrect did go incorrect. Reddick bought spun out in the midst of the race, whereas Wallace misplaced a wheel in a late-race pit cease. Ultimately, Wallace completed a disappointing twenty eighth and Reddick was thirty fourth. Reddick continues to be in a reasonably strong 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 Photographs

Whereas there’s a slice of the NASCAR world that does not need to respect the greatness of SVG on street programs, or the unimaginable activity he is endeavor at 36 years outdated to be taught ovals, he continues to indicate unimaginable enchancment. At Richmond, he beat teammate Ross Chastain and earned a 14th-place finish, matching his best oval result of the year. And with the playoffs simply across the nook, that type of tempo plus his bonus factors could be sufficient to hold him by way 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 received the race, he was fortunate to complete inside the highest 20. The automotive was uncontrolled at the beginning of the race, and he bought caught rushing on pit street. In a while, he was on the epicenter of a significant wreck in Flip 3, and accidentally hooked Chase Elliott into the wall after the very fact as he was attempting to drive by way of the smoke. 

WINNER: William Byron clinches the common season title

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photographs

With Elliott’s Richmond DNF, which Byron had a entrance row seat for, the No. 24 was able to clinch the regular 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 large prize in three earlier years of the Subsequent Gen period, however perhaps 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 frustrated with lapped traffic in the closing laps at Richmond, the place he completed second to Dillon. It was a fantastic end result, 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 beneath the cut-line will knock him out of the championship hunt. And being Daytona, that could be a very possible final result.