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Who’s Leading NASCAR? Top 12 Cup Series Drivers Before COTA’s EchoPark Grand Prix

NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 12 Drivers Heading into the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix at COTA

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Hey there, NASCAR fans! Bryan here, back with another deep dive into the current NASCAR Cup Series standings. We’re only a few races into the 2025 season, but things are already heating up.

Between wild finishes, surprise performances, and early-season dominance, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of which drivers are legit championship contenders and who needs to step up their game before we get deeper into the season.

Now, we’re shifting gears toward the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas (COTA)—one of the most technical, demanding, and unpredictable tracks on the schedule. Unlike the pack racing we saw at Daytona and Atlanta, COTA requires a completely different skill set—it’s all about braking zones, corner exits, and road course mastery.

So, if you’re a driver who only thrives on superspeedways, this week is gonna feel like a pop quiz you didn’t study for. But if you’re one of those road course ringers who can handle left and right turns like a pro, you might be licking your chops right now.

That brings me to the real question: Which of the top 12 drivers are actually good on road courses? Spoiler alert: Some of these guys are about to be way out of their comfort zone.

With that in mind, I’m breaking down the top 12 drivers in the Cup Series standings, looking at how they got here, their strengths so far, and what we can expect from them at COTA.

Breaking Down the Top 12 at COTA: Who’s a Road Course Pro & Who’s in Trouble?

Alright, let’s get into it—here’s a look at the top 12 drivers in the standings and how they stack up when they have to turn both ways instead of just mashing the gas and hoping for the best.

1. Ryan Blaney (#12 Ford – Team Penske)

Road Course History: Pretty good… but not elite.

✔ One road course win (Charlotte ROVAL – 2018).
✔ Usually consistent in the top 10 but rarely a serious threat for the win.
✔ Won’t embarrass himself, but probably won’t dominate either.

COTA Outlook:
Blaney’s more of a “quietly solid” road course racer than a flashy one. He won that ROVAL race thanks to a Jimmie Johnson/Martin Truex Jr. wreck, so he won’t be pulling off a Chase Elliott-style clinic here. Expect a decent finish, probably in the top 10—unless someone divebombs him into Turn 1.

2. William Byron (#24 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports)

Road Course History: Surprisingly improving every year.

✔ Won at Watkins Glen in 2023, proving he can get it done.
✔ Had five top-10 road course finishes last season—that’s not bad!
✔ Historically, though, he’s hit-or-miss.

COTA Outlook:
If Byron’s road course improvement keeps trending up, he could be sneaky good here. But he’s also had days where he’s completely lost and looks like he’s on a Sunday drive through the Texas countryside. Still, he’s in great equipment, so expect him to run inside the top 10 if he keeps it clean.

3. Tyler Reddick (#45 Toyota – 23XI Racing)

Road Course History: One of the best in the field.

✔ Three career road course wins (COTA, Indy RC, Road America).
✔ Won this exact race at COTA in 2023.
✔ Insanely aggressive—which works really well or really badly.

COTA Outlook:
Reddick’s probably the best active road course racer not named Chase Elliott. He knows how to attack braking zones, control wheel hop, and send it deep into corners. The only question? Does he go too hard and burn up his tires too soon? Either way, he’s a must-watch and a serious threat to win.

4. Austin Cindric (#2 Ford – Team Penske)

Road Course History: Excellent, thanks to his Xfinity days.

✔ Xfinity road course king—has wins at multiple road courses.
✔ Hasn’t won in Cup yet but always a top-10 threat on these tracks.
✔ Can handle a road course car as well as anyone in the field.

COTA Outlook:
Cindric’s a dark horse for a strong finish here. He has all the skills, but Penske’s road course package isn’t always the best. If the car’s fast, he could be in the mix for a top 5—but he’s not a favorite to win unless something crazy happens.

5. Bubba Wallace (#23 Toyota – 23XI Racing)

Road Course History: Uh… yeah, about that…

✔ Has improved slightly but still not his thing.
✔ Best finish at COTA? 13th.
✔ Has admitted he’s not comfortable on these tracks.

COTA Outlook:
Bubba’s road course skills are like a fish trying to climb a tree—it’s not where he belongs. He’ll probably be hanging around the 15th-20th range unless he pulls off a career-best performance. But hey, he’s in a good car, so maybe he surprises us?

6. Kyle Larson (#5 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports)

Road Course History: Elite-level talent.

✔ Four road course wins (Sonoma, Watkins Glen, Charlotte ROVAL).
✔ One of the most naturally gifted drivers on any type of track.
✔ Attacks corners aggressively but keeps the car under control.

COTA Outlook:
Larson is absolutely capable of winning here. If he’s got the car setup dialed in, expect him to run inside the top 5 all day. If there’s a late restart? He’s a serious threat to take home the checkered flag.

7. John Hunter Nemechek (#42 Chevrolet – Legacy Motor Club)

Road Course History: Limited but promising.

  • Xfinity Series Success: Nemechek has shown potential on road courses in the Xfinity Series, with several top-10 finishes.
  • Cup Series Experience: His Cup Series road course experience is limited, but he’s demonstrated adaptability.

COTA Outlook: Nemechek is still acclimating to the Cup Series, and COTA’s technical layout will be a significant test. While he may not be a frontrunner, a solid top-15 finish would be a commendable achievement for the young driver.

8. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (#47 Chevrolet – JTG Daugherty Racing)

Road Course History: Not his forte.

  • Struggles on Right Turns: Stenhouse has historically found road courses challenging, with few top-10 finishes.
  • Aggressive Driving Style: His penchant for aggression can lead to mistakes on technical tracks.

COTA Outlook: Stenhouse’s best hope is to keep the car on the pavement and avoid unforced errors. A finish inside the top 20 would be a positive result for him at COTA.

9. Alex Bowman (#48 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports)

Road Course History: Middle of the pack but improving.

✔ Hasn’t won a road course race yet but has a handful of top-10s.
✔ Usually a quiet presence in the field but sneaks into good finishes.
✔ Hendrick power gives him an edge, but he’s not a top-tier road racer.

COTA Outlook:
Bowman isn’t bad on road courses, but he’s not a guy you expect to be fighting for the win either. He usually runs around 8th-12th on tracks like COTA. If he stays out of trouble, he could grab a decent finish, but don’t expect him to be leading a ton of laps.

If you’re looking for a safe fantasy pick that won’t wreck your lineup, he’s fine—but he’s not a boom-or-bust guy.

10. Chase Elliott (#9 Chevrolet – Hendrick Motorsports)

Road Course History: THE Road Course King.

✔ Seven career road course wins (Sonoma, Watkins Glen, COTA, Charlotte ROVAL, etc.).
✔ If this were a road course championship, he’d have won five times already.
✔ One of the best at managing his tires and making precise moves in corners.

COTA Outlook:
Listen, if you’re not picking Chase Elliott at a road course, you’re doing it wrong. This is his playground. He won here in 2021, and if his car is even halfway decent, he’s going to be a major contender to win again.

The only reason he’s not higher in the standings right now is because he’s had some bad luck early in the season, but this is the perfect place for him to bounce back. If I had to bet on one guy to finish top five, it’s Elliott.

11. Joey Logano (#22 Ford – Team Penske)

Road Course History: Good, but not great.

✔ Has a road course win (Watkins Glen, 2015).
✔ Always competitive but doesn’t usually dominate these races.
✔ One of the best at late-race strategy, so never count him out.

COTA Outlook:
Logano is like that B student in math class—he’s not failing, but he’s not acing it either. He’s consistent, he knows how to stay in contention, and if the race turns into a fuel-mileage or pit-strategy battle, he could steal a great finish.

That being said, Penske’s road course package hasn’t always been the best, so I’d expect him to finish in the top 10 but not really challenge for the win

12. Christopher Bell (#20 Toyota – Joe Gibbs Racing)

Road Course History: Sneaky good but still inconsistent.

✔ Won the Daytona Road Course race in 2021.
✔ Multiple top-10s on road courses but hasn’t dominated.
✔ Can be a contender, but his road course form is hit or miss.

COTA Outlook:
Bell knows how to win on a road course, but he’s not a guarantee to be up front all day. He has moments of brilliance, like his Daytona Road Course win, but he also has races where he gets stuck in traffic and can’t break into the top 10.

At COTA, expect him to be solid but not spectacular—a top-10 is realistic, but a win would require some luck.

Final Thoughts: Who’s the Favorite at COTA?

Alright, so who should we actually be watching?

✔ Tyler Reddick – The defending winner and aggressive road racer.
✔ Chase Elliott – The undisputed road course king—COTA is his playground.
✔ Kyle Larson – Smooth, aggressive, and a multi-time road course winner.

If you want solid fantasy picks who will likely land inside the top 10, consider:
✔ Christopher Bell – Can sneak into a top 5 but needs things to go his way.
✔ Austin Cindric – Still searching for a road course win, but has the skill to do it.
✔ Joey Logano – Won’t dominate, but will be solid if strategy comes into play.

And if you want a high-risk, high-reward pick, then…
✔ Bubba Wallace – He’s getting better, but let’s be real—he needs a miracle.

COTA is always a must-watch race because it’s one of the few times in the season where pure driving skill matters more than drafting and pit strategy.

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Bryan
"🏁 Cruising the fast lane for over a decade at DrivingOnMarbles.com! 🚗 Passionate about all things NASCAR and dedicated to connecting fellow fans. Gear up and join the race with me! 🏎️💨 #10YearsAndCounting"