The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series is already serving up plenty of surprises, only five races in. Christopher Bell made history with the first three-peat of the Next Gen era. However, the real shocker was Josh Berry’s victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This triumph marks Berry’s first NASCAR Cup Series win, shaking up the status quo and leaving regular frontrunners like Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Denny Hamlin still waiting for their first win of the season.
Berry’s win is a testament to his potential, proving that he is right where he belongs in the NASCAR Cup Series. This is reminiscent of Harrison Burton’s surprise victory at Daytona the previous year. It is increasingly clear that drivers aiming for their first wins are far from being out of favor. Given the number of drivers looking to claim their first Cup level win, Berry’s victory could be the first of many surprises this season.
The NASCAR Insiders have already started picking their favorites. One name that stands out is Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports. Hocevar’s aggressive and carefree racing style has not won him many friends in the Cup Series garage, but it has caught the attention of Jordan Bianchi, who has tipped him as a likely contender for a first Cup race win.
Kyle Busch, despite his own winless streak and issues at RCR, hasn’t held back in expressing his frustration with Hocevar’s tactics, especially after their clash at Atlanta. Hocevar, however, seems unphased and is unlikely to change his aggressive approach. His post-race comments made it clear that he is here to win races, not make friends.
Despite Hocevar’s recent inconsistent performances, with his last two races ending in P30 or worse, Bianchi believes he, along with Ty Gibbs, have the potential to pull off an upset. Gibbs, despite being in a slump and not securing a top 10 finish, has the advantage of being with Joe Gibbs Racing, which could turn things around for him.
Bianchi also highlights Noah Gragson as another potential upset contender, despite a late tire failure at Vegas, noting his impressive performance so far this year.
The rivalry between Busch and Hocevar has been a talking point of the season. Busch, in an interview with Kevin Harvick, revealed his long-standing issue with Hocevar, tracing it back to a race in Michigan when Hocevar was only 13 or 14.
Despite facing similar criticism when he first entered NASCAR, Busch believes there is a lack of respect from Hocevar towards his fellow competitors. This issue has only been fueled by Hocevar’s refusal to apologize or acknowledge his aggressive tactics, on and off the track.
The ongoing feud between Busch and Hocevar is sure to keep NASCAR fans gripped as the 2025 Cup Series continues. With the presence of young, ambitious drivers like Berry, Hocevar, and Gibbs, this season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent years.
