NASCAR is a sport that builds legacies rather than stories. Familial legacies from the Pettys and Earnhardts to individual legacies like Jimmie Johnson’s seven-title reign, ‘dominance’ isn’t just a word in the sport. But, do you know that even manufacturers have their legacy in the sport? Yes! Every year, the OEMs: Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota compete for the Manufacturer’s Cup in all three NASCAR national series. And for the last two seasons, it has been Chevrolet. But can you see the bigger picture behind these wins?
When one talks about Ford, Team Penske is the first name that comes to mind. In a similar vein, Joe Gibbs Racing is Toyota’s symbolism in the sport, and Hendrick Motorsports represents Chevrolet. And, this season has already seen enough races to throw a fan in favor of one of these teams. In 2025, we’re seeing a season where the idea of parity feels like a distant memory. While the field is stacked with talent, only a select few seem to have the magic formula. The results? Predictable, yet astonishing. The question isn’t ‘who’s winning’, it’s more like ‘which team’s drivers are putting the team first’.
Dividing NASCAR into three territories
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season has been a showcase of pure dominance by the sport’s “Big Three”: Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske (including their alliance with Wood Brothers Racing). Through the twelve-point races till now, every single win has gone to one of these powerhouse organizations. They’ve also captured the Clash and the All-Star Race, leaving their rivals in the dust. Their control isn’t just about winning, it’s about the psychological impact.
Take the Kansas race, for example. Kyle Larson clinched the win for Hendrick Motorsports, whereas Christopher Bell came in second for Joe Gibbs Racing, and Ryan Blaney completed the top three for Team Penske. The stats are staggering! And recently, Steub, a company that provides data-driven insights and strategies for businesses, took to X to present the mind-boggling numbers.
Hendrick Motorsports leads the way, with 79.2% of their finishes inside the Top 20, and an incredible 100% Top 20 record for Chase Elliott. Hendrick also boasts 60.4% of their finishes inside the Top 10, showing remarkable consistency across their lineup. Joe Gibbs Racing has been just as relentless. Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin have already racked up multiple wins, with Bell notching three victories and Hamlin two.
3 Teams have dominated the 2025 NASCAR season: @TeamHendrick | @JoeGibbsRacing | @Team_Penske (+@woodbrothers21)
All 12 wins this season: HMS, JGR, or Penske. (+ Clash & All-Star)
They swept the podium at PHX, DAR, BRI, TAL, KAN.
HMS: 79.2% of finishes in the Top 20 (100% for… pic.twitter.com/hCb8KGaNdD
— Steub (@Steub_) May 20, 2025
Team Penske, with support from Wood Brothers Racing, has also made its mark. Austin Cindric and Josh Berry have delivered crucial wins, keeping Penske in the thick of the championship hunt. Their ability to capitalize on strategy and execution has paid off in high-pressure moments. But do you know why these teams are legacies of NASCAR’s evolution?
The teams have been around for more than a few decades now! Team Penske entered NASCAR in 1972, HMS in 1984, and JGR entered in 1992. Their drivers have clashed for the top spot for the last three decades. In addition to that, Penske has revived the oldest team in NASCAR history, the Wood Brothers Racing, which started its operations in 1950. And Jon Wood, the third-generation co-owner, described how far teams had come.
In an interview with Frontstretch, Jon said, “The way our team has operated is the way it operated back in 1970, and ’80, and ’90. Back then, you didn’t have team presidents, a Director of Marketing, or a marketing department, or a finance department, or any of those things. You had owners, crew chiefs, mechanics, and guys who had jobs during the week and went on the weekends to help out.” Current conditions might be better in terms of an organization, but the competition is getting stronger.
With all twelve points races claimed by these three teams, the rest of the field faces a steep challenge. The “Big Three” have set a new standard for excellence in 2025, putting on a masterclass in teamwork, speed, and consistency. As the season rolls on, the question isn’t who will win, it’s which of these titans will take control next. But, let’s just say NASCAR is not the only motorsport experiencing it right now.
Is NASCAR the only motorsport with team dominance?
NASCAR’s 2025 season has been defined by the overwhelming strength of three powerhouse teams. Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske have claimed every win so far, sweeping podiums and locking out top spots at tracks like Phoenix, Darlington, and Kansas. But is this level of team dominance unique to NASCAR, or is it a trend seen across other top motorsports?
In Formula 1, McLaren has emerged as the team to beat. After the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, McLaren leads the constructors’ standings with 279 points, well ahead of Mercedes (147) and Red Bull Racing (131). Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have consistently finished on the podium, with Oscar Piastri leading the drivers’ standings over Lando Norris by just 13 points. Norris, on the other hand, is closely followed by Max Verstappen, just nine points behind.
McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes’ technical advancements and driver consistency have created a clear gap to the rest of the field, echoing NASCAR’s “Big Three” stranglehold. Ferrari is a hit and a miss this season!
MotoGP in 2025 has also seen a concentration of power. Mirroring Hendrick Motorsports’ NASCAR dominance, Ducati dominates the MotoGP constructors’ standings with 217 points, including 5 wins and 16 podiums in just six races so far. Marc Márquez leads the driver standings for Ducati with 171 points, thanks to three wins and four podiums. He is closely followed by Álex Márquez with 149 points to his name. Thus, Ducati riders occupy the top spots in the championship, and the brand’s technical superiority has left Yamaha, Honda, and KTM scrambling for occasional podiums.
These trends show that NASCAR is not unique. Across top motorsports, resources, engineering, and driver talent are concentrating success among a select few. For fans and competitors alike, the challenge is clear. Breaking through the wall built by the sport’s biggest teams is tougher than ever in 2025.
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