Kyle Larson put NASCAR in a tough spot, ultimately granting him a waiver to remain playoff-eligible after missing the Coca-Cola 600. Of course, Larson was in Indianapolis in the Indy 500, racing in that event after a rain delay instead of his full-time gig in the Cup Series.

NASCAR's stricter 2025 waiver rule, which penalizes drivers missing races for non-medical reasons by forfeiting all playoff points, has sparked debate.

Kyle Larson is now a three-time Chili Bowl winner thanks to his perseverance through a wild main event Saturday night.

Here are five who stand out entering the 2025 NASCAR Cup season and what they could achieve this year. He reached the final eight in the Cup playoffs in 2020 and followed that by winning a career-high four races in 2021. But Bowman hasn’t been able to duplicate those successes since.

Going into 2025, there’s no reason to think Larson won’t be a frequent visitor to Victory Lane. One of the biggest reasons for Larson’s status as a perennial contender? Crew chief Cliff Daniels, a man whose motivational speeches could rival the likes of Winston Churchill and Teddy Roosevelt.

Kyle Larson led all 40 laps from the pole to win his third Chili Bowl Nationals midget car event Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I love being back here,” Larson said on the FloRacing broadcast.

NASCAR waited until week's end to unload some important rules changes. And Kyle Larson's Indy-Charlotte double needs a clean Doppler.

Kyle Busch, one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, has shared his disappointment following his performance in the Chili Bowl Nationals. Although renowned for his achievements in NASCAR as a two-time Cup Series champion, Busch is fairly new to the world of midget car racing.

NASCAR star Kyle Larson raced to another Chili Bowl victory Saturday evening in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Larson’s win came in the biggest event of the season for the midget cars.

Jeff Gordon made a much-anticipated return to the Chili Bowl Nationals this week, stepping into the spotlight as the event’s grand marshal. The post Jeff Gordon Comes Full Circle as He Reunites With Special Fan 25 Years After Heroic Recovery appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Jeff Gordon made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 1992. A couple of years before he competed in the 1990 Chili Bowl Nationals. He finished 16th. The Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman returned to Tulsa for the 2025 version of the premier midget race in the world to serve as the grand marshal. He served in the same role in 2022.