An intense race at Daytona decided the final two spots in the NASCAR Cup playoff grid, but the points situation was settled by end of Stage 1, with Tyler Reddick locking himself in after Alex Bowman wrecked out of the race. Reddick also crashed, but he was able to continue on with his wounded No. 45 car.
Bowman had to sweat for the rest of the race as the 20 drivers facing a must-win tried to position themselves for a dramatic victory in the regular season finale.
There were several of those cars in a perfect spot to do just that, but in the end, Ryan Blaney prevailed in a stunning four-wide photo finish, surrounding by five drivers facing a must-win. Daniel Suarez was second, Justin Haly 3rd, Cole Custer fourth, and Erik Jones fifth — none of which had won yet this year. As a result of Blaney's triumph, Bowman secured the 16th and final playoff spot.
The playoffs get underway at Darlington, where Denny Hamlin earned pole position.
2025 NASCAR Cup playoff grid after reset
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Wins | Points |
| 1 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | 3 | 2032 |
| 2 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | 2 | 2032 |
| 3 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | 4 | 2029 |
| 4 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | 2 | 2026 |
| 5 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | 3 | 2023 |
| 6 | Shane van Gisbergen | Trackhouse Racing | 4 | 2022 |
| 7 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | 1 | 2013 |
| 8 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | 1 | 2010 |
| 9 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | 1 | 2008 |
| 10 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | 1 | 2008 |
| 11 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | 1 | 2007 |
| 12 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | 1 | 2007 |
| CUTLINE | CUTLINE | CUTLINE | CUTLINE | CUTLINE |
| 13 | Josh Berry | Wood Brothers | 1 | 2006 |
| 14 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | 0 | 2006 |
| 15 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | 1 | 2005 |
| 16 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | 0 | 2002 |
Photos from Daytona – Race
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
General view
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Jeff Gordon, Rick Hendrick, William Byron, Jeff Andrews, Hendrick Motorsports
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford, Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
General view
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Multi-car wreck
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Multi-car wreck
James Gilbert / Getty Images
General view
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Malcolm Hope – Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Multi-car wreck
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Joey Logano spins from the lead, Team Penske Ford
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford, Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
NASCAR Cup photo finish with Ryan Blaney winning
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Preece, RFK Racing Ford; Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet; Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet; Chris Buescher, RFK Racing Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Sean Gardner / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
James Gilbert / Getty Images
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