The 2025 Speed Week was loaded with about anything any fan could want. Return if two former Champions, a 4-time Indy 500 winner in the field, most popular figure in NASCAR’s team making their first Cup appearance, multiple multi-car wrecks, another vehicle launch and flip, new Broadcast Partner, second appearance by a sitting President, new rules, new way to score points, Race Control inconsistencies, disqualifications… and some racing thrown in just to keep it interesting.
This effort will focus on what we focus on-Racing Lead Changes. For those who may be new here or allowed the off-season to fuzzy things up, a Racing Lead Change is a Green Flag pass for the lead that occurs without benefit of field bunching at start and restarts or the relinquishing the lead because of Green Flag pit stops. Racing Lead Changes are pure passes for the lead and what most fans think occurred when they hear “The race had 27 Lead Changes” when in fact that is not the case.
Byron Wins… Again.
First things first. William Byron rolled off P9 in the Green-White-Checker and took the lead on the final lap of the race to capture the 67th Daytona 500. It was a back-to-back win at NASCAR’s Super Bowl. Both races saw wrecks on the final lap in each which Byron avoided on his way to victory. This was his 12th GEN-7 victory (2nd behind teammate, Kyle Larson at 13) and his 13th win overall, placing him tied for 59th overall and tied with Ryan Blaney for 7th on the active, full-time drivers list.
Byron had 5 Lead changes for the race, 3 of which were Racing Lead Changes. His winning Lead Change was a result of a Lap 199 Green-White-Checker restart during which the four leading cars tangled on the backstretch of the final lap. Byron cleared the mess and beat Tyler Reddick back to the Checkered Flag by 0.113 seconds.
He leaves Daytona as the first driver in the Playoffs, 2nd in Points, 1 point behind P-7 finisher and Points Leader, Ryan Blaney and 5th in the Racing Lead Change Standings.
Cindric Wins Racing Lead Change Battle –
Austin Cindric had a strong performance in the Great America Race. Starting outside front row, the #2 Penske Discount Tire Dark Horse Mustang ran at the front nearly the entire race. Cindric was poised to win his 2nd Daytona 500 when he retook the Lead from Denny Hamlin on the White Flag lap of the overtime Green-White-Checker. Unfortunately, it was not to be as he was collected in the Denny Hamlin-Corey LaJoie-Cole Custer-Chase Briscoe melee on the backstretch, limping home to an 8th Place finish. Cindric finished the day with 13 Lead Changes, tops among the 15 Leaders. 11 of the Lead Changes were under Green, again tops.
Most importantly, Cindric racked up 7 Racing Lead Changes which are shown in Green below.
This put Cindric atop the Racing Lead Change Leader Board after the first race, that saw a total of 12 drivers register at least one RLC as noted below.
To put his performance in perspective, Cindric registered just one less RLC than he did the entire 2024 Regular Season (7 vs 8in 2024). His 7 RLCs was tied for the 4th highest number of RLCs in a GEN-7 race behind Denny Hamlin – 11 (2024 Bristol 1), Austin Cindric – 9 (2024 Talladega 2), Joey Logano– 8 (2024 Daytona 2), Joey Logano – 7 (2024 Talladega 2).
For further perspective – Joey Logano won the 2024 Championship and the Racing Lead Change Championship with 24 RLCs.
Any way you cut it, Austin Cindric had some kind of race performance. Now let’s see how it translates to a season performance.
Other Stats of Interest
Most Gen-7 Daytona 500 RLCS – The 2025 Daytona 500 had 36 RLCs. This is the most for a Daytona 500 in the Gen-7 Era.
Tied for Most RLC Drivers – In addition to Cindric, 11 other drivers registered RLCs. This made the third year in a row that 12 drivers had one or more RLCs
Fewest Green Flag Laps – this Daytona 500 had the 154 Green Flag Laps.
This was the fewest Green Flag Laps at the 500 in the GEN-7 Era and was a dramatic falloff from last year’s 180 Green Flag Laps.
Most Green Flag Passes – The 16,389 Green Flag Passes in this 500 is the most Green Flag Passes registered by NASCAR Loop data for this race in the GEN-7 Era.
That’s over 4000 more Green Flag Passes over last year’s race, even though there were 26 fewer Green Flag laps to make the passes in. This resulted in…
The Highest Rate of Green Flag Passes per Green Flag Lap – This Passing Rate jumped from 66.23 Green Flag Passes per Green Flag Lap in 2024 to a whopping 106.42 in 2025. That’s a 160.68% increase YoY and a 270.09% increase from the measly 39.40 in the first year of the GEN-7.
Outrageous Passing Numbers – Something to consider… if the entire 41 car field ran all 154 Green Flag Laps, that would mean that on average every car made 2.60 Green Flag Passes each and every Green Flag Lap of the race. Now, that’s passing right there! The FOX Leaderboard must have been flashing like a pinball machine! With that big of a jump, one has to ask why? Could it be the fuel mileage strategy is now in full song?
No Green Flag Pit Stops Means No Lead Changes for Green Flag Pit Stops– The race saw the Cautions fall such that there were no Green Flag Pit Stops among the Leaders. That meant zero Green Flag Lead Changes as a result. You don’t see that very often, but 2025 Daytona had it.
55 Lead Changes Not 56-NASCAR reported a total of 56 Lead Changes for the race.
The 56th Lead Change was awarded to Ryan Blaney for leading Lap 202. Only problem is, the race ended on Lap 201 with William Byron in the Lead. Blaney was credited with a Lead Change and Lap Led after the race concluded. The race was credited for one more Lead Change than actually occurred. May not be a big deal unless there was some kind of bet riding on it, but…
Largest Field since 2015-With the adoption of the new Open Exemption Provisional, 41 cars took the Green Flag on Sunday. That’s the largest field since 2015 which was the last year the field was 43. 4-time Indy 500 winner, Helio Castroneves rolled off shotgun on the field even though he was ineligible to earn points or payout. He completed 70 laps before was taken out in a seven-car wreck that included teammate Ross Chastain. Castroneves was credited with a 39th place finish, but his presence extended far beyond that as he took sponsor, Wendy’s activation to new heights.
Air Preece – Not going to say much about this one other than Ryan Preece found another way to catch major air and the start of it looked very similar to the Ty Gibbs/Clash launch, just 130 MPH faster. Glad Ryan is OK and have little doubt that Dr. Jacuzzi and company have already burnt a lot of midnight oil (at 100% throttle) to get to the bottom of the situation.
Two Former Champions Return-the 2025 Daytona 500 saw the return of seven-time Cup Champ Jimmie Johnson and 2017 Cup Champion Martin Truex, Jr. Going into the race it looked like the MTJ had the upper hand being reunited with Crew Chief Cole Pearn, but when the dust settled, it was Johnson who quietly climbed from 40th to a “Where did he come from?” P3 finish, showing the NASCAR Nation he still had some racing left in him.
OEP PSA… – If teams want consideration for an OEP for the “Coca-Cola 600”, this Sunday is the 90-day cutoff to get your request in for that race. Could we see a return of the “Dancing Man”? Only time will tell.
JRM Entry into Cup – One of the most noticeable entries in the 41-car field was JR Motorsports entry into Cup. The Dale Jr/Kelley Earnhardt Miller team, partnered with Country Music singer-songwriter superstar, Chris Stapleton for this Project. With 2024 Xfinity Champion Justin Allgier behind the wheel the JRM #40 Chevrolet Camaro carried the Stapleton whiskey logo “Travellers Whiskey” to a very solid and respectable Top 10 finish. It was a very popular entry and exceptional effort. Hopefully. it’s a precursor for things to come. To say this team would be a welcome addition to Cup would be an understatement.
Congratulations.
Atlanta-What to Expect – As they say, “Past Performance is not indicative of Future Results” but… 2024 Atlanta 1 had the closest three-way finish in NASCAR history with Daniel Suarez taking to win. There were 48 Lead Changes-4 of which were under Caution. Green Flag Lead Changes had 9 on the Start/Restarts and another 5 for Green Flag Pit Stops. 12 Drivers were credited with 30 RLCs with Ryan Blaney’s 5 RLCs leading the pack and Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr.’s 4 RLCs nipping on his heels. Drivers with 3 RLCs included Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Todd Gilliland and Michael McDowell. Cindric, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher and race winner Daniel Suarez each had 1 RLC. That’s an interesting breakdown of folks up front. Will we see a repeat (less MTJ) or a new host of players up front?
That’s why you need to tune in a find out how the racing plays out on this Pack Track!
Thunder On… and Stay Safe (and warm and dry)!
David Nance
Post-script: Race Fans Forever’s PattyKay Lilley used to end each of her posts with a song that would tie back to her thoughts that day. In tribute to her and in recognition of Chris Stapleton, Dale Jr. and Kelley’s start on their new Cup Chapter, I’ll close with this tune from Stapleton, back in his bluegrass days with “The Steeldrivers”.
The look-different. The voice-unmistakable. But in it you could hear future greatness. May they find future greatness together in the Racing Days ahead.
Photo Credit (cover): Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images