5 NASCAR drivers who have impressed the most in the Cup Series so far feat. Todd Gilliland

Last year, NASCAR Cup champion, Ryan Blaney was the talk of the town, hailed as an underdog who turned heads with his string of victories. This season, however, several drivers have stepped up, captivating fans with standout performances. A few of them are:

1. Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson is currently leading the pack. With his most recent victory at the Brickyard, Larson sits at the top of the standings. This season, he's notched four wins—the highest of any driver—along with a leading average Driver Rating of 102.1. He's tied for the most top-5 finishes at nine and has eleven top-10 finishes, with an average finish position of 13.1. Larson's versatility has been on full display; not only has he excelled in NASCAR, but he's also made strides in Indycar and grassroots racing, evidenced by his performances in some of the Indy 500 practice sessions.

Last season, Larson nearly clinched the title, finishing second in the NASCAR Cup driver standings after a battle with Ryan Blaney and Ross Chastain in the series finale at Phoenix Raceway.

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2. Tyler Reddick

Last year, Tyler Reddick had the most extended championship pursuit of his NASCAR career, making it all the way to the Round of 8. Competing for 23XI Racing in the #45 car, he started with an early win at the Circuit of The Americas and followed it up with a playoff victory at Kansas Speedway's 1.5-mile track. Throughout the 10-race playoff stretch, he secured three top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish at Darlington and a win at Kansas in back-to-back races.

This year, Tyler Reddick's performance has surged even beyond last year's run, currently holding the third spot in the NASCAR Cup standings. With an average finish of 11.27, he's consistently been a formidable contender. Despite coming close to several wins, minor errors have sometimes held him back. For example, at the Chicago street race, Reddick nearly overtook Alex Bowman for the lead but a slip-up between turns 3 and 4 left him finishing in second place.

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3. Chase Elliott

Besides Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott has also been turning heads this season. Last year, the driver of the #9 Hendrick Motorsports car didn't end the season as strongly as he might have hoped, but this year, he's certainly made amends. He currently holds the second spot in the standings, just recently slipping from the top after finishing tenth at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This season, Chase Elliott has notched one win along with seven top-5 finishes and eleven top-10s.

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4. Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin has consistently been a strong contender in the NASCAR Cup Series. Over the last six years, Hamlin has secured at least two wins each season. His lowest finish in the final standings over the past five years was fifth place in 2023 and 2022. Despite racking up multiple wins last year, the veteran driver narrowly missed a spot in the Championship 4. Currently, in his 20th Cup season, Hamlin is still at the front of the field, currently holding fourth place with 706 points.

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5. Todd Gilliland

Todd Gilliland's 2023 NASCAR Cup season was marked by steady improvement, culminating in an eighth-place finish on the Bristol Dirt, his best of the year. He ended the season ranked 28th overall, managing this while also driving part-time for Rick Ware Racing to fill out his schedule.

This year, Gilliland has made significant strides forward. In his 22 starts, he has managed to place in the top 10 four times and currently sits 20th in the driver standings with 434 points. Impressively, he has led 121 laps this season, outperforming drivers like Austin Cindric and Daniel Suarez, who each have a NASCAR race win but fewer laps led.