The NASCAR Cup Series is known for its powerhouse teams. For a long time, superstar drivers like Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson took center stage and were in the limelight. However, without the emergence of an outright star driver, the teams have stepped up to the stage and become fan favorites.

The turn of the century in the 2000s saw the likes of Hendrick Motorsports and Jack Roush dominate the scene. There were times when teams like HMS and RCR would sweep the seasons. However, the dynamics slowly began to change after the end of Jimmie Johnson’s era of complete dominance in 2010. New players and emerging powers like Stewart Haas Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske also leveled up their game. Just like the four crown jewel NASCAR races, these teams were categorized as the Big Four. But the team that started that change was SHR.

They won the 2011 championship with Tony Stewart leading from the front – his first title as an owner and driver at the same time. This decade also saw the emergence of Team Penske, which stated their claim, winning the 2012 title with Brad Keselowski. But SHR was back to its best with Kevin Harvick and got back to winning championships in 2014.

These 10 years were a constant back and forth between the four organizations. With HMS trying to find its new wave of drivers, Joe Gibbs Racing also bagged two championship wins with Kyle Busch. However, with the turn of a new decade, a new order was established, and SHR somehow couldn’t repeat its past glory and sank to new lows. Mr. H and his team, along with Kyle Larson, got back to winning ways, and Team Penske went for back-to-back triumphs in 2022 and 2023.

It’s too close to call who will emerge on top in 2024. Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are leading the charge for HMS. In reply, JGR has the likes of Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell to depend on. And Ryan Blaney seems to have found his lost touch, keeping up with their old foes. But, there was no redemption story for Stewart Haas Racing, who had already hit rock bottom with performances on the track.

Unable to find a way to turn around the situation, Tony Stewart and Gene Haas decided to close the team after the end of the 2024 season. And just like that, the Big 4 equation turned into a three-horse race. As things stand, Larson has a 10-point lead over his teammate Elliott in the regular season championship. Closely following them is 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick (15 points behind Larson) and his team boss, Denny Hamlin (43 points behind). Following his win at the Brickyard 400, the No. 5 driver was asked about his chances of winning the regular season championship. He said,

“It’s obviously tough because Reddick is up there again, Chase is up there. I’m pretty sure Denny probably picked some cars off there at the end.” Although the JGR driver had to settle for a DNF in Indianapolis, he still walked away with 23 points. “Reddick, Chase, Denny. They’re so good and so consistent right now. So, [locking the championship right now] is tough,” concluded Larson.

Speaking of Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing, with a spot in the Big 4 up for grabs now, there are new racing outfits that could re-establish this order in the Cup Series.

23XI Racing, Trackhouse Racing, or FRM could rise to the occasion

Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s 23XI Racing have made tremendous progress since entering the scene in 2021. The team has already clinched four Cup wins, and their drivers, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, have become playoff regulars (Wallace is still vying for a spot this season). They have continued progressing in 2024; as mentioned earlier, the No. 45 car is in contention for the regular season championship and holding its own against the big dogs.

Rumor has it that 23XI is expected to add a third charter, which will give them the boost they need to compete against powerhouse teams. So they’ve got all the makings of entering that Big 4 conversation. Then comes Front Row Motorsports, which has long been playing catch-up to the big teams despite two decades’ worth of experience.

Fortunately, they have made some good progress on the track with drivers like Michael McDowell. While 23XI is contemplating potential expansion, FRM has already added a third charter, making its intentions clear. Todd Gilliland and Noah Gragson will lead the team in 2025, and it will be interesting to see who they bring on board for their third entry.

Trackhouse Racing is also a new outfit with big plans and the ambition to go head-to-head against the big teams. Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez have been instrumental in building a solid base and have contributed to six Cup Series wins so far. Interestingly, the team is big on scouting and developing drivers. Shane van Gisbergen, Zane Smith, and Connor Zilisch are all signed to their program and expected to move up into the Cup Series. Like the two teams above, they also plan to add another driver to their roster with a third charter.

Keep an eye out for RFK Racing and Legacy Motor Club, as these two teams have a mix of old-school and modern ideas of NASCAR racing. More importantly, they are developing their own racing program from scratch without any technical alliance.