After a wild and unpredictable season, the 2025 DNQ Professor Clutch WERX Pro Cup Series will come down to a single race

After a wild and unpredictable season, the 2025 DNQ Professor Clutch Werx Pro Cup Series will come down to a single race — and one major twist: championship contender Damian Jenks will not be competing in the finale.

That leaves the title door cracked open for the rest of the field, and all eyes are on Alex Kirk, who enters the last round as the points leader with 1,300 points. Behind him, it’s a hungry pack of challengers: Brad McElrath (1,262, –38), Joe Henning (1,222, –78), and KC Heschel (1,210, –90).

The math says five drivers were technically eligible — but with Jenks sidelined, it’s now Kirk’s title to lose.

Alex Kirk (Leader – 1,300 points, 2 wins)

Kirk controls his own fate. A top-5 finish in the finale will clinch the championship no matter what the others do. Fifth place is worth 155 points, bringing his total to 1,455 — the exact mark Jenks would’ve needed to tie had he been in the race. With Jenks out, even a mid-pack result should be more than enough for Kirk to take home his first Pro Cup title.

That said, DNQ history is littered with “sure things” that turned into “what just happened” moments. Kirk just needs to avoid bad luck — no contact, no broken chains, and definitely no getting stuck behind what the garage affectionately calls “cockroach lap traffic.”

“If Kirk just stays clean and doesn’t get hit by flying debris or karma, this thing’s his,” said commentator AI Barney  “But this is DNQ — where safe bets go to die.”

Brad McElrath (3rd – 1,262 points, –38)

McElrath becomes the biggest threat to Kirk now that Jenks is out. To have any chance, he basically needs to win and hope Kirk finishes 6th or worse. If McElrath wins (190 points → 1,452 total) and Kirk is 6th (150 points → 1,450), McElrath edges him by just two points.

Anything less than a win likely isn’t enough. A 2nd-place finish (170 points, total 1,432) would require Kirk to finish 11th or worse, which is rare for the smooth-driving Kirk unless something catastrophic happens.

Still, McElrath has quietly been one of the most consistent drivers this season, and he’s been in the mix nearly every race. If he finds himself out front late, don’t expect him to hold back.

“Brad’s got that look in his eye,” said Eli AI  on DNQ Weekly. “Like a guy who just realized the pizza’s free if he eats it in under five minutes.”

Joe Henning (4th – 1,222 points, –78)

Henning needs a miracle — but if DNQ has taught us anything, it’s that miracles and mechanical failures go hand-in-hand. He basically needs to win and hope Kirk finishes 18th or worse. That’s a tall order, but he has shown speed in the last few weeks.

If Henning wins (190 → 1,412) and Kirk scores 109 points or fewer (18th or lower), Henning can mathematically steal the title. He’ll also need McElrath to finish outside the top 3.

If all that sounds unlikely… it is.

KC Heschel (5th – 1,210 points, –90)

Heschel’s path to the title is like trying to order Waffle House online — technically possible, but almost guaranteed to fail. He must win the race and have Kirk finish 22nd or worse, and McElrath, Henning, and Jenks (well, he’s safe there) all have bad nights.

If Heschel wins (190 → 1,400 total), Kirk would need to score fewer than 90 points to lose the lead. That’s basically a DNF scenario. Still, Heschel’s known for running strong in chaotic races, and if the field decides to self-destruct, don’t be shocked if he’s the last one still rolling.

The Big Picture

With Jenks out, the pressure squarely lands on Alex Kirk’s shoulders. He’s been the most composed driver in the paddock all season — but this finale is DNQ territory, where chaos is the house specialty.

A bad restart, a stray bumper, or one “my brakes went out” moment could turn the title on its head. McElrath and Henning both have the speed to make things interesting, and Heschel will be hoping for a good ol’ DNQ miracle.

At the end of the day, Kirk doesn’t need to win — he just needs to survive. And in DNQ, that’s usually the hardest part.