With the 2026 Cup Series season coming up, it’s a whole new world of possibilities! With the new short track and road course packages, return to the chase format, and driver moves like Zilisch’s move up to Cup with Trackhouse, and Suarez heading to Spire. All that and more make NASCAR very difficult to predict, but that’s never stopped anyone before!

Race 1: The Daytona 500!

2026 Winner: Chase Elliott

Hendrick has been on a hot streak in this race as of late. That’s because William Byron went back-to-back in the Great American Race. Now, no driver has three-peated at the Daytona 500 in a long time, and while Byron could, it’s also true that Chase Elliott has been knocking on the door of a Daytona 500 win for a while, too.

Earning back-to-back poles in his first two seasons and finished runner-up in the 2021 event! So with Hendrick having figured out the event and history going against Byron, it all lines up for what would be one of the most popular Daytona 500 wins in years to start 2026!

Race 2: The Autotrader 400!

2026 Winner: Ross Chastain

The debut of the newly renamed Echopark Speedway, like Elliott Ross Chastain, has been knocking on the door of a win here for a while. Heading into 2026, Ross Chastain has led 117 total laps here since it was repaved and became a plate track in 2022. Even breaking in the new asphalt with back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2022, then earned top ten finishes in 2024 with a seventh place finish. Then, in this exact race a year ago, Chastain finished eighth after leading 25 laps.

Race 3: The DuraMax Grand Prix!

2026 Winner: SVG

Yeah, not shocking anyone with this pick. Especially since he does have a bone to pick with this track heading into 2026. Having been robbed of a win at it in Xfinity by Austin Hill. Then it went on to be the only road course not won by the Kiwi in 2025. So he’s going to be coming into Austin, Texas, with a chip on his shoulder, so everyone better get out of his way.

Race 4: The Straight Talk Wireless 500!

2026 Winner: Christopher Bell

The driver from Norman, Oklahoma, is absolutely class at Phoenix. He has two wins here at the Cup level inculding at this exact weekend last year. And has gotten seven top tens in his 12 cup starts here, meaning he has an over 50% chance of finishing at least tenth or above at this track. So no reason to doubt he could win here.

Race 5: The Pennzoil 400!

2026 Winner: Kyle Larson

The defending champion won’t take long to win in 2026, and he’ll do it at one of his best tracks. A track he’s gotten three wins at in the past, here his wall-ripping style fits the track like a glove! He has an average finish of 9.0 here, earning it with 14 top tens in 19 starts! So he’ll be the Vegas favorite to win Vegas.

Race 6: The Goodyear 400!

2026 Winner: Chase Briscoe

The driver of the JGR 19 has tamed the track that’s too tough to tame better than most. Starting with his oh so memorable final lap clash in the Xfinity Series with former Cup champion Kyle Busch. Then, of course, he’s won two of the last four Darlington races run in Cup. Winning back-to-back years in 2024 and 2025. And he’ll make it three in a row in 2026!

Race 7: The Cook Out 400!

2026 Winner: William Byron

Bryon has come to make Martinsville his own in the Next Gen era. Winning three of the eight Next Gen events held there since the new car debuted in 2022. And he comes into the paperclip as the defending winner, and he’ll make it two in a year in Martinsville, Virginia!

Race 8: The Food City 500!

2026 Winner: Ryan Preece

Preece last year showed his quality, and that he belonged in quality equipment, so a win is the logical next step for the RFK driver. If there’s anywhere he can do it, it’d be Bristol. One of Preece’s two Xfinity wins during his part-time stint at Gibbs was at Bristol. Plus, he’s earned top tens here in Cup with struggling teams like the JTG 37 and a dying SHR in 2024. His win at the Clash in Bowman Gray to kick off the 2026 NASCAR season could also show the new short track package might be more up to his speed than last year’s. If that’s true, the former Modified champion will be a threat to win at every short track this year. He’s the first of three first-time winners, I believe, who’ll happen in 2026.

Race 9: The Adventhealth 400!

2026 Winner: Tyler Reddick

23XI used to own Kansas Speedway. Three of the team’s first five ever wins came at the 1.5-mile track. The past two years have changed that, and the Toyota team has let others celebrate in victory lane, but there are reasons to believe Reddick can bring them back to victory lane here. Five of Reddick’s Cup wins have come at speedways like Texas, Michigan, and even Kansas in the past. Earning 23XI’s most recent Kansas win in 2023. So there’s a good reason to believe he’s got what it takes to return 23XI Racing to Kansas’s victory.

Race 10: The Jack Link’s 500!

2026 Winner: Joey Logano

It’s no secret that Penske has been the top dog when it comes to plate track racing in the Next Gen era. With all three of their drivers winning at least one plate track race since 2022, and while it’s been Blaney recently who has been taking all of Penske’s plate track wins, Logano’s greatness at the plates should not be forgotten. He’s won three different times at Dega, so as long as Penske and Ford continue to dominate at the plates. It’s only natural he’ll get another soon.

Race 11: The Wurth 400!

2026 Winner: Kyle Larson

Larson’s luck at Texas has been terrible recently, but that only makes it inevitable he’ll turn a corner sooner rather than later. Ever since his 2021 win, he’s only had one top five and two top tens. But that’s even though in the last three events here, he’s led at least over 70 laps and even earned pole here in 2024, where he led 77 laps. And last year, he was a restart away from winning here after he led 90 laps. Making it likely that the 2025 champion will become 2026’s first two-time winner.

Race 12: Go Bowling at the Glen!

2026 Winner: Connor Zilisch

SVG dominated the road courses in a totally unprecedented way in 2025, but when he went down to race in the Xfinity Series, there was one young driver always giving him trouble. That was, of course, the man who won ten races that season, NASCAR’s newest prodigy and Cup rookie Connor Zilisch. The man who famously won in his Xfinity Series debut at the Glen when he was only 17. If there’s anyone who can stop the Kiwi’s rein of dominance in the Cup Series, it’s him. And with the All-Star race one race away. Automatically locking a spot into the 1`,000,000 event will be on his mind, motivating him as well.

The All-Star open!

2026 Winner: Ty Gibbs

A lot has been made about Ty Gibbs breaking JJ Yeley’s record for most starts at JGR without getting a win. While I do think he’ll improve this season, not enough to where he won’t have the best car in the All-Star open. And clench his way into the All-Star race through an open win for the second time in his career. The first being in 2024.

The All-Star race!

2026 Winner: Chase Elliott

The All-Star race will be held at Dover for the first time at Dover, a track Chase Elliott is really great at. Having won twice here in 2018 and 2022. As well as having 11 top tens in 15 total starts at the Cup Series level. On top of already having an All-Star triumph in 2020. Shows why he should be one of the 2026 All-Star race favorites!

Race 13: The Coca-Cola 600!

2026 Winner: Ross Chastain

Ross Chastain is the defending winner of the 600, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t go for two in a row. The melon farmer has become one of NASCAR’s intermediate racers. Winning at tracks like Nashville, Kansas, and, of course, Charlotte last year. His 600 win came as no shock to anyone, and his repeating would be a shock to no one as well.

Race 14: The Cracker Barrel 400!

2026 Winner: Denny Hamlin

While Hamlin’s been one of the best drivers consistently every season, we saw how a preseason injury slowed his start to the season in 2010. And now Hamlin, much older, isn’t going to bounce back, way hence why his first win of the season will be in the 14th race of the season.

But Nashville is a place Hamlin could easily win at. Again, it’s a track in Cup he’s knocking on the door of getting a win at. Having two top fives and three top tens in his five Cup starts there. All while leading 344 laps there, leading at least 70 laps in his last four starts at the Tennessee track. He even has two poles at Nashville, making him the first Cup driver ever to have multiple poles at this track.

Race 15: The FireKeepers Casino 400!

2026 Winner: Chris Buescher

Ford, at this point in the year, hasn’t been doing a lot of winning. Their teams are feeling a lot of pressure, and if Chris Buescher didn’t handle pressure well, his Cup Series career would be over by now. But he’s still here and thriving, with Michigan being one of the tracks where he thrives the most.

Winning here in 2023 and earning at least a sixth-place finish in his last three starts there. He’s a safe pick to win at Michigan this year.

Race 16: The Great American Gateway 400!

2026 Winner: Kyle Larson

The first two-time winner of 2026 will also become the year’s first three-time winner! He’s never won here, but he has two poles at the tricky triangle, along with two runner-up finishes in 2018 and 2021. And infamously, he was laps away from winning in 2023 if it wasn’t for Hamlin running him into the fence. And 2026 will be the year he finally gets his win here.

Race 17: The Anduril 250!

Inaugural Winner: Ty Gibbs

Ty Gibbs at the Chicago street course was quite great, and it was easily one of his best tracks. Averaging a 4.7 average finish and even led `18 total lap which is more than most tracks for him, where he hasn’t led any laps. Never finishing outside the top 10 once.

While we’re racing in San Diego, with the unpredictability that always comes with a new track, which always means more surprises are possible. But unlike Chicago’s first race, SVG is not going to be the only driver with street course experience this time. And with Ty Gibbs being one of the best drivers when it came to adapting to street course conditions, plus a whole list of things that could go wrong here that wouldn’t at a normal race. Don’t count him out in San Diego.

Race 18: The Toyota/Save Mart 350!

2026 Winner: SVG

SVG dominated road courses like no other driver has in NASCAR history last but this year, he only has one victory to his name. So he comes into Sonoma hungry, and that only makes him more dangerous. So he should have another dominant win in the Sonoma Valley like last year.

Race 19: Chicagoland!

2026 Winner: Kyle Larson

It’s been years since NASCAR returned to the asphalt of Chicagoland, and that means it’s been years since Larson has gotten a chance to redeem himself. For his back-to-back runner-up finishes at the last two events run here. And there’s no way a two-time Cup Series champion will miss a chance to conquer the track he came so close to winning at in the past.

Race 20: The Quaker State 400!

2026 Winner: William Byron

Byron is the best plate track driver in NASCAR right now. Earning two wins at Atlanta and three wins at Daytona. And that’s not changing, Daytona threepeat or not. So he’s the best bet to get the win here.

Race 21: The Window World 450!

2026 Winner: Bubba Wallace

Bubba has been one of the best drivers at North Wilkesboro since NASCAR’s return to the North Carolina event. Finishing runner-up twice in the 2023 All-Star and 2024 All-Star open. He’s never finished outside the top 10 at this track so far. And with summer conditions being some of his favorites. A win here is very likely for Bubba.

Race 22: The Brickyard 400!

2026 Winner: Chase Briscoe

Chase Briscoe wants nothing more than to win at this historic race track. He was raised in Indiana, and it was the place that got him into motorsports. He’s also come close to winning here at both the road course and the oval. He even earned pole here last year and led 34 laps. And in 2026, the hometown boy will be kissing the bricks.

Race 23: The Iowa Corn 350!

2026 Winner: Ryan Blaney

In the two races NASCAR has run at Iowa, Ryan Blaney has proven to be the best driver at this track. Winning the first race run here in 2024 after leading 201 laps, then followed that up by leading 29 laps and finishing fourth in 2025. So he is the clear favorite heading into 2026.

Race 24: The Cook Out 400!

2026 Winner: Josh Berry

Josh Berry last year proved he could win at a Cup level with his first career win at Vegas. And Richmond is one of his best tracks since moving up to the Cup Series. He earned a top ten finish with an 8th-place finish last year. And of course, his runner-up finish replacing Elliott in the nine car in 2023. So if there’s anywhere he’ll get his second career win, it’s at Richmond.

Race 25: The Mobil 1 301!

2026 winner: Christopher Bell

Christopher Bell is the new king of New Hampshire. He’s won twice since 2022, including a dominant 2024 victory where he led 129 laps. And he almost won 2021. So there’s no doubting Bell at this track.

Race 26: The Coke Zero Sugar 400!

2026 Winner: Alex Bowman

Bowman comes into 2026 with his seat red hot. It’s a contract year for him, and especially late in the season, he’s gonna be feeling that heat. But he’s come up clutch before, like with his runner-up finish at the Roval in 2019 to advance to the next round of the playoffs. So expect him to pick his form come Chase time.

And he’s great at Daytona. With the most front row starts of any driver in NASCAR history at the Daytona 500. And he finished runner-up to his teammate, Byron, in the 2024 Daytona 500. So 2026 will be his Daytona breakout.

Race 27: The Southern 500!

2026 Winner: Ross Chastain

The melon farmer continues his crown jewel collecting with the Southern 500. He’s great at this track, even if luck usually doesn’t go his way or his own errors cost him, like in the 2018 Xfinity race when he dominated the event ahead of Cup Champions like Harvick and Keselowski. Only to tangle with Harvick and cost him his first career Xfinity win. Or in 2023, when he tried to outdo Kyle Larson, Kyle Larson. But found out that’s a task even the best drivers can’t manage.

But these past few years, he’s been maturing and growing as a driver, and Trackhouse has been building back better as a team. And they’ll prove that at this year’s Southern 500.

Race 28: The Enjoy Illinois 300!

2026 Winner: Chase Briscoe

The man who came runner-up here last year. Will redeem himself and this time get the job done. And be able to celebrate in victory lane while looking at that famous St.Louis arch.

Race 29: The Bass Pro Shops Night Race!

2026 Winner: Ty Gibbs

Ty Gibbs’ best track since entering Cup has been Bristol. He has led 440 laps here and has four top tens in six starts. And with him getting his first career win and making the Chase, he’s got an extra pep in his step. And will find that extra tenth he needs to finally claim the checkered flag at the world’s fastest half-mile.

Race 30: The Hollywood Casino 400!

2026 Winner: Tyler Reddick

Tyler Reddick will go on to sweep at Kansas. Continuing Toyota’s Chase win streak and truly letting the world know, Kansas is 23XI’s track again.

Race 31: The South Point 400!

2026 Winner: Ross Chastain

Chastain, like at Darlington, has come so close to rolling all sixes at Las Vegas, too. In his last eight starts here, he’s earned six top tens and five top fives, plus led 167. And with pressure mounting as we get deeper into the Chase. He’ll show his clutch gene late in the season.

Race 32: The Bank of America 400!

2026 Winner: Kyle Larson

The Roval may be left off the schedule this season, but that doesn’t matter either way to Larson. With multiple wins at both Charlotte configurations. (Counting the All-Star race.) One of which was a dominant 600 victory that came a year after the greatest comeback of his career. And he’s shown off his clutch gene last year to win his second career title. Mix those two, and he’s a favorite for any Chase Charlotte event.

Race 33: The Freeway Insurance 500!

2026 Winner: Alex Bowman

One of Bowman’s most memorable moments is when he almost got his first career win at this track while replacing the sport’s most popular driver ever. Only to clip Kenseth in the final laps. Well, in an attempt to save the Hendrick seat he earned with that drive. He’ll redeem himself and finally win in his home state.

Race 34: The Yellowood 500!

2026 Winner: Ross Chastain

Talladega is crazy, and nobody does crazy better than Ross Chastain. He’s won here before in 2022 after all, and it’ll be here where he’ll continue his Chase resurgence.

Race 35: Xfinity 500!

2026 Winner: Chase Elliott

It’s been a while since he first won that grandfather clock in 2020. But with this continuing to be Hendrick’s and one of Elliott’s best tracks. Elliott has had at least a fourth-place finish in his last four trips here. To continue his championship bid, he’ll pull a 2020 and win in Virginia.

Season Finale: Straight Talk Wireless 400!

2026 Winner: Kyle Larson

Nobody is better at Homestead Miami than Larson. With two wins and 645 laps led, his 50% top ten percentage doesn’t do him justice. And he’s won last year’s season finale, so expect back-to-back Larson victories to close out the year. But unlike last year, this won’t earn him a title.

2026 final Chase standings!

1. Ross Chastain

2. Chase Elliott

3. Kyle Larson

4. Chase Briscoe

5. William Byron

6. Christopher Bell

7. Chris Buescher

8. Ryan Blaney

9. Alex Bowman

10. Denny Hamlin

11. Ty Gibbs

12. Tyler Reddick

13. Bubba Wallace

14. SVG

15. Joey Logano

16. Ryan Preece

Storylines to look out for!

Denny Hamlin falls off?: Hamlin comes into 2026 with his body and soul battered and bruised. Following the season where he had the title pulled out from under him right after losing his father. Then suffering injuries before Speedweeks. He’s not getting any younger, and with his heart potentially not in it all the way anymore. It’s reasonable to believe his form will dip slightly in 2026.

Spire continues to spiral and struggle: Spire has been expanding and has only been getting more ambitious. But we’ve seen what happens to the HScott, Germain, or Bill Davis who do too much too fast, they crash and burn. Even with a future champion and two solid veterans in their stable. Drivers can outdrive their equipment so much.

Trackhouse revival: After Chastain almost won the title in Trackhouse’s second-ever season, the team has yet to reach those heights again. Changing fiancers from Pitbull to Marc Lasry has brought the team stability again, however. And SVG’s road course domination last year provided them with a good amount of race winnings last year. And have made themselves media darlings again, with Zilisch and SVG now finding themselves in the spotlight. Bringing sponsors like Weathertech and Red Bull. All that should mean 2026 is Trackhouse’s best season in years.

Zilisch struggles with racing for the first time in his life: NASCAR’s newest prodigy has had no trouble adapting and winning in whatever series he’s thrown into. Since he won his Xfinity Glen debut. But the Cup Series is not any series. And rookies coming from Xfinity have a recorded history of struggling in Cup. Like Cindric, Custer, and Gragson. But no one parallels Zilisch better than Ty Gibbs. Having also won a road course race at a young age in his debut then went on to dominate the second-tier series the next season. Heading into 2026, Ty Gibbs has yet to win in three full-time seasons. And while I believe Zilisch won’t struggle as much, he’ll struggle regardless.

SVG gets close to the first oval win but not quite: In 2025, the V8 Supercars champion turned NASCAR driver struggled at ovals very early on. Needing six races to even get his first top 20 finish in competitive equipment. But he showed improvement towards the end of 2025. Earning his first-ever oval top 10 at Kansas. He’ll continue to improve and sniff an oval win a few times in 2026. But he’s facing the best oval racers in the world, even for someone as incredibly talented as he is, it’ll take some more hard work to come out on top, even once. Thanks a bunch for reading!

Image Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty Images