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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 12: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Tyler Reddick has taken early control of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series standings after the first two races of the season. He opened the year with a win in the Daytona 500 and followed it with another victory at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta.
Those results place him firmly at the top of the championship table after Race 2 of 36. The strong start gives 23XI Racing an early advantage, with both of its drivers near the front of the standings.
While the season remains in its opening phase, the first points update shows a clear leader and a tight battle behind him. The official standings released by NASCAR.com confirm Reddick’s position and show how the rest of the field lines up heading into the next race weekend.
Tyler Reddick Sits First With Early Points Gap
Tyler Reddick leads the Cup Series standings with 125 points after two starts. He also has 15 stage points, 2 wins, 2 top-5 finishes, and 2 top-10 finishes. He has led 54 laps so far this season. His total gives him a 40-point advantage over Bubba Wallace, who sits second with 85 points and 29 stage points.
Chase Elliott ranks third with 81 points and one top-five finish. Carson Hocevar holds fourth with 74 points, followed by Zane Smith in fifth with 71. Joey Logano sits sixth with 68 points, while Daniel Suárez and Ryan Blaney each have 67 points in seventh and eighth.
Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher complete the top 10 with 61 points each. Both RFK Racing drivers have recorded one top-five finish and one top-10 finish through the opening two races. Only Reddick has more than one win at this stage of the season.
Full Field Begins to Take Shape After Race 2
Beyond the top 10 of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series standings, Ross Chastain is in 11th with 51 points. Noah Gragson and William Byron follow in 12th and 13th with 50 points each. Ryan Preece holds 14th with 49 points.
Further down the order, Chase Briscoe stands 15th with 45 points, tied with Shane van Gisbergen on points but ahead in position. Ty Dillon has 44 points in 17th, while AJ Allmendinger, John Hunter Nemechek, and Michael McDowell each have 43 points from two starts.
Kyle Larson sits 21st with 42 points. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is 22nd with 40 points.
The lower portion of the standings includes Austin Cindric with 34 points, Denny Hamlin with 32, and Cody Ware with 30. Erik Jones and Cole Custer each have 29 points. Christopher Bell is 25, Alex Bowman is 18, and Ty Gibbs and Austin Dillon are each 17. Todd Gilliland has 16, Connor Zilisch 14, Casey Mears 9, and BJ McLeod 3.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Early Results Set the Tone for the Season
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series standings reflect results from the opening two races, Daytona and Atlanta. Reddick’s two wins give him the strongest start in the field and an early cushion.
With only two races complete, the numbers show an early leader but also a crowded midfield. Teams now continue into the next stretch of the schedule knowing that stage points, finishes, and race wins will continue to shape the standings as the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season moves forward.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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