But here’s my best attempt at predictions for the 2026 NASCAR season:<\/p>\n
Daytona 500\u00a0winner prediction<\/p>\n
Chase Briscoe<\/a> won the most recent superspeedway race at Talladega, and he was on the pole for the Daytona 500<\/a> a year ago. So he knows how to go fast, and he knows how to be in the right place at the right time. In a year when Indiana University won the national college football championship, maybe it\u2019s just going to be a Hoosier kind of year. So I\u2019m going with the Indiana native.<\/p>\n Of all the drivers who should benefit from the new points system, many in the industry point to Chase Elliott<\/a>. He is going to be consistent. He is going to win a couple of races. He was in the hunt for the regular-season title throughout 2025 before teammate William Byron<\/a> outlasted him. This year, Elliott will be atop going into the postseason.<\/p>\n So who does this leave out?\u00a0It leaves out Shane van Gisbergen, who won five races last year (all road courses). It leaves out heralded and hyped rookie Connor Zilisch<\/a>. And it leaves out two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch<\/a>. Why? It\u2019s unknown whether they can be consistent and their organizations \u2014 Trackhouse Racing and Richard Childress Racing \u2014 are in transition when it comes to competition leadership.<\/p>\n Cup Series champion prediction<\/p>\n Ryan Blaney<\/a>. Blaney can get a little flustered on the radio, but he still often finishes better than one would expect when watching him during the race. He\u2019s going to be consistent over the final 10 races. If no one has a Chase where they are dominant, Blaney is going to be in the mix.\u00a0<\/p>\n It would be easy to pick Connor Zilisch<\/a> no matter the year. The fact he\u2019s the only rookie makes it just slightly easier.<\/p>\n Daniel Su\u00e1rez<\/a>. He was 29th in the standings last year. The move to Spire might not get him into the playoffs, but he\u2019ll be top 20 in points by the end of the season and will earn at least one win.<\/p>\n Regular-season champ prediction<\/p>\n
Chase participants predictionChristopher BellRyan BlaneyAlex BowmanChase BriscoeChris BuescherWilliam ByronRoss ChastainChase ElliottTy GibbsDenny HamlinBrad KeselowskiKyle LarsonJoey LoganoRyan PreeceTyler ReddickBubba Wallace<\/p>\n
Rookie of the Year prediction<\/p>\n
Comeback Driver of the Year prediction<\/p>\n
O\u2019Reilly Series champion prediction<\/p>\n