The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off (climate allowing) this weekend with the exhibition Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
And take an excellent take a look at the beginning lineup as a result of it’s fairly attainable the lineup in 2027 may look fairly completely different.
While solely two drivers in 2026 have new Cup rides (rookie Connor Zilisch in at Trackhouse, changing Daniel Suarez, who has changed Justin Haley at Spire Motorsports), there might be many extra adjustments within the subsequent offseason.
In a survey of driver brokers, there are greater than 20 drivers who aren’t signed for 2027. A handful of drivers, together with Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski (who will probably be changed by Corey LaJoie for the Clash as he recovers from a damaged leg) will seemingly be again of their rides.
Kyle Larson is one driver who will seemingly be again in his identical experience in 2027.
But there are a number of drivers with questions — together with 2025 playoff drivers Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman and Austin Cindric, in addition to Kyle Busch. Only two organizations — Trackhouse and Joe Gibbs Racing — seem comparatively steady, barring one thing unexpected.
Reddick might be the largest key, because the youngest driver who has confirmed himself (he gained the 2024 regular-season title) but additionally didn’t have the 2025 he wished. The 30-year-old stated he isn’t sweating having a free-agent 12 months.
“I just work as hard as I can,” Reddick instructed me Thursday on the FOX Sports manufacturing day. “I try and leave every last ounce of myself out there on the racetrack every single week.
“As lengthy as I keep dedicated to being myself, being who I’m and driving to my restrict and persevering with to search out methods to enhance, I’m not nervous about it.”
For Bowman, he is used to people talking about his driver status for the last two years, despite having a contract with Hendrick Motorsports through this year. So does he feel more pressure now that his contract is actually up?
“I don’t assume so,” Bowman said. “It’s form of par for the course, proper? I simply take a look at the state of affairs that I’m given and attempt to maximize it and do the most effective job I can with what I’ve to work with.
“So, obviously, I’m doing the best I can to try to go win races for Mr. Hendrick.”
Alex Bowman defined that he would not really feel any added strain throughout this pivotal 2026 season.
As for Busch, the two-time Cup champion, he stated drivers will seemingly know by the top of May whether or not their present state of affairs is the one they wish to proceed with.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time before you get a sense of where you’re at,” Busch stated. “I’ve always kind of said, once you get to the Coke 600, that’s sort of like where you’ll fall in the season and where your points are and where you kind of stack up. You can go about one or two places higher or lower than where you’re at currently.
“I’d say that will be an excellent time to start out judging.”
For the drivers, winning is obviously important. And whether the money offered could sway a driver like Reddick to leave a place like 23XI Racing is certainly going to be a storyline.
“More so than something, I’m a race-car driver, and I present up with the intent to compete for wins each single week,” Reddick said. “So that is what’s actually essential to me.”
Tyler Reddick explained that competing for wins “each single week” is what’s most important to him this season.
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Other storylines to watch in 2026:
— The new Chase format begins this year, which is a 10-race mini-season to determine the champion. There will be 16 drivers, based on regular-season point standings, who qualify for the Chase with their points reset only for the start of the Chase. There will be 2,100 for the regular-season champion, down to 2,000 for the 16th driver. A win is now worth 55 points instead of 40 points.
— Brad Keselowski’s recovery from the broken leg he suffered in December. He expects to be able to race the Daytona 500, with a test scheduled for next week in Charlotte.
— Connor Zilisch’s rookie season. After a 10-win year in Xfinity (now the O’Reilly Series), the 19-year-old Zilisch will compete in his first full Cup season for Trackhouse.
— There is one new venue and one “return” venue in 2026. Drivers will compete on the streets and tarmacs of the Naval Base Coronado across from San Diego. They will also go to Chicagoland Speedway, which last played host to a race in 2019.
— Whether the sport has healed after the brutal 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports lawsuit against NASCAR. During the trial, text messages were made public, as well as team and NASCAR financials, that will be scrutinized.
AN EARLY START
Several NASCAR and INDYCAR drivers got their 2026 asphalt racing season started early at Daytona in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The 24-hour, sports-car race gives them the opportunity for plenty of laps, as well as an opportunity to work with several other drivers. Cars had three or four drivers apiece and some teams field two cars.
“I hope [St. Pete] will not be going to be as powerful bodily and demanding as this,” four-time INDYCAR champion Alex Palou said about the preparation for the INDYCAR opener Mar. 1. “So many laps, simply pushing my driving in opposition to my teammates and in opposition to opponents. That’s what we wished.”
Zilisch, who won in his class two years ago and competed for the first time in the top class, was part of the team that finished second.
“The vehicles are actually a number of enjoyable to drive,” Zilisch said. “They’re powerful on chilly tires. You must get them as much as temp fairly fast. The restarts are difficult as nicely.”
Connor Zilisch waves to fans at the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on Jan. 25, 2026.
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INDYCAR driver Will Power, who competed for the first time at Daytona, said it was a great experience.
“On one hand, it was an incredible expertise and I felt for the entire crew to get so shut,” Power said. “It was nonetheless superior to be on the rostrum. It’s wonderful. I undoubtedly wish to do it once more. I actually, actually prefer it.”
Penske driver Scott McLaughlin didn’t drive for Penske. Penske fields Porsches in sports cars and won the race for the third consecutive year. But McLaughlin was leading in his division before a gearbox seal came apart.
“This will get you within the race mode of passing vehicles and restarts and chilly tires,” McLaughlin said. “It’s massive. It’s a terrific begin to my 12 months.”
IN THE NEWS
— Denny Hamlin confirmed that 23XI Racing has signed the revised charter agreement that resulted from the settlement of the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports lawsuit against NASCAR. Now that the terms were agreed to by the suing parties, the rest of the teams now have the paperwork to sign the revised deal. They have at least another week to sign.
— Stewart Friesen had a successful test at Charlotte and is set to return for the truck opener at Daytona. Friesen broke his right leg and pelvis in a dirt modified crash in July. Friesen told me: “No marathons but, and no ballet in my future. I’m adequate to do what I must do within the race automobile, and I used to be fairly nervous about all that. … It was a very long time on crutches after which transitioned to a cane for a few weeks. But I began leaving that round the home and shedding its place, so I simply acquired to form of push via it and hold constructing muscle. I nonetheless have some methods to go however I’m feeling actually good.”
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
Bubba Wallace on the drums for the Kurt Busch Hall of Fame celebration.
THEY SAID IT
“My first-ever race in something, … it was my dwarf automobile with my dad in 1994. By September of 2000, I’m in Cup. That’s how briskly every part went. That’s why I wasn’t prepared for the large time.” New NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Kurt Busch on his career.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
The winter storm that has blasted through the Southeast could be a concern for the Clash this weekend at Bowman Gray.
Temperatures all week will be below freezing until parts of the weekend, when it could fluctuate above and below freezing. That isn’t necessarily a great thing because of the potential for melting and re-freezing.
With the possibility of temperatures dropping into the teens, there could be some concern about tires and brakes but there is no minimum temperature required for the cars to race.
As big of a concern could be whether the roads are fit to travel, even 4-5 days after the storm in an area that only occasionally deals with severe ice and snow.
In Inside The Garage, Bob Pockrass takes us behind the scenes of the motorsports world the way in which solely he can.
