What to Look Out for In NASCAR in 2026

The start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series is finally here. Kyle Larson goes into the year as the defending champion, and he will be the one that every other driver wants to beat over the next ten months. It always feels like a long time until February comes around again, but now everyone is ready to get their engines running.

Larson didn’t even win a race after the AdventHealth 400 in Kansas City in round 12 in 2025. But his consistency throughout the year saw him claim his second title, after previously winning it all in 2021. His performances last year have prompted many of the best NASCAR betting sites to predict that he could win back-to-back titles, the first to do so since Jimmie Johnson began his record-breaking five in a row in the mid 2000s.

Larson will have some intense competition, of course, with the likes of Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Chase Elliott all keen to succeed this year. It promises to be another dramatic and exhilarating year of racing, and here are some of the things we are looking forward to from NASCAR in 2026.

Schedule Changes

Before we get into all the intriguing questions that the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series throws up, we should first take a look at what is different for the upcoming year. There are, of course, a number of interesting personnel and team changes (some of which we will look at in a moment), but there are also some schedule changes to be aware of.

The Homestead-Miami Speedway returns to its traditional date as the season finale, while there will also be a street race in San Diego, marking a return to Southern California. There will be also be no Mexico City race, because of scheduling issues with the FIFA World Cup. But the Chicagoland Speedway makes a welcome return, hosting NASCAR action for the first time in seven years.

All Eyes on Zilisch

When it comes to the drivers, much of the pre-season talk has been about the arrival of Connor Zilisch. The rookie has signed a multi-year deal with Trackhouse Racing and will replace Daniel Suárez, who has joined Spire Motorsports. There are high expectations for the young driver, but can he really live up to them?

Zilisch definitely has the potential to win a race this year, but his fans should temper their expectations and realize that this is a massive step up for a 19-year-old. We shouldn’t be predicting playoff spots anytime soon, even if he does have the talent and potential to become one of the all-time greats. It is probably best to give Zilisch some time to ease himself into NASCAR and develop into a star.

Can Noah Gragson Come Back?

Gragson could act as a good warning for anyone predicting too much for Connor Zilisch. After making his NASCAR debut a few years ago, Gragson had been steadily improving before what was a disaster of a year in 2025. Eight crash-related DNFs are only the start of the story when it comes to what went wrong last year.

The good news is that everything is looking good for Gragson in 2026. There will be a lot of pressure on the driver to prove that last year was a minor blip, but new leadership at Front Row could be a positive. He needs to bring more consistency into his driving, but there is now room for Noah Gragson to live up to the hype of a few years ago.

Can the Vets Still Compete?

There are still drivers proving that NASCAR is not just a young man’s game. Denny Hamlin is one of the favorites to win it all this year, and he will be almost 46 when the season ends. It is only natural for the new rookies and young drivers to attract all the attention, as the sport looks to break new demographics. But keep an eye on the older guys too.

Both Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski were put through the wringer last year but still have the talent – and, more importantly, the experience – to make an impression in 2026. There is no doubt that the veterans of NASCAR can still make a difference, but us older fans might have to accept that there are plenty of young drivers coming through who are more likely to make the headlines.

Will Carson Hocevar Break Through?

Speaking of young drivers breaking through, will 2026 be the year when Carson Hocevar finally does? There is little doubt that the potential is there, but the last two years have not been quite as electrifying as everyone had hoped. Much like Zilisch this year, pressure on this young driver has been intense.

We still haven’t seen Hocevar win a race, although there were a few second-place finishes in 2025, and the promise is still there. The final place in the standings showed no improvement from the year before, but it could be argued that Hocevar was gaining valuable experience. It feels like a breakout season is needed now, but some success in 2026 could easily see Hocevar move to a more win-oriented team where he could really shine in the future.

The Chase is Back

As you can see, there are lots of storylines to keep an eye on when it comes to NASCAR in 2026. But one of the biggest pieces of news has nothing to do with any individual driver, but more to do with the format of the season – and the way the champion is determined in particular. It may not be the official name given, but “the chase” is back this year.

The elimination-based playoff format we have seen for the last few years was never without its critics, mostly due to the fact that winning just one race during the season virtually guaranteed a driver a place. Now consistency will play much more of a role, meaning that the champion will be a driver who has been on top of his game throughout.

All of this means that the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series could be one of the best yet.