With the 2026 NASCAR season about to launch at Bowman Gray on February 2 and the celebrated Daytona 500 fast approaching, fans and insiders are turning their attention to the sharpest talent on the track. Our power rankings spotlight the best NASCAR drivers 2026, highlighting those poised to contend for championships, shake up the competition, and create memorable races in the coming months.
Kyle Larson Sets the Bar High for 2026
Kyle Larson stands atop the rankings as the most formidable driver entering the new season. Last year, his bid for the Cup Series Championship was thwarted only by a late-race flat tire at Phoenix. Despite that setback, Larson finished with 1,106 laps led—the second-highest tally in the series—and secured 15 top-5 finishes and 22 top-10s, tying for the lead in both categories. He also ranked fourth for average finishes, maintaining a solid 13.2 mark throughout the season. If Larson and his crew fine-tune their pit road routines, where inconsistency occasionally cost them, he could add another title and multiple victories to his record in 2026.
Denny Hamlin’s Enduring Excellence
Denny Hamlin enters 2026 after a season where, performance-wise, he arguably deserved the Cup Series crown. He delivered a dominant drive at Phoenix, which should have secured him his seventh victory of the year. Hamlin ended the season third in laps led—with 1,024—and posted 14 top-5 finishes, trailing just a trio of rivals in that department. Engine and pit road troubles late in the campaign took a toll, but nothing Hamlin displayed suggests he’s slowing as he reaches his mid-40s. As he faces what might be his penultimate season, Hamlin will need intense focus off and on the track, especially after a tumultuous offseason.
William Byron Looks to Convert Daytona Success
Back-to-back Daytona 500 champion William Byron heads into the year hungry for his first Cup Series title. He proved his prowess in 2025, leading the entire field with 1,330 laps at the front, yet saw only three wins and 11 top-5 finishes after some late-race mishaps, including fuel shortages. Should Byron and the No. 24 team address these critical moments, he could very well break through to claim his inaugural championship and possibly rack up five or more wins during the season.
Ryan Blaney’s Points to Prove
Ryan Blaney’s 2025 campaign was marked by both promise and frustration. Despite a challenging year, he achieved a ninth-best average finish at 14.6—a notable accomplishment given his eight DNFs, six of which stemmed from multi-car incidents where Blaney was an unlucky victim. Those mechanical and incident-related exits were more than several competitors combined, but a drop in DNFs should allow him to improve on his 15 top-5s and four wins, both ranking him near the top of the field.
Christopher Bell Navigates a Challenging Year
Christopher Bell burst into 2025 with three straight wins, showcasing his speed at tracks like Atlanta, COTA, and Phoenix Raceway. However, he managed only one more victory over the remaining 32 events and fell to twelfth in total laps led, behind the likes of Austin Cindric and Ty Gibbs. Despite entering the playoffs well above the cutline, Bell didn’t advance past the Round of 8, reflecting a midseason dip in form. This inconsistency sees him positioned fifth in this year’s preseason power rankings.
Chase Briscoe Embraces the Spotlight
Taking over for Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing came with serious expectations, but Chase Briscoe delivered under pressure in 2025. He matched Larson and Byron with three wins, finished in the top-5 fifteen times, and posted an impressive rate of top-20 finishes at over 80 percent. Briscoe also entered the Championship 4 and was one of just five drivers to surpass 800 laps led. The big question for Briscoe is whether he can maintain this pace if the No. 19 car isn’t as frequently on pole in 2026.
Tyler Reddick’s Fresh Start
Tyler Reddick’s previous season didn’t reflect his abilities, as a legal dispute overshadowed his time with 23XI Racing. On top of professional stress, Reddick and partner Alexa navigated a personal ordeal when their infant son faced a serious health challenge, spending time in the hospital. With their family now on the mend and his future at 23XI resolved, Reddick seems poised for a resurgence, with expectations high for multiple victories in the upcoming season.
Chase Elliott’s Consistency Under Scrutiny
Chase Elliott lived up to his reputation as one of the Cup Series’ steadiest drivers last season, leading all with 32 top-20 finishes and earning 19 top-10s, tied for third among competitors. He managed to find his way to Victory Lane despite an extended winless period earlier in the year. Though his qualifying struggles in 2025 might be correctable, a scarcity of wins in recent seasons (only four since 2023) limits his standing among the elite for 2026.
Joey Logano Anchors the Top Ten
While the playoff system and schedule changes may challenge Joey Logano this year, his resilience keeps him in the conversation for the sport’s top talents. Last season, Logano posted 577 laps led—the sixth-highest—and improved his average finish to 15.33, returning closer to his typical performance after a tougher 2024. While he may not be the front-runner for the championship, Logano remains a fixture among the top 10 best NASCAR drivers in 2026.
Bubba Wallace Breaks Through
Securing a legal win for 23XI Racing has set Bubba Wallace and his team up for another strong campaign, with the support of one of the Cup Series’ elite pit crews. In the final stretch of the previous season, Wallace hit his stride, ranking sixth in laps led during that period and collecting several top-10 finishes. His starting positions also improved significantly. While his nine DNFs typically resulted from unavoidable crashes, Wallace’s late-season momentum and the robust squad around him give him a slight edge for the coveted tenth place in these power rankings, just ahead of peers like Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, and Ross Chastain.
As the new season approaches, these drivers represent the pinnacle of skill, tenacity, and ambition in the Cup Series. With fresh challenges awaiting on tracks like Daytona and Phoenix Raceway, and teams gearing up for victory, the best NASCAR drivers of 2026 are set to deliver another year of electrifying, high-stakes racing that will captivate fans and redefine the sport’s next chapter.
