The NASCAR Cup Series drivers have been outspoken about the refreshed playoff system that will define the 2026 championship race. As the sport gears up for another competitive season, drivers shared their unfiltered perspectives on who stands to benefit, who faces challenges, and which rising stars may soon break through. The focus keyword, NASCAR Cup Series drivers, is central to the shifting landscape in 2026.
During recent FOX Sports segments, drivers offered candid feedback on the new Chase playoff structure, identifying not only the likely beneficiaries and those at risk, but also predicting which competitors might emerge as contenders after missing out in previous years. With the anticipation of 2026 intensifying, these comments provide a rare look into the competitive mindset of the grid’s top names.
Which Competitors Benefit Most from the Playoff Changes?
As the new playoff format reshapes the field, several drivers believe certain consistent performers will thrive under the updated rules. Kevin Harvick believes that Chase Elliott could be a major beneficiary, thanks to his reliable points accumulation and ability to bounce back from challenging races. Harvick went on to mention other perennial frontrunners like William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano as likely to adapt and make the most out of every opportunity.
AJ Allmendinger echoed this view, saying the revamped format continues to favor drivers who regularly compete at the front. Christopher Bell, William Byron, and Kyle Larson were among the names Allmendinger highlighted, emphasizing the importance of sustained performance.
Christopher Bell appreciates the new system as an opportunity to level the playing field, particularly at tracks where he previously struggled. For Bell, changes at venues like Martinsville could now be less of a roadblock on his path to a title.
Ryan Blaney, however, suggested that the perceived advantage may be universal, noting that teams will naturally feel the changes lean in their favor.
Alex Bowman, recognizing the format suits Chase Elliott’s skill set, also believes it could potentially benefit his own results based on past seasons.
“The first one that comes to my mind is Chase Elliott. When you look at his consistency and the amount of points that they score — Chase Elliot, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Those are the ones that stick out right off the top of my head that can take those bad days and turn them into something, obviously, in this format, you’re going to have to be able to do that to get the most out of each day.”
– Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver
“The guys that consistently run up front. It’s still going be the same guys, right? Christopher Bell, William Byron, [Kyle] Larson is always up front. Denny [Hamlin].”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR Driver
“I’m very, very happy about this new system. … Before, there are a couple key tracks that, if people were good at, it really, really suited them. And for me, unfortunately, Martinsville was kind of that hurdle. We struggled at Martinsville and we didn’t have a shot because of that right there.”
– Christopher Bell, NASCAR Driver
“I don’t know if it favors anyone in particular. I think everyone’s going to sit in here and say, ‘Oh, it benefits our team, it helps us more and more.’ I think everybody thinks it benefits them.”
– Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
“Chase Elliot, for sure. It’s a Chase Elliott type of system. Honestly, I think it helps me. Over the years, I think I would have finished better in points pretty much every year with this format.”
– Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
Prospects for Hendrick Motorsports in 2026
The quartet representing Hendrick Motorsports—Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and William Byron—remains a focal point heading into the next season. Chase Elliott is confident that established contenders like himself and his teammates will continue to vie for the championship under the expanded schedule. Denny Hamlin concurs, stating that the playoff changes will predominantly reward the sport’s fastest and most consistent drivers over recent years.
Kyle Larson lauded Chase Elliott’s year-round consistency, believing the revised system could give Elliott a crucial edge. Larson also stressed that victories will carry substantial weight, suggesting that if Elliott can boost his win count, he would become an even stronger title favorite.
Tyler Reddick offered a personal take, sharing his affinity for a format that values steadiness, even if his aggressive driving style often takes center stage.
“It’ll be the same five or six or seven guys that you see be contenders each year. Obviously, they’re going to have to put together a larger sample set of races to make it work. But your contenders aren’t going to change a whole lot.”
– Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
“It’s going to help your fastest five, six, seven guys, week in week out. I think you can probably put them on a list. It’s the same six or seven that are up front. It’s the same guys over the last two, three years. It’s going to reward those guys.”
– Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
“I feel like Chase Elliott is the most consistent driver across the board year in and year out. He finishes just about every race inside the top 15. So if it was going to help anybody, I think it would help him. But it’s also going to reward wins, too. If he can get back to winning at a big clip, then I think for sure he would be a heavy favorite.”
– Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
“I haven’t thought about anyone else but me. I think [it helps me]. I like chasing consistency. I know I like to drive like a lunatic sometimes and all that stuff, but when I’m happiest is when we’re running consistent.”
– Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
Playoff System Drawbacks: Who Faces the Greatest Obstacles?
While several drivers anticipate gains, others raise concerns about potential pitfalls. Kevin Harvick points out that Kyle Larson, known for remarkable speed but occasionally plagued by DNFs (Did Not Finish), might see his title hopes derailed if those setbacks continue to occur.
Clint Bowyer contends anyone starting at the back of the field faces built-in disadvantages, though he notes that opportunities for redemption still exist. Kyle Busch is one of the most vocal about his apprehensions, explaining that the new format’s lack of point resets between rounds could make the consequences of poor finishes far more pronounced, especially if caused by misfortune rather than performance.
Alex Bowman believes those who historically secure a solitary win but lack overall consistency may struggle in the new system, while Ross Chastain pointed out that some changes might not impact every driver equally depending on their season trajectories. Larson himself adopted a wait-and-see approach, acknowledging that unpredictability remains inherent to the sport.
“Kyle Larson has, self admittedly, and just the stats say it for themselves — those DNFs are going to hurt a lot more. When you look at those finishes and getting those DNFs at those moments, you’ve got to minimize those DNFs.”
– Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver
“The guy who is starting last. The guy starting last is definitely at a disadvantage. But he has a chance. He definitely has a chance.”
– Clint Bowyer, NASCAR Driver
“Honestly, it kind of hurts everybody, really, because what I look at is at least before, when you had the regular season and you had all the playoff points and the resets. … Now there’s no resets through the round. So if you have one or two bad races, and that’s just getting wrecked by somebody else or getting caught up in something not of your own doing — that can eliminate you from the championship. I’ve been there before. I’ve run the Chase before. In 2014, we had a bad race at Talladega, it knocked us out of being able to win the championship. We finished third that year. And then I believe it was 2007, we’re running at Kansas. I get dumped down the backstretch at Kansas, and I think we were second in points at that time, and that eliminated us from having a shot at the championship. If you have a bad day, you have to recover and I don’t know how easy it is to recover in this day and age.”
– Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver
“The guys that struggle historically but then crank out a win.”
– Alex Bowman, NASCAR Driver
“I did ask Shane [van Gisbergen] if this was a change to affect him the most, but he clarified that when he won his first race, yes, he was way down in points, but by the time he won the last one in the regular season he was way further up.”
– Ross Chastain, NASCAR Driver
“I don’t know if it hurts me. I think last year we still scored the most points throughout the playoffs anyway, and maybe the whole season. But you don’t really know how other teams play it differently. I run up front a lot, but I crash sometimes. too, as does everybody. So we’ll see. I don’t know. We’re just going to race.”
– Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
Drivers Expected to Return to Chase Contention
Beyond championship favorites, the conversation turned to which drivers are poised to make the playoffs after missing out in 2025. Chris Buescher was the most frequent pick, followed by Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski, and Kyle Busch. AJ Allmendinger vouched for Busch’s proven skill and persistence, noting that even with the end of ‘win-and-in,’ steady performers like Busch have a great chance to qualify.
Christopher Bell shared that Chris Buescher is the logical answer, referencing Buescher’s consistency. Buescher himself emphasized the harmonious dynamic within RFK Racing, where all three drivers are maintaining steady progress and taking calculated risks. Kyle Busch described Buescher as “quietly excellent,” often placing high without much fanfare. Joey Logano simplified the playoff picture as a matter of swapping out last season’s non-qualifiers for the most recent top points earners.
“Kyle Busch. As we worked with that group over the last couple years, it’s been a bit of a struggle. Kyle Busch is one of the best we’ve ever seen. So especially with it not being win-and-in, so you’re not kind of falling back if somebody wins and knocks you out of the playoffs, he’s got to be one of the 16 guys in.”
– AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR Driver
“Chris Buescher has to be a popular answer.”
– Christopher Bell, NASCAR Driver
“We’ve got very good speed. We’ve got a ton of consistency. We have three drivers that have a good head on their shoulders that have grown up in this world of taking everything that is available to you every week and when it’s not there, try not to do something insanely dumb.”
– Chris Buescher, NASCAR Driver
“I feel like Chris Buescher is really, really good, really consistent — not always flashy, but they’re really good at being able to just finish.”
– Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver
“It’s easy to look at, right? It’s, it’s who won that was outside the top 16 in points. And then replace those with the top 16 in points. It’s pretty simple way of looking at it.”
– Joey Logano, NASCAR Driver
Evaluating Connor Zilisch’s Potential for a Breakout Rookie Season
With just three Cup starts, Connor Zilisch is the subject of spirited debate concerning whether he can capture a victory in his first year. The statistics provide some caution—as most recent first-time winners waited until their 90th or 100th start to break through in the Cup Series. Eight drivers answered “no” to Zilisch winning as a rookie, while five said “yes,” and others leaned cautiously optimistic.
Ryan Blaney offered optimism, believing a breakthrough is within reach. Ross Chastain admires Zilisch’s rapid progression across different motorsport levels, asserting that with Trackhouse’s backing, success is plausible. Chase Elliott is skeptical based on Zilisch’s limited Cup experience, while Kyle Larson is impressed by Zilisch’s diverse track skills, suggesting he could win anywhere if the circumstances align, but acknowledging the leap from the Xfinity Series is considerable.
Michael McDowell commented on the daunting execution required to win in Cup, referencing how even top-tier talents like Larson and Elliott toiled for years before their breakthrough victories. Daniel Suarez expects Zilisch to challenge on road courses, but remains cautious on the prospect of an immediate win. Bubba Wallace cited the steep learning curve entering Cup, but anticipates Zilisch will develop and potentially reach a pivotal “aha moment” soon. Tyler Reddick set a benchmark, noting that outperforming Shane van Gisbergen would be a significant statement as a rookie. Zilisch himself responded with hopeful anticipation for his results.
“I think there is a good possibility he could win one.”
– Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
“Oh yeah. Everything I’ve seen from the first time [team co-owner] Justin [Marks] talked about him racing in TransAm to the Cup Series and everything in between. I haven’t seen him be slow for very long and anything. And I expect that to continue with the resources he has at Trackhouse.”
– Ross Chastain, NASCAR Driver
“How many starts does he have? I say no.”
– Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
“I would not be surprised if he won a Cup race. I think he’s really good on ovals, and he’s really good on road courses as well, so I think there’s opportunity for him to win on either. He can have a great year. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t win, because it’s a large, large jump from Xfinity to Cup.”
– Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
“I don’t. He’ll be close, and I think he’ll be fast, but the level of execution it takes to win a Cup race is so tough. The potential is always there. Obviously, the speed’s there, and I’ve been super impressed with everything that he’s done. But how many years did it take for Kyle Larson to win or Chase Elliott? You can go down the list.”
– Michael McDowell, NASCAR Driver
“He’s going to be very competitive on road courses. I will be impressed if he wins a race.”
– Daniel Suarez, NASCAR Driver
“There’s a steep learning curve, so you’ve got to crawl before you walk when you get in the Cup Series, and you’ll have your aha moment of oh, this is it. And I don’t know if that’s hit him yet. But I think that when that does, you’ll start to see progression come from there.”
– Bubba Wallace, NASCAR Driver
“If he can beat SVG, yeah.”
– Tyler Reddick, NASCAR Driver
“What have other people said? … Hopefully.”
– Connor Zilisch, NASCAR Driver
What These Perspectives Mean for the 2026 Season
The frank insights from NASCAR Cup Series drivers reflect an intense and passionate racing culture, filled with optimism, caution, and high expectations for the new playoff format and the emerging talent. Names like Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, and Connor Zilisch represent not only the diverse talent on the grid but also the dynamic shifts the updated system promises to bring. With steadfast veterans, rising stars, and new rules shaking up the competitive order, fans can anticipate a thrilling and unpredictable 2026 Cup Series season built on resilience, skill, and relentless competition.
