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Martinsville Today
By the People, for the People
NASCAR Drivers Weigh In on 2026 Cup Season Changes
Veteran racers share thoughts on new playoff format, Hendrick Motorsports' dominance, and rookie Connor Zilisch's chances
Published on Feb. 12, 2026
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NASCAR drivers opened up to FOX Sports about the upcoming 2026 Cup Series season, sharing their perspectives on the new playoff system, predictions for top teams and drivers, and whether rookie Connor Zilisch can win a race in his debut campaign.
Why it matters
The 2026 season will see major changes to the NASCAR playoff format, which could significantly impact the championship race and the drivers who contend for the title. Drivers' insights provide valuable perspective on how these changes may play out on the track.
The details
The new playoff system will reward consistency over the course of the season, rather than relying on a few key races. Drivers like Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin are expected to thrive under the new format, while those prone to inconsistency, like Kyle Larson, may struggle. The Hendrick Motorsports foursome of Elliott, Larson, Byron, and Alex Bowman are widely viewed as the top contenders. As for rookie Connor Zilisch, most drivers are skeptical he can win a race in his debut season, citing the steep learning curve from Xfinity to Cup Series competition.
- The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season will begin in February 2026.
The players
Kevin Harvick
A veteran NASCAR driver who has won the Cup Series championship.
AJ Allmendinger
A NASCAR driver known for his road course expertise.
Christopher Bell
A rising star in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Chase Elliott
The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Denny Hamlin
A three-time Daytona 500 winner and perennial championship contender.
Kyle Larson
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Tyler Reddick
A young NASCAR driver known for his aggressive driving style.
Clint Bowyer
A former NASCAR Cup Series driver who is now a commentator.
Kyle Busch
A two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
Ross Chastain
A NASCAR driver known for his unconventional racing tactics.
Chris Buescher
A NASCAR driver who is expected to make the playoffs in 2026.
Ty Gibbs
A young NASCAR driver who is expected to make the playoffs in 2026.
Brad Keselowski
A former NASCAR Cup Series champion who is expected to make the playoffs in 2026.
Connor Zilisch
A rookie NASCAR driver making his Cup Series debut in 2026.
Justin Marks
The co-owner of Trackhouse Racing, the team that Connor Zilisch drives for.
Shane van Gisbergen
A successful international racing driver who has competed in NASCAR events.
What they’re saying
“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 (foxsports.com)
“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 (foxsports.com)
“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 (foxsports.com)
“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 (foxsports.com)
“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 (foxsports.com)
What’s next
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season will kick off in February 2026 with the Daytona 500.
The takeaway
The new NASCAR playoff format will reward consistency and performance over the course of the season, rather than relying on a few key races. This is expected to benefit drivers like Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Denny Hamlin, while posing challenges for those prone to inconsistency. The Hendrick Motorsports foursome is widely viewed as the top contenders, though rookie Connor Zilisch faces a steep learning curve in his debut Cup Series season.
