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Let’s hear straight from the NASCAR Cup Series drivers themselves.
Here are some of the best answers from our FOX Sports production days as we asked drivers about the new Chase playoff format, who would make the playoffs this year after missing in 2025, and whether Connor Zilisch will win a race as a rookie this year.
Who does the new playoff system help?
Kevin Harvick: “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.”
AJ Allmendinger: “The guys that consistently run up front. It’s still going be the same guys, right? Christopher Bell, William Byron, [Kyle] Larson is at all times up entrance. Denny [Hamlin].”
Christopher Bell: “I’m very, very pleased about this new system. … Earlier than, there are a pair key tracks that, if folks have been good at, it actually, actually suited them. And for me, sadly, Martinsville was form of that hurdle. We struggled at Martinsville and we did not have a shot due to that proper there.”
Ryan Blaney: “I do not know if it favors anybody particularly. I believe everybody’s going to sit down in right here and say, ‘Oh, it advantages our group, it helps us increasingly more.’ I believe everyone thinks it advantages them.”
Alex Bowman: “Chase Elliot, for positive. It is a Chase Elliott kind of system. Actually, I believe it helps me. Through the years, I believe I’d have completed higher in factors just about yearly with this format.”
How will the Hendrick foursome of Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and William Byron fare in 2026?
Chase Elliott: “It’ll be the identical 5 – 6 or seven guys that you simply see be contenders annually. Clearly, they are going to need to put collectively a bigger pattern set of races to make it work. However your contenders aren’t going to alter an entire lot.”
Denny Hamlin: “It’s going to assist your quickest 5, six, seven guys, week in week out. I believe you’ll be able to in all probability put them on an inventory. It is the identical six or seven which are up entrance. It is the identical guys during the last two, three years. It is going to reward these guys.” Are you a type of guys? “That’s what I assume.”
Kyle Larson: “I really feel like Chase Elliott is probably the most constant driver throughout the board 12 months in and 12 months out. He finishes nearly each race inside the highest 15. So if it was going to assist anyone, I believe it could assist him. However it’s additionally going to reward wins, too. If he can get again to profitable at a giant clip, then I believe for positive he could be a heavy favourite.”
Tyler Reddick: “I have never considered anybody else however me. I believe [it helps me]. I like chasing consistency. I do know I prefer to drive like a lunatic generally and all that stuff, however once I’m happiest is once we’re working constant.”
Who does the brand new playoff system harm?
Kevin Harvick: “Kyle Larson has, self admittedly, and simply the stats say it for themselves — these DNFs are going to harm much more. Once you take a look at these finishes and getting these DNFs at these moments, you’ve bought to reduce these DNFs.”
Clint Bowyer: “The man who’s beginning final. The man beginning final is certainly at an obstacle. However he has an opportunity. He positively has an opportunity.”
Kyle Busch: “Actually, it form of hurts everyone, actually, as a result of what I take a look at is at the very least earlier than, while you had the common season and also you had all of the playoff factors and the resets. … Now there isn’t any resets by way of the spherical. So if in case you have one or two unhealthy races, and that is simply getting wrecked by any individual else or getting caught up in one thing not of your individual doing — that may get rid of you from the championship. I have been there earlier than. I’ve run the Chase earlier than. In 2014, we had a foul race at Talladega, it knocked us out of with the ability to win the championship. We completed third that 12 months. After which I consider it was 2007, we’re working at Kansas. I get dumped down the backstretch at Kansas, and I believe we have been second in factors at the moment, and that eradicated us from having a shot on the championship. If in case you have a foul day, you need to get better and I don’t know the way simple it’s to get better this present day.”
Kyle Busch is itching to get again into the playoffs beneath the brand new format.
Alex Bowman: “The blokes that battle traditionally however then crank out a win.”
Ross Chastain: “I did ask Shane [van Gisbergen] if this was a change to have an effect on him probably the most, however he clarified that when he gained his first race, sure, he was manner down in factors, however by the point he gained the final one within the common season he was manner additional up.”
Kyle Larson: “I do not know if it hurts me. I believe final 12 months we nonetheless scored probably the most factors all through the playoffs anyway, and possibly the entire season. However you do not actually know the way different groups play it otherwise. I run up entrance so much, however I crash generally. too, as does everyone. So we’ll see. I do not know. We’re simply going to race.”
In addition to your self, in the event you didn’t make the Chase, title a driver who will make the Chase this 12 months that didn’t make it final 12 months?
We didn’t restrict drivers to 1 reply. Right here have been the highest vote-getters:
8-Chris Buescher
5-Ty Gibbs
4-Brad Keselowski
3-Kyle Busch
AJ Allmendinger: “Kyle Busch. As we labored with that group during the last couple years, it has been a little bit of a battle. Kyle Busch is likely one of the finest we have ever seen. So particularly with it not being win-and-in, so you are not form of falling again if any individual wins and knocks you out of the playoffs, he is bought to be one of many 16 guys in.”
Christopher Bell: “Chris Buescher must be a well-liked reply.”
Chris Buescher on all three RFK drivers probably making it: “We have excellent velocity. We have a ton of consistency. We now have three drivers which have a great head on their shoulders which have grown up on this world of taking all the pieces that’s obtainable to you each week and when it is not there, strive to not do one thing insanely dumb.”
Kyle Busch: “I really feel like Chris Buescher is admittedly, actually good, actually constant — not at all times flashy, however they’re actually good at with the ability to simply end.”
Joey Logano: “It is easy to take a look at, proper? It is, it is who gained that was exterior the highest 16 in factors. After which change these with the highest 16 in factors. It is fairly easy manner of taking a look at it.”
Will Connor Zilisch win a race as a rookie?
Eight drivers mentioned no. 5 drivers mentioned sure. And the remaining leaned towards him profitable one. The largest motive is simply the stats — Zilisch has simply three Cup begins and most of the latest first-time winners are doing it someplace of their 90-A hundredth begin.
Ryan Blaney: “I believe there’s a good risk he might win one.”
Ross Chastain: “Oh yeah. All the pieces I’ve seen from the primary time [team co-owner] Justin [Marks] talked about him racing in TransAm to the Cup Collection and all the pieces in between. I have never seen him be sluggish for very lengthy and something. And I count on that to proceed with the assets he has at Trackhouse.”
Chase Elliott: “What number of begins does he have? I say no.”
Will rookie sensation Connor Zilisch turn into a winner in 2026?
Kyle Larson: “I’d not be stunned if he gained a Cup race. I believe he is actually good on ovals, and he is actually good on highway programs as effectively, so I believe there’s alternative for him to win on both. He can have an amazing 12 months. However I additionally would not be stunned if he does not win, as a result of it is a big, massive soar from Xfinity to Cup.”
Michael McDowell: “I don’t. He’ll be shut, and I believe he’ll be quick, however the stage of execution it takes to win a Cup race is so powerful. The potential is at all times there. Clearly, the velocity’s there, and I have been tremendous impressed with all the pieces that he is finished. However what number of years did it take for Kyle Larson to win or Chase Elliott? You’ll be able to go down the listing.”
Daniel Suarez (whose journey Zilisch now has): “He will be very aggressive on highway programs. I can be impressed if he wins a race.”
Bubba Wallace: “There is a steep studying curve, so that you’ve bought to crawl earlier than you stroll while you get within the Cup Collection, and you will have your aha second of oh, that is it. And I do not know if that is hit him but. However I believe that when that does, you may begin to see development come from there.”
Tyler Reddick: “If he can beat SVG, yeah.”
Connor Zilisch: “What produce other folks mentioned? … Hopefully.”
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