Editor’s Note: Keep tabs on this page for lineup advice following qualifying, including changes you should consider.
For a handful of drivers, their 2026 fate comes down to the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. With a significant rule change that will see the rear spoiler shortened to 4 inches — the same height used at intermediate tracks — and horsepower reduced to 465, nobody in the Cup Series garage truly knows what to expect. Some believe the racing will resemble the cutthroat action at EchoPark Speedway, while others expect utter chaos. When it comes to fantasy, you might as well put all 40 numbers in a blender and see what comes out.
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Returning to Fastlane this year is my weekly NASCAR 36 for 36 pick, where you can come play along. It’s a season-long points battle introduced in 2024 where strategy is the primary emphasis. With 36 chartered cars and 36 races on the 2026 schedule, players can choose each car once for the duration of the season.
RELATED: NASCAR Fantasy Live hub | Play 36 for 36
MUST START
Driver: Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Selections remaining: 3
Comment: The last three months have been unkind to Reddick, but he returns to Daytona aiming to be the first driver to sweep both races in a single season since Jimmie Johnson in 2013. Reddick’s 199 points earned at drafting tracks in 2026 are the most in the series, and he has a league-best 6.0 average finishing position.
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Driver: Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Selections remaining: 5
Comment: Second on the list of 2026 average results at drafting tracks is Hocevar (6.5). He was leading at the white flag of the Daytona 500 and won at Talladega Superspeedway. He also scored top fives in both EchoPark events. Since the start of 2025, his seven top-10 finishes at drafting tracks rank best of all drivers.
Driver: Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
Selections remaining: 5
Comment: It was three short years ago when Buescher soared to Victory Lane at Daytona, winning a third consecutive oval race. He enters this weekend with four straight Daytona top 10s, the longest active streak.
chris buescher signs a contract extension to remain with RFK Racing.
DRIVERS TO AVOID
Driver: Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Selections remaining: 0
Comment: Locking up the No. 1 Chase seed last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Hamlin can take it easy this weekend. That might be his best bet, as his Daytona numbers are ugly in the Next Gen era with an average finish of 26.9. He doesn’t have a top five in the last 16 drafting races.
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Driver: Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Selections remaining: 3
Comment: Larson’s current winless streak is getting dangerously close to his losing streak at superspeedways. He has only four top-five finishes in 57 drafting track starts, with a best Daytona result of sixth (twice).
kyle larson at daytona
SLEEPERS OF THE WEEK
Driver: Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Selections remaining: 9
Comment: Despite being eliminated from Chase contention last weekend, Jones has plenty to race for in 2026. He is among the most underrated superspeedway competitors in the garage, scoring his first Cup victory here in 2018. The No. 43 team has three top-five efforts in the last seven drafting track events.
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Driver: Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Selections remaining: 10
Comment: Four of the last eight summer races at Daytona have featured a first-time winner. Don’t be surprised if Smith is next on the list to break through. He won Stage 1 of this year’s Daytona 500 en route to a sixth-place result. He has five top 10s in the last seven drafting track races.
zane smith front row motorsports
FEATURED MATCHUPS
Tyler Reddick vs. Chase Elliott
Pick: Reddick
Comment: Elliott was within a couple hundred yards of winning “The Great American Race” in February. His 19.7 average finish at Daytona ranks as his worst among all tracks, though respectable compared to his competition. Reddick has upped his game at superspeedways the last couple of seasons, tabulating the most points in 2025 and on pace to do so again in 2026.
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Ryan Blaney vs. Bubba Wallace
Pick: Wallace
Comment: It could be easily argued that both drivers are in must-start territory this weekend. Blaney has won the summer Daytona race in two of the last five years but has four finishes of 27th or worse in the last six trips to Central Florida. Meanwhile, Wallace has five top-five and seven top-10 finishes here, his most at any circuit.
Shane van Gisbergen vs. Ryan Preece
Pick: Van Gisbergen
Comment: All eyes will be on the bubble drivers this weekend, and while a toss-up, the advantage should go to SVG. Preece needs every point he can muster, which could put him in the danger zone at the end of stages. He has finished 23rd or worse in six of the last seven Daytona races.
Carson Hocevar vs. Connor Zilisch
Pick: Hocevar
Comment: Superspeedways have been where Hocevar has shined in 2026, scoring 168 of his 672 points in those four races (25%), only trailing Reddick. His fearlessness has paid off big in the draft, though he hasn’t made many companions along the way. Zilisch’s inexperience hurts him in this battle.
MY LINEUP
Starting five: Tyler Reddick, Carson Hocevar, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric.
Garage: Zane Smith.
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36 FOR 36
Pick: Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
Comment: With the uncertainty surrounding Daytona, it would be wise to avoid going big-game hunting this weekend. Ware is a solid choice, with both of his top-10 finishes in 167 career starts coming in the summer race. He owns a 19.1 average finish at the World Center of Racing, including six top-20 finishes in his last seven starts.
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