BRISTOL, Tenn. — Ryan Blaney became the fourth driver to reach 1,000 laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series season in the NextGen era, dating back to 2022.
Despite the race not ending the way he wanted it to, even after the checkered flag flew, Blaney led 202 laps Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway to amass 1,031 laps led this season. Blaney is the first driver to eclipse 1,000 laps led in the 2026 season.
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In the first season of the NextGen car, 2022, no one reached 1,000 laps led for the first time ever in series history. The newness of the car led to a record 19 drivers winning a race and at least 11 drivers leading at least 500 laps that season.
With seven races left, 13 drivers have won a race this season and just six drivers have led at least 500 laps: Blaney leads with 1,031 laps led, followed by Denny Hamlin (948), Kyle Larson (883), Joey Logano (725), Christopher Bell (606) and Tyler Reddick (523).
Just under 500 laps led are Chase drivers Ty Gibbs (400), Chase Briscoe (389) and Chase Elliott (318).
The laps leaders among non-Chase drivers are Shane van Gisbergen (270) and Brad Keselowski (232). Between them is Bubba Wallace (252). Meanwhile, Chase drivers Carson Hocevar (198) and William Byron (175) are just behind them.
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In just 10 starts, Corey Heim has led more laps (139) than four of the Chase drivers: Chris Buescher (81), Ryan Preece (55), Austin Cindric (51) and Daniel Suarez (42). Two other non-Chase drivers have also led more than those four: Ross Chastain (133) and Josh Berry (93).
Two other non-Chase drivers have also led more laps than some of the Chase drivers: Zane Smith (77) and John Hunter Nemechek (64).
There are 2,068 laps left in the 2026 season. The longest race is 500 laps at Martinsville Speedway and the shortest race is 188 laps at Talladega Superspeedway.
Here is every NASCAR Cup Series season in the NextGen era where a driver has led at least 1,000 laps led:
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William Byron 2023 (1016)
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William Byron 2025 (1330)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Why just the NextGen era? The car marked a radical departure from previous NASCAR stock cars with underlying parts and components drastically changing the style of racing and how drivers raced certain tracks, which has had a noticeable impact on statistics, especially how every stat category shakes out.
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