NASCAR Energy Rankings: Which Drivers Thrive in Chase System?

[ad_1] The brand new NASCAR playoff system — which truly goes again to the 10-race Chase format — will impression how drivers race. There'll now be slightly extra emphasis on consistency reasonably than on a win-and-advance mentality.

So meaning the facility rankings may even doubtlessly contemplate consistency.

Listed below are my 2026 preseason energy rankings, with the preseason Conflict at Bowman Grey Stadium slated for Sunday — barring any postponements resulting from inclement climate.

I’ll clarify why I believe these drivers will simply make the playoffs and presumably contend for the championship.

On the verge: Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, Shane Van Gisbergen, Bubba Wallace

10. Alex Bowman

Bowman completed ninth within the regular-season standings in 2025 and needed to sweat it out to make the playoffs, as he didn’t have a victory. The stress of constructing the playoffs shouldn’t be there for Bowman, who can race extra relaxed this 12 months as he enters a contract 12 months with Hendrick Motorsports.

9. Joey Logano

The three-time Cup champion is a grasp of racing to the system, so anybody who thinks the brand new system will harm him can be making a mistake. The Workforce Penske driver wasn't proud of how final season unfolded. And don’t overlook, that is a good 12 months, and even years are usually good for Logano.

8. Tyler Reddick

The 23XI Racing driver didn’t win in 2025. Like Bowman, he simply made the postseason as a result of consistency was his energy. He completed seventh within the regular-season standings. Reddick additionally is aware of his staff ought to profit from having stability since they're now not within the middles of the lawsuit with NASCAR.

7. Denny Hamlin

Hamlin must be greater on this listing however contemplating the heaviness of how 2025 ended and his offseason, it will be comprehensible if it took him a couple of weeks to get into the racing. Coming off a 12 months when he received a series-best six races, he’ll be a pressure once more in 2026.

6. Chase Briscoe

Briscoe made the championship spherical final 12 months and he’ll be even higher this 12 months in his second season working with crew chief James Small at Joe Gibbs Racing. Briscoe is settling into JGR, and that might be harmful.

5. William Byron

The 2025 regular-season champion received three races final 12 months however he was slightly inconsistent within the playoffs. The Hendrick driver will have to be significantly better on the finish of the 12 months beneath the brand new system.

4. Kyle Larson

The defending Cup champion had simply two DNFs final 12 months and 5 complete races the place he didn’t end on the lead lap. However the Hendrick driver nonetheless has slightly little bit of a feast-or-famine fame that would harm him on this system.

3. Christopher Bell

Bell is trying ahead to this new system, as he recorded 22 top-10 finishes final 12 months. Plus, there are few tracks the place the JGR driver struggles. And this method matches into the strengths of crew chief Adam Stevens, who has a knack of getting stout vehicles off the truck.

2. Chase Elliott

When drivers discuss who will thrive within the new playoff system, they level to Elliott and his consistency. The important thing for Elliott and crew chief Alan Gustafson will likely be qualifying so the Hendrick driver can earn extra stage factors.

1. Ryan Blaney

Blaney has a Jimmie Johnson-like demeanor. He is assured and finds methods to be within the combine on the finish for an excellent end. The Penske driver received a title within the previous system, however his 15 top-fives final 12 months — tied with Briscoe and Larson for greatest within the sequence — exhibits that he's going to be robust to beat on this format.