NASCAR Cup Series: Drivers Facing Early Championship Pressure in 2026

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is taking shape and while Tyler Reddick’s impressive start grabbed headlines, the field is beginning to reveal which drivers may face an uphill battle to secure a playoff spot. After Ryan Blaney’s victory at Phoenix Raceway, a clearer picture emerges of those already feeling the pressure to perform.

The Top Tier Remains Consistent

Interestingly, the top seven drivers in the point standings following Blaney’s Phoenix win are all drivers who qualified for the 2025 playoffs. This consistency suggests that established contenders are maintaining their positions, even with the introduction of the new top 16 “Chase” format.

Drivers Below the Cut Line

Although, beyond the top seven, the playoff picture is less certain. Only three of the remaining drivers currently inside the provisional playoff field qualified for the postseason last year. Of the other nine, just one would have made it in under the 2026 format in 2025.

Seven Drivers Facing an Uphill Battle

Several drivers who made the 2025 playoffs now find themselves in a precarious position. Here’s a look at seven drivers already facing significant challenges:

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports

Alex Bowman is in the most hard situation. He began the season already 36th in points, 45 points below the cut line, and a recent absence due to vertigo has only worsened his position, now 77 points behind. A consistent run of strong finishes is crucial for Bowman to climb back into contention, and he can’t afford any further missed races.

Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing

Despite the hype surrounding his promotion to the Cup Series, Connor Zilisch is currently 55 points below the cut line. While his road course skills are promising, his oval results have been underwhelming, with a best finish of 29th.

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing

Chase Briscoe’s struggles are perhaps the most surprising. After qualifying for the Championship 4 in his first year with Joe Gibbs Racing, he’s currently only two points ahead of Zilisch and has scored just one point in each race this year, despite consistently having a top-three car.

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing

Josh Berry qualified for the 2025 playoffs on a victory, but currently sits tied for 31st in points, 50 points below the cutoff. While a potential win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway could support, it may not be enough to significantly improve his position.

Austin Cindric, Team Penske

Austin Cindric, despite surprisingly qualifying for the 2025 playoffs even without a win, is viewed as vulnerable under the new format. He’s 30th in points, 48 points below the cutoff, and has yet to finish a race higher than 26th this year.

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing

Austin Dillon hasn’t qualified for the playoffs on points since 2016, and his current position – 44 points behind – suggests he’ll continue to struggle. He has yet to finish a race inside the top 15.

Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing

Ross Chastain, currently 23rd in points, is 26 points behind the cutoff. Trackhouse Racing hasn’t matched its 2022 performance, and Chastain’s recent form suggests he may be battling for a playoff spot throughout the regular season.

Looking Ahead to Las Vegas

The Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be shown live on Fox Sports 1 starting at 4:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, March 15.