re: 2026 NASCAR Season Thread

Some younger guys I’d definitely keep my eye on.

Corey Heim
Brent Crews
Jesse Love
Corey Day
Gio Ruggerio
Kaden Honeycutt
Carson Kvapil
Rajah Caruth
Taylor Gray
Sam Mayer
Brendan Queen
Parker Retzlaff
Tristan McKee

Heim is all but a lock for 23XI next year. Crews appears to be the heir to Hamlin at Gibbs. I’d expect Gray to end up at Gibbs too. Ty is listed as his car owner in the O’Reilly series (Ty will get someone fired to bring him in).

Love is likely to go to Legacy if Busch does not leave Childress. Gio and Honeycutt look like guys that are talented enough to get to cup, but with who?

Kvapil is a Penske signee (rumored). Rajah is destined for a ride at Spire (long term). Day is destined for Hendrick at some point. McKee is only 15, but he’s highly thought of by spire

Mayer is only 22 years old. So is Retzlaff. Queen is the obvious choice for Dodge when they officially return. Queen and Haley are the long term as of now.

If CZ really ends up in the 48 that probably locks down the Hendrick spots until Larson retires. 5 years minimum. Kinda creates a log jam for Day and other Chevy guys.

quote:

---

If CZ really ends up in the 48 that probably locks down the Hendrick spots until Larson retires. 5 years minimum. Kinda creates a log jam for Day and other Chevy guys.

---

Need more quality teams so NASCAR can expand the field to 43 again.

From Feb

The head of RAM & Dodge/Stellantis Tim Kuniskis once again pushing for that 2027 start up date for Dodge’s return to the NASCAR cup series with Kaulig Racing and potentially others. We’ve heard some people over the last couple of weeks say “Well than they better get started” …. They have already started! Months ago in fact but it’s still an ultra aggressive timeline that’s going to be very hard to hit

—-

Keep in mind each “new” team can only have 3 charters..

I was honestly hoping they’d do a little better in the truck series.

Did anyone catch bowyer humming the jaws theme with about 14 to when SVG was hunting down the leaders?

The big wild card is if ECR and Dodge could somehow come together on the engine. Would get things moving faster. As is, Chevy has two engine shops while Ford and Toyota have one.

If a few teams switch to Dodge, you don’t really need two Chevy engine shops anymore. Hendrick could build Chevy, and ECR could build Dodge. Then you’d have right about 10 teams for each manufacturer.

i'd really like to see trackhosue slide in as the number one dodge team. i remember rumros earlier this year they were also talking to honda before they reupped with indy.

Kyle Busch domination so far.
3 women in this race. Spurlock wrecked out early, Toni and Decker are laps down at the tail of the field.

Imo, Toni > Decker both in terms of skill and attractiveness.