The Cup series takes on an updated Circuit of the America’s layout this weekend. The usual road course warriors like Shane Van Gisbergen and A.J. Allmendinger will be at the top of everyone’s fantasy list this weekend, but will they perform like everyone expects them to, and who else is bound to have a nice points day?
Alex Bowman’s average finish of three at COTA is a few points ahead of Tyler Reddick’s 3.7. However, Reddick has one win there and has led 20.8% of laps, the second-highest percentage in Cup.
SVG has only raced at COTA once in Cup. A gearbox issue caused him to finish in 21st. The New Zealander has an average finish of 9.8 in four Cup road courses, good for second in the top flight. Not to mention he won three road course races(including the Chicago Street Course) in the Xfinity Series last year. He is the best road course racer and should be the first pick on everyone’s COTA fantasy lineup.
The driver ahead of SVG on road courses in Cup is Chris Buescher, who has an average finish of eighth in 15 races. His lone road course win came last September at the Watkins Glen playoff race when he passed SVG on the last lap.
Bowman, Reddick, Van Gisgerben, and Buescher are a great top four in this weekend’s race. Who can fill the remaining two spots?
Allmendinger is one of the top road course racers missing from this list so far. His average finish at COTA in Cup is 24.3. It does not seem fair to put him in the top category at this track with such a poor-average finish. That said, since it is a road course, he deserves some consideration, especially with the new reconfiguration.
Ross Chastain won at COTA in 2022 and has an average finish of fourth at the road course. He could be in for another high finish this Sunday.
Chase Elliott has been mentioned in the two previous fantasy advice articles, and both times, he was involved in a wreck, yet he sits in 11th place in the standings. He is the third-best road course racer by average finish (10.4) since February 2022, so consider him, but know that his trend on this list and his damaged car are strong enough to start the season.
Kyle Larson is also a top driver at road courses. In 15 races, his average finish is 14.5, he has three wins, four top fives and six top 10s. The No. 5 car is definitely worth considering.
On a similar note, Christopher Bell has a good record on road courses and always seems to be in contention. Additionally, William Byron has two road course wins, including one at COTA. The No. 24 is probably a better road course driver than the No. 5, but it is close.
Ty Gibbs vs Alex Bowman
Gibbs has not been good since the 2024 playoffs. This race could jumpstart him; however, be skeptical and choose Bowman and Hendrick, who are great at COTA.
Christopher Bell vs Tyler Reddick
Both of these drivers are likely to finish in the top 10, but Reddick will finish higher. Go with the No. 45.
AJ Allmendinger vs Chase Elliott
Users should go with the No. 9 simply because Hendrick is the best team at COTA. Both are in for a good day.
Shane Van Gisbergen vs Ross Chastain
The No. 88 will definitely be looking for a bounce back at a track he should perform very well at. Pick SVG over his teammate.
The 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at Daytona drew nearly 1.4 million viewers on FS1, beating the 2025 opening race number by 37%, and becoming the most-viewed Truck Series event since 2016.
NASCAR’s secondary series is facing a huge brand change, leaving the title name “Xfinity Series” to become the brand-new O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. What is not changing, however, is its broadcast partner. The CW is headed for its 2nd season with the series, and has been investing heavily in it. Year after year, we put up the rating numbers and rank them accordingly in comparison to the previous season. Here’s how it works:
All Races (1 Total in 2026)
It wouldn’t be Daytona without some weird, wacky, and headline-grabbing fallout. From viral Victory Lane moments to renewed debates about driver approval, NASCAR’s biggest race once again delivered more than just on-track drama. And with Michael Jordan celebrating a Daytona 500 win, the spotlight burned brighter than it has in years.
Jordan’s presence mattered. When the most iconic athlete of a generation shows genuine emotion upon winning the Daytona 500, it reminds the wider sports world that this race still matters. That kind of authentic publicity cannot be manufactured. It resonated far beyond the garage. Meanwhile, the O’Reilly Series race added fuel to another ongoing debate. The massive Decker crash, Cleetus McFarland’s Truck debut incident, and past approval inconsistencies have once again raised tough questions. Consistency, transparency, and accountability are now front and center. Add in Austin Hill’s dominance and Ryan Ellis’ career-best sixth-place run to open the season, and Daytona gave fans plenty to talk about on and off the track.
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