It’s throwback day at Darlington, and fans have been buzzing all week about the designs. Here’s a few of the important items we’ll be following close as the drivers take on this “Too Tough to Tame” track.
After missing so many races earlier this season due to his snowboarding injury, Chase Elliott has little chance of making the championship on points. He’ll need an out-and-out victory to lock him into the playoffs, and there isn’t much time left.
Ross might have made amends earlier this week after coming to blows with Noah Gragson in the pits last weekend, but we’ve been here before. Who will he get into at Darlington to cause this week’s controversial viral moment?
Let’s just hope this week it doesn’t come to blows. You can find a history of Ross Chastain’s conflicts here on the Daily Downforce.
Yesterday’s Xfinity Series race produced a stage 2 comprised almost entirely of cautions, with cars being torn up and wrecked out seemingly every time they tried to go back green.
Cup drivers are generally more reserved and certainly more experienced handling their vehicles, but will we see a continuation of the cautionfest we’ve seen all weekend?
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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