It’s all the time necessary to not overreact to a single race in the course of the 2026 NASCAR season, particularly since a lot can change relying on the monitor. Nevertheless, popping out of the primary factors race of the season, we will say there are some drivers who’re trending in the correct route and others within the mistaken route heading to Atlanta this weekend.
Let’s dive into our NASCAR inventory watch after the Daytona 500, highlighting full-time Cup Collection drivers whose inventory is up or down forward of the second race of the season.
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Inventory Up: Zane Smith
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Pictures
Zane Smith flies below the radar at a time when 19-year-old Connor Zilisch and 23-year-old Carson Hocevar are considered as the long run faces of the NASCAR Cup Collection. Nevertheless, within the Daytona 500, Smith made a reputation for himself. He earned a Stage 1 victory—the primary stage win of his profession—after which labored his approach up from fifteenth in Stage 2 to complete sixth behind the likes of Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, and Brad Keselowski. Smith’s 41 factors marked certainly one of his highest totals since becoming a member of the Cup Collection, and he led as many laps within the 500 as Logano and Christopher Bell (9). We’re not saying Smith is a protected guess to make the playoffs by any means, however beating his career-highs in high 10s (5) and laps led (22) appears doable.
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Inventory Down: Chase Briscoe
Nadia Zomorodian/Information-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Pictures
It’s actually not time for Chase Briscoe or the No. 19 workforce to panic; it’s far too early within the season for that. He made the Championship 4 final season in his first 12 months with Joe Gibbs Racing and carried out like a top-five driver within the second half of the season. Nevertheless, Briscoe left Florida with simply 2 factors after beginning second within the Daytona 500 and main the sector in Duel 2. He’s already 41 factors again of third place in regular-season factors, and the brand new Chase format is unforgiving for high drivers with a number of unhealthy performances. Briscoe will nonetheless make the playoffs, however his championship odds took a success this previous Sunday.
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Inventory Up: Shane van Gisbergen
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We all know Shane van Gisbergen completed thirtieth within the Daytona 500 and walked out of the No. 97 automobile with solely 7 factors. Nevertheless, he did lead three laps and was frequently within the high 10 of the sector earlier than he bought caught up within the Huge One. He was in twelfth place when the incident started, and his automobile sustained sufficient injury to successfully stop him from getting again to the entrance. What issues is that SVG demonstrated he’s loads higher at racing on ovals than he was a 12 months in the past—adequate to snag top-20 finishes and probably even a couple of top-10s and stage factors this 12 months. SVG’s inventory may be very a lot on the rise.
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Inventory Down: Connor Zilisch
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With 20 laps to go in Stage 2, Connor Zilisch discovered himself main the sector on the Daytona 500. Simply as {the teenager} began incomes reward from the published crew, he bought into the aspect of Justin Allgaier twice and his automobile bought looser from there earlier than he misplaced management. There isn’t a denying that the rookie is among the finest prospects to enter the Cup Collection in years, however there are going to be rising pains and he has a ton of studying to do. He might be very aggressive on the street programs this 12 months, however struggles on ovals within the Subsequent Gen automobile will maintain him out of the playoffs.
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Inventory Up: Tyler Reddick
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After failing to win a single race in 2025, Tyler Reddick kicked off his 2026 marketing campaign with a crown jewel win. Whereas he was not dominant, his last-lap strikes to get in entrance of the sector and win the Daytona 500 present what Reddick is able to and why he was the NASCAR regular-season champion in 2024. After a turbulent season off the monitor final 12 months, Reddick has his confidence and focus again. Extra wins are coming this 12 months.
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Inventory Down: Alex Bowman
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The fourth-best driver at Hendrick Motorsports is all the time going to really feel some stress to carry out. Alex Bowman has phenomenal gear and an important workforce, however the leads to current seasons—just one win within the final three years—are underwhelming. Sadly for Bowman, his 2026 marketing campaign bought off to a tough begin. The No. 48 automobile not solely failed to guide a single lap within the Daytona 500, however he additionally solely accomplished 123 laps after his automobile suffered race-ending injury in a collision in the course of the Huge One. With that consequence, he now ranks twenty second in common ending place (20.3) over the , with as many top-five finishes (one) because the likes of Daniel Suarez, A.J. Allmendinger, and Justin Allgaier.
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