The weekend at Darlington Raceway has come and gone. Tyler Reddick has gained his and is beginning to distance himself from the sphere in factors.
Because the schedule is now beginning to get into the thick of issues, groups are studying who has pace and who would not. Chevy is determining its new physique design, Ford seems to be a step behind, and Toyota, , have actually locked in to start out the yr.
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Let’s get into the NASCAR Energy Rankings earlier than turning our consideration to Martinsville and a few quick monitor motion.
10. Brad Keselowski – RFK Racing (NR)
RFK Racing was working 1-2-3 at one level on Sunday with Brad Keselowski main the best way. He got here up quick, however swept the phases, led essentially the most laps and completed P2. He is ninth in factors, however wants to point out extra earlier than he strikes additional up.
Keselowski is off to a a lot better begin to the season than he had only a yr in the past. Up to now, he is but to complete worse than P20.
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9. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (-1)
Kyle Larson throughout driver introductions at Las Vegas. (Picture by Sean Gardner/Getty Pictures)
((Picture by Sean Gardner/Getty Pictures))
The begin to the 2026 season hasn’t been the perfect for the defending champion. Sunday was his second end of P32 this season. That has damage him within the level standings, however not an excessive amount of but.
Larson and Cliff Daniels will get this factor discovered. But when they need to win the common season championship, then they’re going to have to start out successful races before later.
8. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (+1)
You might most likely simply flip flop these two Hendrick drivers within the Energy Rankings. Nonetheless, with a 3rd end of P8 or higher, Byron will get the nod this week. As soon as Hendrick and Chevy hit the mark on this new physique, Byron shall be again to successful.
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Whereas issues have been going alright for the 24 group, they do not accept alright. They need to be nice.
7. Ty Gibbs – Joe Gibbs Racing (-)
Ty Gibbs throughout driver introductions at COTA. (Picture by James Gilbert/Getty Pictures)
((Picture by James Gilbert/Getty Pictures))
Simply in need of one other top-five end, Ty Gibbs was P6. He isn’t far behind Christopher Bell in factors, and appears to be preserving tempo along with his JGR teammates to start out the season.
Gibbs appears like he’s as soon as once more knocking on the door of his first profession win. Will 2026 be the yr that occurs?
6. Bubba Wallace – 23XI Racing (-)
Sunday was the primary large slip up for and the No. 23 group. They’re now third in factors, and left Darlington P34. The outcome would not inform the total image with Wallace getting concerned in a wreck with and dropping a number of laps down.
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Wallace had the quickest lap on Sunday. His automotive was not as quick as Tyler Reddick’s, or possibly it was the driving force, however there was an actual probability the 23 might have gained the race had just a few issues performed out in a different way.
5. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)
NASCAR Cup Sequence driver Christopher Bell (20) throughout qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.Mark J&interval; Rebilas-Imagn Pictures
(Mark J&interval; Rebilas-Imagn Pictures)
A little bit of a step again for Christopher Bell this season. He completed P19 and located himself combating his automotive and the monitor at Darlington. Martinsville is a monitor that Bell must be wanting ahead to very a lot.
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Bell’s bought the ability to win at Martinsville, and he is carried out it earlier than below the most important stress. By this time final yr, he had three wins, can he safe his first of 2026 quickly?
4. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (+1)
Mr. Regular. hardly ever ever will get too low on the race monitor. He introduced the automotive dwelling P15, and can take that and the factors to Martinsville. Elliott is P5 within the standings, and he actually hasn’t had a really nice race but.
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Elliott likes to put low. We are going to see if Martinsville, Kansas, and Texas within the coming weeks will bear any fruit for this No. 9 group.
3. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)
Denny Hamlin celebrates with a fist pump after successful at Las Vegas. (Picture by Chris Williams/LVMS/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures)
((Picture by Chris Williams/LVMS/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures))
Denny Hamlin put his automotive into the wall at one level and someway was sooner for it. He completed P11, however at one level, Hamlin was a top-five driver on the monitor, and seemed like he was going to complete there.
Fourth in factors by way of six races, and talking of Martinsville, he is gained just a few instances there in his profession. The following 4 weeks look actually good for Hamlin as he searches for his second win of the season.
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2. Ryan Blaney – Workforce Penske (+1)
Whereas it must be totally irritating for , it will get thrilling when he loses positions on pit street. Getting to observe Blaney race from the again of the sphere is a deal with as a race fan. He’s so good at working by way of the sphere, and on these tracks with elevated horsepower, he is gotten even higher it appears.
P3 on Sunday at Darlington, Blaney had a very good race. Had his group not repeatedly let him down on pit street, we’d have seen fairly a end between him and Reddick.
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1. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (-)
Tyler Reddick walks down pit street throughout qualifying at Darlington Raceway. (Picture by David Jensen/Getty Pictures)
((Picture by David Jensen/Getty Pictures))
4 wins in six weeks, how is Tyler Reddick not the perfect driver in NASCAR? He keep son high of the Energy Rankings as soon as once more and similar to he did at COTA, he gained the pole and the race. The pace out of the 23XI camp has been unreal to start out the season.
The following two weeks shall be an actual take a look at. We are going to see if Reddick can lastly begin to determine his method across the quick tracks. He is carried out fairly effectively with the brand new 750 horsepower bundle, incomes two wins with it, why not one other one at Martinsville or Bristol?
This story was initially printed by on Mar 23, 2026, the place it first appeared within the part. Add Athlon Sports activities as a
