Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Tyler Reddick Holds Top Spot as Fox Sports Power Rankings Head to Nashville
Tyler Reddick holds the top spot in Fox Sports' weekly NASCAR power rankings heading into Nashville, with Bob Pockrass citing Reddick's fourth-place finish at Charlotte as proof the No. 45 Toyota remains the class of the field through 13 races. Reddick leads the Cup Series standings with 620 points — a 122-point margin over second-place Denny Hamlin — and has now placed in the top five in five of his last seven starts. Pockrass ranked him first for the third consecutive week, noting that no other driver has shown comparable speed or consistency on both ovals and intermediate tracks so far in 2026.
Sources: Fox Sports
Suárez and Bell Surge Into Fox Sports Power Rankings After Charlotte
Daniel Suárez and Christopher Bell made the largest upward moves in Fox Sports' NASCAR power rankings after Charlotte, with Pockrass crediting both drivers' performances at the Coca-Cola 600. Suárez won the 600 and jumped seven spots to seventh in the rankings; Bell placed second and moved to eighth. Pockrass noted Suárez's win was his first 600-mile victory and described it as a breakthrough result for the Trackhouse Racing driver. Bell's runner-up was his third consecutive top-five finish, and Pockrass said the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has turned a slow start into a genuine playoff contender position heading to Nashville.
Sources: Fox Sports
Larson, Gibbs Surge as Mid-Pack Shuffles in Fox Sports NASCAR Rankings
Kyle Larson and Ty Gibbs both rose in Fox Sports' post-Charlotte weekly power rankings, with Larson fourth and Gibbs third. Pockrass noted Larson won Stage 1 and placed fifth in the second and third stages before finishing fifth overall — a solid day for a Hendrick Motorsports team still adapting to the new Chevrolet body. Gibbs placed sixth at Charlotte, extending a run Pockrass noted includes finishes of third and sixth in his last two starts. Denny Hamlin held second in the rankings; his Charlotte third place was his sixth top-five finish in his last 10 Cup starts. Chase Elliott dropped to sixth after spinning and crashing on Lap 90.
Sources: Fox Sports
Blaney Leads Ford After Topping Rivals at Charlotte
Ryan Blaney leads all Ford drivers in Fox Sports' Cup Series power rankings heading to Nashville Superspeedway, ranked fifth by Bob Pockrass after an improved Coca-Cola 600 showing. Pockrass credited Blaney for running competitively at Charlotte despite finishing outside the top 10, noting the No. 12 Team Penske Ford has the best average finishing position among Ford entries in the last five races. Blaney ranks third in the Cup standings with 446 points, trailing Toyota drivers Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin. Among Ford's other Nashville entries, Chris Buescher ranks seventh in the standings with 385 points, positioned inside the current playoff bubble of 16.
Sources: Fox Sports
Six Drivers, Including Preece, on NASCAR Playoff Bubble Into Nashville
Six drivers sit within 30 points of the 16th and final playoff position heading into Nashville, with Ryan Preece currently holding the last transfer spot at 303 points, per Fox Sports' pre-Nashville bubble breakdown by Bob Pockrass. Preece holds a 1-point margin over the nearest driver outside the cutoff. Pockrass identified the bubble group as: Preece, Chase Briscoe (304 pts, 15th), Shane van Gisbergen (316 pts, 14th), Bubba Wallace (328 pts, 13th), William Byron (337 pts, 12th), and Brad Keselowski (343 pts, 11th). Nashville's 300-lap format on a concrete oval historically produces attrition, making the race a high-stakes playoff sorting event.
Sources: Fox Sports
Corey Heim Lines Up for Fifth Cup Start of 2026 Season at Nashville
Corey Heim is entered in the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway for his fifth Cup Series start of the 2026 season, according to the official entry list posted Tuesday on NASCAR.com. Heim, who drives full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series, will pilot the No. 51 car for Kyle Busch Motorsports' Cup program in a part-time role. The 22-year-old has made four Cup starts in 2026, recording a best finish of 19th. Nashville marks his second oval Cup start of the season. The 38-car entry list also includes all 36 chartered teams plus two open entries, with the field set for 300 laps on the 1.33-mile concrete oval.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Goodyear Brings Charlotte Tire Package to Nashville Despite Short-Track Aero Rules
Goodyear is bringing the same tire compound used at Charlotte to Nashville Superspeedway for the Cracker Barrel 400, despite Nashville's classification as a short-track venue running under the Cup Series' 3-inch spoiler, 750-horsepower aero package, per Jayski's Goodyear racing notes for the weekend. The compounds — D-5284 (left side) and D-5290 (right side) — were also used at Las Vegas, Darlington, Kansas, and Texas earlier in 2026. Goodyear notes describe Nashville as a concrete oval where right-side wear is a key factor; the D-5290 right-side compound was selected for durability. Each team receives 11 tire sets — nine for the race, one qualifying-to-race transfer, and one for practice.
Sources: Jayski
NASCAR Cup Series Set for Triple-Header Weekend at Nashville Superspeedway
The NASCAR Cup, O'Reilly Auto Parts, and Craftsman Truck series all converge at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend for a triple-header event leading to the Cracker Barrel 400 on Sunday, May 31. The Cup race — the 14th points event of the 2026 season — is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video and HBO Max, with radio on PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The Truck Series opens the weekend Friday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, followed by the O'Reilly Series Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW. Thirty-eight Cup cars are entered, racing 300 laps on the 1.33-mile concrete oval in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
1. Tyler Reddick — 620 pts
2. Denny Hamlin — 498 pts
3. Ryan Blaney — 446 pts
4. Ty Gibbs — 425 pts
5. Chase Elliott — 423 pts
6. Kyle Larson — 386 pts
7. Chris Buescher — 385 pts
8. Christopher Bell — 361 pts
9. Carson Hocevar — 356 pts
10. Daniel Suárez — 350 pts
11. Brad Keselowski — 343 pts
12. William Byron — 337 pts
13. Bubba Wallace — 328 pts
14. Shane van Gisbergen — 316 pts
15. Chase Briscoe — 304 pts
16. Ryan Preece — 303 pts
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota — 547 pts (approx.)
2. Chevrolet — 495 pts (approx.)
3. Ford — 409 pts (approx.)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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