From a NASCAR Fan’s View
In usual fashion, the 2026 NASCAR season starts off with the biggest race of the season. There are big races in every type of racing, and there are big games in every sport, but when it comes to NASCAR Cup teams, the first race of their season is probably the biggest race of their season. There is just something special about the Daytona 500, and everyone looks forward to it. Of course, there are those who look forward to just getting through it, but for the most part, the drivers like the challenge.
I don’t think the Duels showed us that much of what the 500 is going to be like. There are several reasons why I think the way I do about the big race right now. One reason is the way things came together for the Duels lineups.
In case some weren’t paying attention to the two races, the first one had a lot of Fords in it. Of course, we all know the Fords are very good at being patient and sticking together. It showed especially after the long run and then with the pit stop. When they came out of the pits, they stuck together and worked together to make good time and keep one of them up front.
The second one had a lot of Chevys and Toyotas, and the Chevys showed the way, and that they have learned to work together somewhat. Actually, I was surprised to see how well they did work together. Anyway, the outcome of the two Duels was not all that unexpected. In the first one, Joey Logano won in his Ford. In the second, Chase Elliott won in his Chevy.
You see, the point I’m getting to is that the 500 is going to have twice as many cars on the track at the same time compared to the Duels, and all of the manufacturers will be represented. That means the Fords, the Chevys and the Toyotas will all be running to stay together and keep the others from setting up their own drafts to pull away and take control of the race. Unless I miss my guess, that could mean things will be much more aggressive and make things even more interesting.
There are several drivers that generally run well at the Super Speedways and yet they have never won the Daytona 500. As a fan, I won’t put all the blame on them or their crews because Super Speedway racing is a completely different animal than any other race the Cup cars face. It is all about positioning and taking advantage of any door that opens and making the right move at the right time.
It’s that making the right move at the right time that often causes the “Big One” at, or near the end of the race. Sure, I know mistakes are made and some get caught up in someone else’s mistake, but the racing for the checkered flag is a chess match. They all know what needs to be done, and if they’re positioned properly, they can advance themselves past the one leading because of the draft.
We’ve all seen it happen so many times that it has become expected when it comes time to try and take that checkered flag. In this fan’s opinion, that’s why there are often a lot of wrecked racecars at the end of one of these races. And it doesn’t always happen at the front. When the rest of the field tries to improve their position on that final approach to the checkers, things happen fast, and hardly anyone is looking out for their fellow drivers. They just want to get as far to the front as they possibly can, and the result is often that last lap “Big One.”
As I just said, the field has several drivers who always seem to be at or near the front in those final laps but have never won a Daytona 500. I can think of three right off the top of my head that would like nothing better than to take that win this afternoon and change that statistic in their career. Although there are others, the three I’m thinking of at this moment are Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and pole sitter, Kyle Bush. Any one of these three could pull off the victory today, or they could once again become “also-rans.”
Yeah, I know. There are a bunch of drivers who want to win this race, and we all know they’ll be trying their hardest to do so. And I haven’t forgotten that William Byron, one I haven’t mentioned yet, would like to take a historical third win in a row for the Daytona 500. Even though he is in a backup car rather than the original bullet they brought, I think he is going to be a factor at the end of the race. How about you…??
Hey, this is Russ, and that’s my view… See ya next time…
All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer
© February 15, 2026 – all rights reserved
Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com and Justafansview.com
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