Kyle Larson, who entered the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series as the favorite to repeat his championship win from last year, has lost his top position among contenders. This development comes shortly after the season began, marking a significant change in expectations for the NASCAR Cup Series favorites. The 2026 season is notable for being the inaugural year under NASCAR’s revamped Chase postseason format, which replaces the previous knockout style and echoes the structure used from 2004 to 2013.
Larson’s 2025 title was secured under the former playoff system, but the updated format, introduced this year after controversy surrounding the previous system, has changed how drivers and bookmakers view the championship race. Despite the adjustment in rules, Larson’s performance last season would have still clinched him the championship even under this new postseason structure.
Current Championship Odds and Standings After Daytona 500
Following the opening race at the Daytona 500 superspeedway, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin has overtaken Larson as the favorite to win the season championship, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, with odds of +370 compared to Larson’s +400. This shift is surprising because Larson finished 16th in the race, while Hamlin placed 31st. Correspondingly, Larson is tied for 14th in the points standings, whereas Hamlin sits in 33rd place.
Hamlin trails the provisional playoff cutoff by 19 points, currently positioned behind 16th place driver Noah Gragson and 17th place Michael McDowell. Larson remains just three points above this crucial cutoff line. Although a clear frontrunner is difficult to pinpoint after a single superspeedway event, the early odds change suggests that factors beyond race finishes influence the perception of season contenders.
With another superspeedway race scheduled at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) this weekend, expectations remain uncertain since these types of tracks tend to produce unpredictable results. However, only three superspeedway events remain in the regular season’s 24 races, meaning consistency on other tracks will be critical moving forward.
Other Notable Title Contenders and Upcoming Races
Daytona 500 winner Tyler Reddick currently leads the points standings and is ranked eighth in the championship odds at +1400. His early season performance could position him as a dark horse in the NASCAR Cup Series title chase. Fans and analysts will be closely watching the Autotrader 400 race this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET, broadcast live on Fox from EchoPark Speedway, to see how the title contenders fare on another challenging superspeedway track.
This weekend’s race could further reshape the championship landscape as drivers look to adapt to the new playoff system and build momentum through the demanding 2026 schedule.
