The wait for the NASCAR Cup Series is over and we’re heading into another exciting schedule of racing. Who can forget the breathtaking end to last year’s Cup Series, with Kyle Larson snatching victory from Denny Hamlin in overtime? Hamlin had recorded the most Cup victories in 2025, achieving six wins and was the clear favorite to claim the title going into the final race.
The unpredictability in the NASCAR Cup Series is one of the reasons it is one of the most exciting sports in the world and the 2026 season is gearing up for more drama. To add some more enjoyment to following the season, you might be interested in backing a winner before the first race.
Can Kyle Larson make it back-to-back wins? Or will Denny Hamlin be fired up to put his 2025 disappointment behind him? We can’t rule out other drivers like Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano, who many NASCAR experts are backing for success this year.
The Cup Series teams have been training and testing in preparation for the new season, with several rule changes in effect. Technical updates such as increasing horsepower to 750 hp at certain tracks (those shorter than 1.5 miles) and the addition of the newly developed A-post flaps to all tracks are another major change for this Cup Series.
Who Are the Favorites for the NASCAR Cup Series 2026?
Now is a good time to check out the sports betting markets for the NASCAR Cup Series 2026. You can bet on options such as the outright Cup Series Championship Winner, Top 3, Top 5 or Top 10 Finish and the Daytona 500 Winner.
Here’s an overview of the odds available at the end of January 2026:
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Winner
A lot of sportsbooks are placing Denny Hamlin as the favorite this season, but it is very close between Hamlin, Larson and Blaney. You can get odds of around 11-2 for all three drivers to claim the Cup Series Championship. William Byron is further out at around 6-1, followed by Christopher Bell (13-2), and Chase Briscoe and Chase Elliott (both 10-1).
How the New Playoff Format Will Work
Many NASCAR fans were very happy about the changes to the playoff format, with the Championship 4 format being abolished this season and the Chase returning but with a different approach. Moving over to the new format is intended to ensure that race wins have more weighting, with points for wins increasing from 40 to 55. The most points over the 10-race Chase will determine the winner, with the top 16 Cup Series drivers qualifying for the Chase.
This major change means that a race win will no longer automatically put drivers into the playoffs; drivers will be rewarded for consistency over the whole Cup Series. These changes ensure that every race matters more and will hopefully lead to a more enthralling season for NASCAR fans.
In terms of betting, the playoff changes will mean that favorites will become safer bets and one bad race won’t have the same impact on betting results. We may also find that drivers prioritize gaining race points over going all-out for a win. With the onus on consistency, drivers with strong pit crews and high-performing manufacturers will be important factors to consider when choosing your bets.
Key Dates of the NASCAR Cup Series 2026
The regular season started on 15 February with the Daytona 500 and runs until November 8. There were two preseason races, starting with the Cookout Clash on 1 February and the Daytona Duels on 12 February.
We are only a few races into the action but the early results could indicate who is likely to have a strong season. Ryan Preece was the surprise winner in the Cook Out Clash, where wet conditions had a large part to play in the outcome. The Daytona Duels saw Joey Logano and Chase Elliott claim victories just a few days before Tyler Reddick won the Daytona 500.
Over the coming months, there is a busy NASCAR schedule, with five races in March, including the DuraMax Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas and a stop at Las Vegas for the Pennzoil 400.
NASCAR fans will also be excited to see a return to Chicagoland on the schedule this season and street racing remains with the Anduril 250 at the Naval Base Coronado.
If you want to get your betting predictions in before the season starts, now is the perfect time to get started and crank up the excitement for the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026.