Friday Faceoff: Will Joey Logano Go Winless in 2026?

1. There have been only six DNFs across the past five Cup races. Has the incredibly clean racing impacted the fans’ perception of the racing so far this season?

Kevin Nix: I think it’s caused people to scrutinize the Next Gen car more closely. As more time goes on with this car (we are now in year five), teams and engineers are increasingly able to optimize the car to its performance ceiling within the NASCAR rulebook. That also lowers the chance of drivers making mistakes, which this car does not penalize. That said, the racing mid-pack at Kansas Speedway was solid for much of the day, and the fan in me wishes those battles would get more attention throughout the race.

Christopher Hansen: No. While there have been less DNFs in the last handful of races, I don’t believe that has directly impacted the fans’ perception of the racing product we’ve seen each weekend. Take the previous race at Kansas for instance, where none of the 37 drivers competing recorded a DNF, and the only natural caution occurred at two laps to go, which turned an otherwise tame race into a sprint to the checkered flag. With winning still carrying significant weight, but points and good finishes meaning more, we’re probably not done seeing races with this few DNFs.

Jarrad Wakefield: It is cool that the Cup engines are so reliable, but it certainly affects fan perspectives. I thought the Kansas race was interesting enough. However, it was not a race of overstimulating chaos for which NASCAR has become the flag bearer. Think of the drafting tracks, or the intermediate races that tend to pack up. With that said, any race that doesn’t fit that mold won’t satisfy part of the fan base.

Michael Bellifemini: I think the lack of crashes might impact some fans’ views on a race being good or bad, and this trend is due to the durability of the car and the new format. The Next Gen car doesn’t take damage as badly as the previous generations, and drivers are allowed to return to the track after a crash, which was not the case in past seasons. The new points format also encourages smart racing to maximize points for the day, and with “win-and-in” gone, drivers are less likely to go for broke in the final laps.

2. Which of the five open entries in Sunday’s Cup race will finish the highest, and which one will fail to qualify?

Steve Sonderman: Out of all the open entries, Joey Gase and the NY Racing Team and Chad Finchum of Garage 66 will likely be battling for that final spot. Despite Richard Childress Racing’s struggles this season, especially in the Cup Series, it should be expected that they are dialed in and ready to go for a superspeedway. Expect Jesse Love to be finishing ahead of the other open cars.

Wakefield: I imagine Love is the favorite to finish the highest. In my opinion, unfortunately, Daniel Dye also has a shot at being the highest. The Live Fast No. 78 car will not win the pole, but they’ve proven they have a car that works in the draft with B.J. McLeod driving. If the No. 44 car isn’t the car going home after qualifying, it will be a shocking result for one of the other four open cars. The No. 44 team missed the race at Daytona, and I expect this race to be no different unless one of their competitors gets qualifying very wrong.

Bellifemini: I think Casey Mears will finish the highest since the No. 62 Beard car is strong at superspeedways, and a polished veteran driver like Mears will have the best chance of staying out of trouble. I think the No. 44 NY Racing Team car driven by Gase will fail to qualify on speed, since they do not enter many races and lack on-track speed compared to the other open teams.

Nix: Mears will finish the highest in the Beard Motorsports No. 62, while the No. 66 of Finchum will be the lone DNQ. Single-car qualifying is the name of the game to set the lineup, and I’m not sure whether the No. 66 will have the raw pace to lock in on speed. I’m confident Dye will qualify in the No. 78, and Live Fast Motorsports is typically good at getting its cars in the field and running at least somewhat competitively. Mears has a great track record of pace at superspeedways, and Beard Motorsports almost won in 2024 at Daytona International Speedway. Mears could easily place in the top 20, if not higher, if the cards fall his way.

3. Will Joey Logano go winless in the Cup Series this season?

Hansen: No, but the No. 22 team can’t afford to have any additional weekends where the team is completely non-existent during the race. Joey Logano has some good tracks coming up on the schedule, including this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway and the following week at Texas Motor Speedway, where he is the defending race winner. With Ryan Blaney carrying Team Penske most weekends this season, I wouldn’t count out the No. 22 to go too much farther into the season without a win.

Sonderman:  It’s time for our annual “Penske panic.” This year does seem different, but it is hard to count Logano out on a flat oval track, especially in the fall. Even if his current run of form continues, I’d be hesitant to overlook him at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway or Iowa Speedway. 

Nix: No. While it’s crazy to realize that Logano is coming up on one year since his last Cup win (Texas last year), he and the No. 22 team are simply too talented to have a losing streak that would last 65 races if it extends to the end of 2026. I have to imagine Ford and Chevy will close the gap on Toyota as the year goes on. He could repeat at Texas next week, he could be in the right place at the right time to win at any of the superspeedways, and the team will likely get better as a whole. 

Wakefield: It is a long season. Logano will get one before the season’s curtain call in November.

4. Will the incident at Kansas Speedway between RCR O’Reilly Series teammates Austin Hill and Jesse Love carry over to Talladega and beyond?

Bellifemini: I think Austin Hill and Love need to put aside last week’s incident so that they can work together to continue RCR’s dominance at the drafting tracks in the O’Reilly Series. If one pushes the other to a win with no issues, there should be no bad blood going forward. However, if the two tangle once again at Talladega, there could be some long-term consequences.

Hansen: It remains to be seen as far as races behind Talladega go, but the two will undoubtedly work together this weekend, even if there are still some hard feelings between the RCR teammates. On superspeedways over the years, both Hill and Love have worked well with little to no issues. That will remain the case this weekend as both will be in the mix for the victory at Talladega.

Sonderman: If Hill carries the same speed he showed at Daytona, he won’t need a teammate’s help to win. Having a partner to work with would be a nice luxury. EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta was a different story. Late contact cost him a chance at the victory, and he certainly won’t want a repeat of that performance. Both Hill and Love are aggressive racers who understand the stakes, so I expect they will bury the hatchet.