1) Can Carson Hocevar supplant Chase Elliott as the most popular driver in the Cup Series?
Michael Finley: There are two most popular drivers. Carson Hocevar isn’t going to supplant Chase Elliott on paper, as Elliott has the same dedicated fanbase his father had to keep the title. As far as the actual most popular driver, Kyle Larson, he may well could. He’ll need to follow this up with some more wins, but not enough to where it gets boring.
Michael Bellifemini: With the amount of followers Hocevar has on social media and how he’s introduced NASCAR to a younger audience through streaming, it’s not impossible. It’ll be hard to dethrone Elliott Nation, but if anyone can do it, it’s Hocevar. If he can win some more and become a stronger title contender, it will only help his chances of winning the most popular driver award.
Jarrad Wakefield: Hocevar may have already replaced Elliott as the most popular NASCAR driver with the younger fans. It might take a few years, but Hocevar is on a meteoric rise as a superstar. If he can knock off another win or three this year while still being himself, maybe he could pull off an upset on Elliott this year.
2) Will the crew chief switch be enough to turn around the season for Kyle Busch and the No. 8?
Christopher Hansen: Until there’s a drastic change in Kyle Busch’s overall performance on track, the 2026 season may already be a lost one for the No. 8 team. The first 10 races for Busch this season have been abysmal with only one top-10 finish. Some sort of change was necessary to right the ship with Busch sitting 27th in the standings after Talladega Superspeedway.
Gabriel Goodman: Even with a new crew chief, I don’t see the No. 8 team improving. The change will, however, rejuvenate the team along with Busch and give it some extra confidence and motivation. Realistically, I would be shocked if Busch breaks into the top 16 in points this season, but this change will breathe some much-needed life into the No. 8 team.
Jeffrey Boswell: Only if Street can resuscitate the “Rowdy” in Busch’s personality and career. Busch, in the past, has been at his best when he shows little to no regard for fans’ opinions, the feelings of other drivers, speed limits and the laws in Mexico.
3) Who will be the next first-time winner in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series?
Goodman: Carson Kvapil, specifically at Dover Motor Speedway. He has come close there before, and he seems to have a knack for high-banked concrete tracks. With Watkins Glen International coming up, Brent Crews could challenge for his first win, but considering that Crews will have to beat road course star Connor Zilisch to do it, I’m sticking with Kvapil.
Bellifemini: Crews has already impressed, despite turning 18 only a month ago. He’s contending for wins, and he’s doing it on all types of tracks. He will not only win soon, it’s also very possible for him to make The Chase, even after he missed races while he was underage.
Hansen: Crews. He has exceeded expectations so far this season, with three top fives and five top-10 finishes in seven starts. In his last three starts, Crews’ worst finish is fifth. He nearly won at Bristol Motor Speedway a couple of races ago and was in position at Talladega to steal the win away from eventual race winner Corey Day. Plus, having fast cars provided by Joe Gibbs Racing gives Crews a great opportunity to contend for multiple race wins in his rookie season.
4) Who will finish higher in their appearance with RAM: Clint Bowyer at Dover or Jamie McMurray on the San Diego street course?
Boswell: Both had successful careers as drivers, with 17 NASCAR Cup Series wins between them (10 for Clint Bowyer and seven for Jamie McMurray). For both Bowyer and McMurray to be successful in their respective races would not simply be all talk. Both will have the edge in experience against the competition. I’ll give Bowyer the nod based solely on his familiarity with Dover’s 1-mile banked oval, as McMurray will be flying blind on a new road course at Naval Base Coronado.
Wakefield: No disrespect to McMurray, but the Kaulig Racing trucks all seemed to struggle with handling on the streets of St. Petersburg. Bowyer has a history of solid runs at Dover, and Kaulig will deliver a better truck there. Ideally, Bowyer won’t end up on his side at the finish line as he did in 2011.
Finley: McMurray. He has had some sneaky-good road course runs over his career, and the Truck field as a whole just isn’t that experienced at road course racing.
Michael Bellifemini joined Frontstretch in February 2026 as a contributor. Bellifemini was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated from Seton Hall University. He called Seton Hall men's and women's basketball games for their college radio station, 89.5 FM WSOU, and continues to broadcast in the area. Outside of covering NASCAR, Bellifemini is also an avid baseball, football, basketball, and hockey fan and enjoys watching different sports leagues on a daily basis.
Michael has watched NASCAR for over 25 years and has covered it on-and-off for 14.
In addition to Frontstretch he also writes sporadically for his own websites GrandPrixFocus.com and StockCarFocus.com.
1) Would be surprised to see Hocevar supplant Elliott as most popular driver any time soon. Though Spire is clearly on the ascendancy, Hocevar’s only win came at what is the random winner generator of Talladega. I don’t think he’ll win often enough to get there.
2) Don’t see why a crew chief change will help anything at RCR. Their problems run far deeper than one position.
3) I like Kvapil for a new O’Reilly winner. He’s been impressive while having to hop between cars this year.
4) I’ll take Jamie Mac over Bowyer, though it’s close. If Bowyer was running a short track, I’d take him. I could see McMurray running around 8th on the new road course, just making time, and keeping the truck clean.