2. Carson Hocevar: It seems like every year is the year that Spire is predicted to make its big ascent among the team hierarchy, but it doesn’t happen. With Hocevar now solidified in their lineup into the 2030s, Spire actually has a good chance to start that long-awaited trajectory in 2026. Hocevar is the type of driver who can grow a serious legion of fans if he continues to perform at a high level. The kid is fearless, which sometimes works against him, but if he can avoid being reckless, you’re looking at a star of the future in Hocevar and a team on the rise at Spire. He may ruffle some feathers at times, but Hocevar is a pure racer who is all about winning, and that’s good for the sport. Don’t be surprised if he reaches Victory Lane in 2026.

3. Ryan Preece: If you are someone who appreciates the drivers who have come up the hard way and earned every ride they’ve ever gotten through talent and hard work (a la Mark Martin and other old-school drivers, before the era of pay to race), you love Ryan Preece and appreciate what he’s been able to accomplish. 

Seeing Preece win the Clash at Bowman Gray after years of struggling to succeed at the Cup level was a true delight, and you can tell Preece (and the whole RFK team) are coming in 2026 with a chip on their shoulder, ready to prove they are one of the top teams in the sport. This is a driver who has bet on himself many times over the years, and the talent and dedication shines through every time. He’s easy to root for due to this blue-collar ethic. I see Preece leading the charge at RFK, right alongside his teammate Chris Buescher, throughout 2026.

4. Joey Logano: Cue the jokes about Logano’s three titles coming in three even years (2018, 2022, 2024), but I truly believe that even with the new format, 2026 will be a year for Logano to shine. Now in his mid-30s, Logano has been racing at the sport’s top level for nearly half his life, and he has a supreme racing IQ and a talented and longtime crew chief in Paul Wolfe. These will all help him navigate the 2026 season with the finesse needed to win a title in the Chase 2.0 era. He’ll no longer need to rely on gimmicks like winning to advance, he just has to be strong every week, and that’s something a veteran like Logano knows how to do, as long as Team Penske continues to provide him with a fast hot rod.

5. Corey Heim: Even without a full-time ride for 2026, Heim should shine in his 12 races for 23XI Racing (or potentially more if he can secure additional seat time). Heim will have a strong warmup in 2026, ahead of what absolutely has to be a full season ride in 2027 (either as a fourth 23XI car or on loan to another Toyota team). I predict Heim will win a race for 23XI before full-time driver Riley Herbst wins for 23XI.

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