So far, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is drifting towards drivers finishing races at a higher rate. The Chase format, which returned for the first time since 2013, places greater weight on consistent finishes. A driver who avoids DNFs and finishes inside the top 10 each week can stay in title contention. A single crash or mechanical issue can now hurt more than before. And wins also don’t guarantee a place in the 16-driver postseason.
So is the return of the consistency-based Chase format making drivers more cautious? Well, according to NASCAR Insights, Cup drivers had only six DNFs in the first five races. That is the lowest total for any five-race stretch in Cup Series history. The series has also seen 54 cautions through the first nine races. That is the fewest at this stage since 2012, when there were 48.
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The sample size is small, but the data is trending towards caution among drivers.
Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway showed both sides of this trend. For most of the event, the field stayed tight and composed. There were long green-flag runs and very few incidents. All 37 drivers finished the race. But the closing laps were a different story. Tyler Reddick took control late and held off Kyle Larson in an overtime finish to win the AdventHealth 400.
“Guys are just a little more protective of their finish …I think there’s more emphasis on finishing well,” William Byron said on the difference in racing this year compared to past seasons last month at Martinsville Speedway (via Speedway Media).
The return to the Chase came with race winners earning 55 points, 15 points more than in the past 13 seasons. Stage points are the same, and the regular-season champion has a 25-point edge over the field.
Tyler Reddick lands fifth NASCAR Cup win at Kansas, beating Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch after late race caution
Tyler Reddick won the AdventHealth 400 in overtime after passing Kyle Larson on the final lap to grab his fifth win in the first nine races of 2026. Larson won Stage 2, and Denny Hamlin controlled Stage 1. Reddick surged from behind on the last lap of overtime and became the fourth driver in series history to win five of the first nine races in a season.
Reddick beat Larson and Hamlin, who led the most laps (131) and looked set to win, after a late caution reset the field. On the restart, Larson surged ahead and briefly took command, leaving Reddick stuck behind after contact with Christopher Bell.
The No. 45 NASCAR Cup Series driver used the outside lane. He drove past Larson and crossed the line just 0.118 seconds ahead to take the checkered flag for 23XI Racing.
Edited by Hitesh Nigam
