Motorsports

The Nicole Scherzinger theory behind Lewis Hamilton's F1 performances

Published

9 months ago

March 26, 2025

The Nicole Scherzinger theory behind Lewis Hamilton's F1 performances

“When he first came into this sport, we used to joke amongst the team that Lewis’s performance was so intrinsically linked to the state of their relationship,” Priestley said on his Pitlane Life Lessons podcast.“As in, on a good day, he performed well. When their relationship was in the doldrums, and they were so off and on, it was a bit like an emotional roller coaster – when he was in these low points in the relationship, you could clearly track the performance in the car to the way their relationship status seemed to be.

Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with Nicole Scherzinger could be ‘clearly tracked’

“Lewis told me he’s been working constantly on trying to correct that self-story. He’s been working on trying to understand what he can do differently about what he tells himself.
“He said he came to an understanding and an appreciation that clearly that wasn’t good for him, and the more that he kept telling himself that story, that it was his fault, that he wasn’t good enough, that’s Lewis telling himself a story in his own mind that then backs up the beliefs that he isn’t good enough,” he said.
“We joked that there seemed to be more lap time in keeping those two together than there ever could be with anything we could do with the car!
“To get the driver, who’s a key part of that debrief, in a state where he’s just throwing petulance [with] answers that are unhelpful to you because he’s so down, that’s not in any way productive and doesn’t help us get closer to a solution.
“But he’d often go away on a Saturday night, he’d disappear, and I wouldn’t see him on a Saturday evening. He would sometimes even cancel commitments to sponsors and partners. He would disappear and shut himself in a room, and he probably pondered over it for quite some time, digging himself into an even bigger and deeper hole, is how he’s described it to me in years gone by.
“It’s not a strength necessarily or a weakness, it’s just part of who we are and our individualism. Lewis has some unbelievable strengths that many of us can only dream of being able to achieve.
“Lewis is a guy who’s quite emotional. He wears his heart on his sleeve so, without the ability to really control those emotions to the level that some other people might be able to do or might find easier to do, we were faced with an unbelievably talented racing driver whose performance was, in some way, affected by how his emotional state was, which varied greatly at different times over a race weekend or a season.”
“The more we tell ourselves those stories, the more that story embeds itself in our mind. What happens when that situation occurs is that, over time, we’ll have another disappointing day, and the first thing our mind goes to is this embedded self story that we’re not good enough, that the reason it hasn’t gone well on a Saturday in qualifying or in our own lives, and whatever might have not worked out the way we expected, we jump to this embedded self-story that we’ve been telling ourselves sometimes for years, in many people’s cases, that we’re simply not good enough, or that we’re not as good as the people around us.
“It may be that you’ve had a couple of bad days. It may be that you’re still performing at a very high level, but someone else has come along who’s performing at a higher level. That’s real, and that’s okay, by the way, we can’t control what others do around us, only what we control about what we do ourselves.
“He’d come out of the car on a Saturday after qualifying when it’s been disappointing, and he would go away that evening, and he’d be very quiet. He’d be very down. He wouldn’t offer very much in terms of the debrief.
“But there was a serious point to that, in that it was about understanding and appreciating that Lewis’s emotional state clearly affected his performance. This is not just linked to Lewis Hamilton; of course, we all face these challenges in life.
But, as has been evidenced on countless occasions over the years, Hamilton had, and has, an uncanny ability to brush off negativity.
“Actually, you could easily look at his comments in a post-session debrief after a really difficult Saturday, and he could come across as being petulant. It was often one-word answers. It was the same sort of thing you see in an interview sometimes that you see post-race in the modern era – he can sometimes give flippant or one-word answers that are not in any way really helpful to the process.
The tumultuous nature of the relationship, which was quite often in the public eye due to the celebrity status of both Hamilton and Scherzinger, led his McLaren mechanics to be able to hazard guesses at how well things were going off-track for Hamilton, with Marc Priestley revealing how the garage crew would joke about Scherzinger being the biggest contributor to laptime than any car upgrade.
“Now he finds that quite a difficult thing to do because of that disposition that he has around finding it hard to regulate his own emotions. His emotional state can be so overwhelmingly powerful for him that if something negative happens, it’s very difficult to remember this idea of trying to be confident, to be positive, to tell yourself a good self story.
One of Lewis Hamilton’s former McLaren mechanics has joked how the state of his relationship with Nicole Scherzinger could be tracked by his in-car performances.
“He mulled it over in his mind and continued to tell himself that same story – that he wasn’t doing a good enough job. He would beat himself up emotionally. He would completely reiterate the negative thought processes that he’d been having that afternoon right through into the night until he went to sleep.”
“It’s something that’s intentional that stops the flow of any other thoughts getting in. If you’re intentional about what the thought is, the one thought you’re going to think about and focus everything on it, there is no space for anything else to come in, and that’s the way you create a period of space in your mind. You calm things down. You create this blank space where, at the end of that meditation, where you’re feeling calm, you’re feeling relaxed, but importantly, your mind is free of all of the mess that was in it before.
Upon arriving in Formula 1 in 2007, Hamilton began a long-term relationship with Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, which proved to be quite on and off before the couple split for good in 2015.
“‘Well, now look, I’m verging on 40. I’m creeping into the latter stages of my career. Maybe that’s the reason that I’m now being beaten by this young gun’. Well, the reality is it may be that, but there’s a very high chance it’s not that.
👉 Lewis Hamilton net worth: Where does he rank amongst the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes?
“In Formula 1, it’s really easy to look at other great people in this sport, other teams that might be winning, or drivers that might be winning and measure ourselves against them. If you’re going up against a Max Verstappen, for example, who’s much younger than a Lewis Hamilton that’s now in his 40s, if you’re measuring yourself up against that guy, one of the stories you’re likely to start allowing to creep in is that age must be the factor, because ‘I used to be able to beat him. I used to be able to beat everybody’.

More on Lewis Hamilton in Formula 1

“He creates that freedom and space by eradicating everything and thinking about just one single thing, whether it’s your breath or a kind of mantra that you repeat to yourself, whatever it might be.
“But one thing he was quite good at was waking up the next day with a fresh perspective. He always said to me that this was a new day, a new set of opportunities,” Priestley said.

What methods does Lewis Hamilton use to help control his emotions?

“I’m talking about the thought processes, the constant conversations we all have with ourselves. The person we speak to most in this world, for all of us, is ourselves, and we do that all the time, don’t we? We ask ourselves questions, we tell ourselves things. We question our ability at times, sometimes it might be telling us positive things, and that’s what Lewis said he’d been trying to work on doing, constantly telling himself positive things over and above negative things, even when negative things had been happening.
“How often do we see a way better Sunday than we see him have on a Saturday? That was the same quite often, even way back when he first came into the sport working with us at McLaren.”
“To try and stop that, Lewis has found a way of creating an area of space in his mind, a period of time where he allows nothing to go on in his mind other than this very intentional thought through his meditation.
“So, trying to create a positive emotional state is going to help create a more positive outcome in your performance. So that’s Lewis Hamilton’s idea around meditation, around clearing the mind and resetting the mind. He was able to do that very, very successfully.”
“He may not have expectations that he might have had going into Saturday. His expectations might have had to be reset but, in doing so, he takes away some pressure. He relieves himself of that burden that was overwhelming him on a Saturday. And we go into Sunday with a Lewis that’s there, ready to take the opportunities, to push like crazy.
“The more he hears that story internally, the more substantiated it becomes, and the more ingrained in his own belief system that message becomes. It’s the same for all of us – if we continually tell ourselves that we have messed something up, that it was our fault, that maybe we start to question our own ability, our own performance levels, whatever it is, whether we’re getting old and we can’t do things the way we used to, which, I have no doubt, has crept into Lewis’s mind at times.
“Some of us find it slightly easier to manage and regulate emotions and others. Others of us don’t.
“He says when he wakes up early, he just does the meditation, he clears his mind, and then he goes straight out for a run. Off the back of that, he goes into an exercise regime, which is obviously part of his physical preparation, but because he’s got clear mind and a clear space in his head when he goes for a run, he’s able to think about what he wants to achieve that day, whether it’s in a car or in any other area of his life. This is a really powerful practice, which does take some skill and some practice.
“This was a case of coming in to try and do it better. If you ever see a TV interview on a Sunday morning after a Saturday afternoon where he struggled in qualifying, even today, that’s generally what you get. You get a new Lewis Hamilton where he’s no longer down. He’s no longer struggling with emotions. He’s now got this fresh perspective where he sees nothing but opportunity in front of him.
“But, emotion regulation is probably not one of the things that he finds easiest to do.
“Now, you get to start from a fresh like a blank sheet of paper where you can insert whatever you want to happen next.
Hamilton’s emotional control may not have been exemplary at this point in time, with Priestley revealing how frank conversations he’s had with Hamilton over the years since has seen the now-seven-time F1 World Champion explain how he dealt with tough days at the track.
“As engineers, our only goal was to try and improve things so that it could be better the next day or the next time out.
Read Next: Follow PlanetF1.com’s WhatsApp and Facebook channels for all the F1 breaking news!
👉 Lewis Hamilton car collection: Take a closer look at his incredible private garage
“Lewis Hamilton, when he was struggling, when he’s having those tough days, as I said, he might have had a difficult Saturday,” Priestley said.
“Go back to that interview in 2024 where he came out of the car on a Saturday, and he quoted to say, ‘I’m just not fast anymore’.
A primary method Hamilton uses, Priestley explained, is in meditation. An interview the former McLaren mechanic-turned-broadcaster and presenter carried out with Hamilton in 2023 led to a conversation in which Priestley revealed how Hamilton employs the practice to help address his mental state.

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Bubba The Love Sponge and Cycledrag Discuss The State of Motorsports – Drag Bike News

Published

7 minutes ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It’s episode No. 3 of the Racing Jack Show and we sit down with media mogul “Bubba The Love Sponge” to Talk about what’s really hurting the racing business and what the sport must do to bring fans back to NHRA, NASCAR, Dirt Races and a whole lot more. After an in-depth discussion on the state of motorsports and racing the leader of the Bubba Army shocks us when he calls his good buddy and motorsports legend Tony Stewart.

We ask Bubba how the next generation of race fan has changed, how difficult it is to run a track and an organization and how racing organizations can follow the successful formula of WWE and UFC. We also discuss the controversial decision by the NHRA to cancel its final race of the season and discuss some of the interworking of NHRA drag racing and how it functions as a not for profit organization. Bubba also talks about what it’s like to climb the ladder in NASCAR in today’s climate compared to how it once was in the days of greats like Dale Earnhardt Sr. Finally we discuss Bubba’s reporting on the untimely death of Hulk Hogan and how the wrestling legend’s passing changes the way Cycledrag operates.

There are more videos on the Cycledrag Youtube channel (please subscribe here) and like the Cycledrag Facebook page (Please like here) and more will be coming soon. Also subscribe to our NEW Youtube channel “Racing Jack” and Check back daily.

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Motorsports

Sport Bike Crashes at Biggest Grudge Event of the Year – Drag Bike News

Published

23 minutes ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

We head to the biggest motorcycle drag racing grudge race of the year where we unfortunately see one fast racer on a Suzuki GSXR blow an en engine and suffer a big top end crash at Orlando Speedworld Dragway. It’s motorcycle drag racing gone wrong as this veteran driver suffers an incident but the good news is he was alert and awake and the Orlando safety team was right on top of it. We also see some unbelievable motorcycle drag racing as nitrous and turbo Suzuki Hayabusa and GSXR 1000 and Kawasaki ZX-14 stretched bikes go for big money win at the biggest Grudge race of the year, Kings of Grudge Grinchmas from Orlando, FL

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Motorsports

We rank the top-10 NASCAR Cup drivers of 2025

Published

3 hours ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season was a 36-race saga of raw speed, strategy, and sheer misfortune, ending with Kyle Larson claiming his second championship at Phoenix Raceway—despite Denny Hamlin delivering what many consider the most statistically dominant campaign of the modern era. Hamlin’s six wins led the series, but a heartbreaking late caution in the finale snatched victory away, allowing Larson to capitalize. Points reset in the playoffs obscure the full picture of performance across ovals, road courses, and superspeedways.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

This ranking prioritizes overall impact: wins, poles, consistency, laps led, playoff pushes, and overperformance—elevating those who truly excelled beyond the trophy. In a year of road-course brilliance, veteran grit, and cruel twists, here are the top 10 drivers who defined 2025.

1. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) – The True Season Dominator

#11: Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, Progressive Toyota Camry. Photo courtesy of Toyota

Rank in Point Standings: 2nd
No. of Wins: 6
No. of Poles: 5
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Led JGR
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Strong

Hamlin’s six victories were the most in the series, backed by aggressive restarts, bold strategy, and unmatched hunger at age 44. He dominated the finale at Phoenix, leading a record 208 laps from pole—only for a late caution (unrelated to him) to erase his lead and hand the title to Larson. Heartbreakingly close after superior raw stats all year, Hamlin proved he’s among NASCAR’s all-time greats, championship or not.

2. Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) – The Opportunistic Champion

Kyle Larson poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Rank in Point Standings: 1st
No. of Wins: 3
No. of Poles: 1
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Tied high at Hendrick with Byron
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive

Larson’s versatility and calm execution sealed his second title, leading over 1,100 laps with 15 top-fives and minimal errors. A smart two-tire call in Phoenix overtime turned Hamlin’s dominance into victory. Deserving champion, but Hamlin’s superior wins and poles make this a debated crown.

3. Shane van Gisbergen (Trackhouse Racing) – The Road-Course Phenom

Shane Van Gisbergen poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Rank in Point Standings: 12th
No. of Wins: 5
No. of Poles: 3
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Dominated road courses
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Led on twisties

In his full-season debut, SVG monopolized road courses with five wins (often by massive margins) and Rookie of the Year honors. Playoff qualifier with oval improvements, his raw talent overperformed the No. 88 Chevy—turning heads and redefining road-ring mastery.

4. Chase Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing) – The Qualifying Ace and Adapter

Chase Briscoe, driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota poses for photos after winning the the Busch Light Pole Award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 12, 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Rank in Point Standings: 3rd
No. of Wins: 3
No. of Poles: 7
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Competitive
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Led JGR

Switching to JGR after replacing Truex Jr., Briscoe exploded: series-high seven poles, three wins, and a Championship 4 berth. Massive speed gains and aggression made him a breakout, dragging his team deep into the playoffs.

5. William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) – The Consistent Frontrunner

William Byron, driver of the #24 Raptor Chevrolet, spends time on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway on August 03, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Rank in Point Standings: 4th
No. of Wins: 3
No. of Poles: 3
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Tied with Larson
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Strong

Regular-season points leader Byron claimed three wins (including back-to-back Daytona 500s) and led thousands of laps. Dominant stretches and clutch Martinsville playoff advance highlighted his evolution into a perennial threat.

6. Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) – The Clutch Closer

Ryan Blaney poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Rank in Point Standings: 6th
No. of Wins: 4
No. of Poles: 2
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Most at Penske
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive

Blaney’s four wins included a late surge, capping with Phoenix victory. Leading 852 laps despite inconsistencies, his momentum and improvements made him Penske’s leader.

7. Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) – The Reliable Winner

Christopher Bell poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 22, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Rank in Point Standings: 5th
No. of Wins: 4
No. of Poles: 1
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Tied high at JGR
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Solid

Bell’s four wins and series-high 22 top-10s showed reliability across tracks. Steady playoff runs positioned him as a future champion in JGR’s lineup.

8. Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) – The Resurgent Favorite

Rank in Point Standings: 8th
No. of Wins: 2
No. of Poles: 0
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Solid
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive

Elliott returned strong with two wins, consistent top-10s, and playoff pushes. Balanced oval/road performance rebuilt his momentum.

9. Joey Logano (Team Penske) – The Experienced Fighter

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Autotrader Ford, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Echo Park Speedway on June 27, 2025 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Rank in Point Standings: 7th
No. of Wins: 1
No. of Poles: 2
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Led at times
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Strong

An “off” year for the defending champ still yielded a win and poles through savvy racing, keeping Penske competitive amid challenges.

10. Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) – The Quiet Maximizer

Tyler Reddick poses for a photo during NASCAR Production Days at the Charlotte Convention Center on January 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Rank in Point Standings: 9th
No. of Wins: 0
No. of Poles: 2
No. of Wins vs. Teammate: Overperformed
No. of Poles vs. Teammate: Competitive

Winless but consistent with runner-ups and top-10s, Reddick extracted maximum from 23XI amid hurdles—excellent racecraft in a rebuilding effort.

2025 blended triumph, heartbreak, and emerging stars. While Larson holds the trophy, Hamlin’s dominance and SVG’s flair captured imaginations. NASCAR’s depth shines—on to 2026!

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Motorsports

4 NASCAR Cup cars unlikely returning for the 2026 Daytona 500

Published

4 hours ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The entry list for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, which is now just over a month and a half away, is slowly but surely coming together.

In addition to the 36 chartered cars that are locked into the 68th running of the 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona Beach, Florida oval, three non-chartered (open) cars have also been confirmed.

Justin Allgaier is set to drive the No. 40 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, B.J. McLeod is set to drive the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports, and Jimmie Johnson is set to drive the No. 84 Toyota for Legacy Motor Club.

There are four spots open in the 40-car field, though that number could be increased to five if somebody (likely Johnson) is granted a world-class driver provisional and does not manage to successfully qualify either on speed or his Duel result.

Regardless, there will likely be multiple drivers sent home from the Duel races disappointed, as there are still expected to be five more cars added to the entry list between now and February, setting up a battle between eight drivers for either four or five spots. However, four cars once considered potential entries will likely not be a part of that battle.

Here’s a look at four possible Daytona 500 entries that are unlikely to return in 2026.

No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

For the first time since 2023, Trackhouse Racing brought back their PROJECT91 program for the 2025 Daytona 500, fielding the No. 91 Chevrolet for Helio Castroneves. Castroneves locked into the race via the world-class driver provisional, making the Daytona 500 the first since 1993 to feature exactly 41 cars.

PROJECT91 did not return for the rest of the 2025 season, and it is unlikely to be back for the season opener next year, as the Justin Marks-owned team aim to place full focus on their three-car full-time lineup.

No. 01/No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford

Rick Ware Racing expanded to two cars for four races in 2025, each race for Corey LaJoie as he drove the No. 01 Ford. That schedule included the Daytona 500 and two other superspeedway races at Atlanta Motor Speedway, plus the spring race at Bristol Motor Speedway. It did not include any races during the second half of the season.

A second entry has not been completely ruled out by the team for 2026, but it is unlikely to make an appearance at Daytona, ever after LaJoie was competitive and led laps in 2025.

No. 50 Team AmeriVet Chevrolet

Team AmeriVet (formerly The Money Team Racing) have quietly competed in the NASCAR Cup Series for four consecutive years, though they have not competed in the Daytona 500 since over a year before their 2024 rebrand.

This underdog team still managed to qualify for the race in both of their previous attempts back in 2022 and 2023, but they are unlikely to make a third attempt this coming February.

No. 56 Tricon Garage Toyota

Tricon Garage did what JR Motorsports did in 2025 by moving up to the Cup Series for the first time and making their debut in the Daytona 500. They did so with Martin Truex Jr. behind the wheel of the No. 56 Toyota. but Truex is not expected back in 2026.

Additionally, Corey Heim, who won the Truck Series championship for the team in 2025, is expected to run a fourth 23XI Racing entry, so a Tricon Garage return for the “Great American Race” has been all but ruled out.

Expected Daytona 500 entry list additions: No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet, No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota

Single-car qualifying for the 68th annual Daytona 500 is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, followed by the two Duel qualifying races on Thursday, February 12. Fox’s live coverage of the race itself is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 15.

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Motorsports

Aaron Rodgers gives his Steelers linemen $20K vehicles for Christmas

Published

6 hours ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Aaron Rodgers delivered the “gift of horsepower” to this offensive lineman.

The Steelers quarterback purchased each of his protectors a Can-Am Maverick side-by-side vehicle for Christmas.

Rodgers’ generosity was documented Thursday on TikTok and Instagram by Mosite Motorsports, which showed the future Hall of Famer riding next to his linemen in the off-road vehicles outside the Steelers’ practice facility.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) running off the field after a game. — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) runs off the field after the game against the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“This Christmas, Aaron Rodgers gave his offensive line the gift of horsepower. Safe to say, it delivered. Merry Christmas from Mosites Motorsports,” the dealership wrote in its TikTok video.

The 2026 Maverick 3X goes for $19,999 on the Cam-Am website, putting Rodgers’ tab around $100,000 for his five linemen.

“Unleash unbeatable off-road dominance with this revolutionary machine, now the most affordable in its category,” Cam-Am describes the Maverick on its website. “Engineered with a lightweight chassis, experience lightning-fast agility and breathtaking speed that constantly shatters expectations.”

It was a different approach than Russell Wilson took last year in the Steel City.

During his one season with he team, he gifted his linemen a $10,000 Airbnb gift card, a Black and Gold Louis Vuitton duffle bag, a bottle of his wife Ciara’s Ten To One Rum and custom shoes from his own Good Man Brand.

Rodgers, 42, has plenty to be happy with from his group during his first season in Pittsburgh, as he’s been sacked a total of 25 times this season, with only five coming in the past five weeks as Pittsburgh makes a push for the playoffs and the AFC North title.

The former Jets signal-caller has had a strong season with the Steelers, throwing for 2,860 yards, 23 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 98.2 quarterback rating.

Pittsburgh (9-6) can clinch the division title with a win over the Browns or a Ravens’ loss to Rodgers’ former team, the Packers.

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Motorsports

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Field by the Numbers

Published

6 hours ago

December 27, 2025

Your Sports Nation

What’s Happening?

It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and winning to make it to the NASCAR Cup Series, and the 36 full-time drivers slated to take on the series championship in 2026 are no different. Here are all the notable accolades, race wins, and championships boasted by the 2026 Cup Series lineup.

What’s Happening?

The 2026 NASCAR Season is fast approaching, and teams are setting their lineups for the coming season. This article…

Crown Jewel Wins

The four Crown Jewel races tell the NASCAR Cup Series season in four parts. Starting with the season-opening Daytona 500, moving to the start of the summer with the Coca-Cola 600, finishing the summer with the Brickyard 400, and starting the run to the championship with the Southern 500.

Former Daytona 500 Champions

No. 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske
No. 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing
No. 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske
No. 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports
No. 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Hyak Motorsports
No. 71 | Michael McDowell | Spire Motorsports

Former Coca-Cola 600 Champions

No. 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing
No. 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing
No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
No. 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske
No. 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing

Former Brickyard 400 Champions

No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
No. 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing

Former Southern 500 Champions

No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
No. 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club

Lower Division Champions

NASCAR’s lower divisions include racing on short tracks in select areas of the country, all the way up to racing on the high banks of Daytona in the ARCA Menards Series. In an ever-changing world, these drivers prove that winning at even NASCAR’s lowest levels can turn into a successful career at the top.

ARCA Menards Series

No. 10 | Ty Dillon | Kaulig Racing
No. 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing
No. 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing

ARCA Menards Series East

No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
No. 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske
No. 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports

ARCA Menards Series West

No. 34 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

No. 60 | Ryan Preece | RFK Racing

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champions

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is NASCAR’s lowest National Series. Though the competition may not be as deep as the NASCAR Cup Series garage, the Truck Series makes young drivers prove their worth against underdogs, up-and-comers, and salty veterans.

Former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champions

No. 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing
No. 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing
No. 38 | Zane Smith | Front Row Motorsports
No. 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club

O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Champions

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series is often viewed as the final step before achieving NASCAR Cup Series glory. Though drivers can prove their worth just by winning in the series, a championship shows that you are ready for whatever the sport has to throw at you at the very top.

Former NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Champions

No. 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske
No. 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing
No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
No. 7 | Daniel Suarez | Spire Motorsports
No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
No. 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing
No. 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports
No. 41 | Cole Custer | Haas Factory Team
No. 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing
No. 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Hyak Motorsports
No. 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing

NASCAR Cup Series Champions

The NASCAR Cup Series is the big dance, a 36-race grind in a field of drivers battling it out for the right to be champion. The drivers on this list are future Hall of Famers, living legends, and the names that currently serve as the backbone of the Cup Series garage.

Former NASCAR Cup Series Champions

No. 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports
No. 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing
No. 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing
No. 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports
No. 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske
No. 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske

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