The biggest change in the now-former Xfinity Series is the name, as this is now officially known as the Nascar O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, or NORAP. Still, the class system remains—some teams are as strong as pocket aces, while others are 2-7 off-suit.
KEY: #. Driver name Car # & Team
#—predicted finish in the regular season standings
Chevrolet, Ford, Toyota
Special thanks to Jayski for most of the information here, all of which is subject to change
Full-time teams/drivers only
All pictures courtesy Wikipedia
FULL HOUSE OR BETTER: Your best bets for a championship run
1. Jesse Love #2 Richard Childress Racing: Much like on the Cup side of things, RCR has one driver with real talent and a teammate who’s just kind of…there. However, Jesse Love is way, way, WAY more likable than Kyle Busch.
2. Carson Kvapil #1 JR Motorsports (and possibly another team): About the only thing last year’s Rookie of the Year DIDN’T do is win a race, but look for that to change in short order in 2026. After which, prepare for “why don’t they just give Dale Jr. a charter” yammering.
3. Corey Day #17 Hendrick Motorsports: The odds-on favorite for Rookie of the Year, Corey seems to have it all—race craft, a willingness to learn, a great team behind him, AND a last name that’s tailor-made for punny headlines!
4. Brandon Jones #20 Joe Gibbs Racing: While not exactly what you’d call “electric”, Jones has put together a solid if not spectacular career in the second-tier series. And don’t discount the impact of those cheesy Menards commercials.
FLUSH OR STRAIGHT: Not the best of the best, but still a strong run
5. Justin “Thunder” Allgaier #7 JR Motorsports: Allgaier has quietly had a Hall of Fame-level career in this series, and shows no signs of slowing down. Just goes to show what you can do when you stay where you’re strongest (Cup years excluded).
6. Sammy Smith #8 JR Motorsports: I’d say that Sammy needs to show that he can win consistently—or at least contend for a championship—soon, but the Pilot/Flying J sponsorship seems glued to him, so the pressure is likely off.
7. Austin Hill #21 Richard Childress Racing: I never thought I’d say this, but we have a modern version of “Terrible” Tommy Ellis in our midst.
8. Taylor Gray #54 Joe Gibbs Racing: He’s got talent AND a great team behind him. While I wouldn’t pencil him in just yet to take over the 11 Cup car in 2028, maybe use one of those invisible ink things you can revisit under direct light.
THREE OF A KIND: Don’t be surprised when they win, do be surprised if its more than once.
(tie) 9. & 10. Sheldon Creed #00 Haas Factory Team & Sam Mayer #41 Haas Factory Team: I’ve been pretty wrong about both these guys, who I figure would have at least THREATENED for a championship challenge by now. Oh well—at least Gene seems happy seeing his logo on cars that finish around 8th place every week.
11. William Sawalich #18 Joe Gibbs Racing: After a promising rookie year was cut short by concussion-like symptoms, Sawalich is likely aiming for a much more competitive 2026. And if he’s not, hey—there’s always Sam Hunt Racing.
12. Jeb Burton #27 Jordan Anderson Racing: SOMEONE outside the big teams will make the Chase, and why not have it be Jeb Burton? Besides, it’ll be nice to read the twelve press releases JAR’s PR agent puts out in a few hours after they clinch.
TWO PAIR: If you can’t win big, at least put up a respectable showing
13. Harrison Burton #24 Sam Hunt Racing: Admittedly it would be interested to see two cousins fighting for the final Chase slot. Much better than the time I argued with MY cousin about whether or not you had to look both ways to cross a parking lot (I was wrong).
14. Patrick Staropoli #48 Big Machine Racing Team: Hi, is this the mid-field team that hired an eye doctor to race full-time? “No, this is Patrick”.
15. Dean Thompson #26 Sam Hunt Racing: After a steady rookie year, look for Dean to improve in the results column relative to his equipment. By which I mean, finishing 7th instead of 12th (hey, it’s something).
16. Ryan Sieg #39 RSS Racing: Probably the biggest downside of losing the playoff “win and you’re in” format is that a guy like Nascar’s Official Underdog can’t “win” his way into the Chase. Still, this team continues to punch above its weight, and hey—who doesn’t like an underdog?
ONE PAIR: Sometimes surviving without busting out is an accomplishment
17. Parker Retzlaff #99 Viking Motorsports: While its not like I have sponsorship money or anything, I’d like to promote a “hey, that’s a pretty good finish for ____” award for guys like Parker, putting up steady results in underfunded cars.
18. Brennan Poole #44 Alpha Prime Racing: Amazing to think he was going to go to court to fight over a sponsor who turned out to be a massive Ponzi scheme.
19. Lavar Scott #45 Alpha Prime Racing: He’s the closest thing I have to a local racer, but it’ll likely be a long season of learning for the man from Carneys Point (which, incidentally, contains no carnies).
20. Jeremy Clements #51 Jeremy Clements Racing: This self-owned team just keeps chugging along, and hey—doing better than what your equipment should allow you to do is far from a “self-own”.
HIGH CARD: Every race is survival, but if you’re there at the end, that’s a win in itself
21. Blaine Perkins #31 Jordan Anderson Racing: Still hoping they get a whiskey sponsorship, just so we can say there’s “Whiskey (funding) in the J.A.R.”
22. Kyle Sieg #28 RSS Racing: This team has come a long way from relying on Jeff Green’s past champion’s provisional to start-and-park.
23. Anthony Alfredo #96 Viking Motorsports: He calls himself “Fast Pasta”, but if he gets in too many wrecks, we’ll be calling him Al-dent-e.
24. Josh Williams #92 DGM Racing: HEY! HE HAS A MULLET! ISN’T THAT KOOKY!?!
BUSTED: Here’s hoping these guys make it through the season without being replaced by Kris Wright
25. Mason Maggio #91 DGM Racing: “Be cool go to Ri-tas, be cool go to Ri-tas”.
26. Austin Green #87 Peterson Racing: Here’s hoping they run a Joe Nemechek Cellular One throwback scheme at Darlington.
27. Josh Bilicki #07 SS-Greenlight Racing: Not to be confused with Bill Joshicki.
28. Ryan Ellis #02 Young’s Motorsports: Yeah, running a car with a 0# numbering scheme is never a good sign.
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