Join me as I test my wits against various AI programs in picking the 2026 Cup races. Once they’ve made their picks, I’ll make my normal Favorite, Next Favorite, and Dark Horse picks (in addition to my regular O’Reilly & Truck Series picks). At the end of the year we’ll see who knows more—me, or a soulless machine gobbling up water and electricity.
Microsoft Grok AI (5 wins) sez: Ryan Blaney is a strong pick to win (or at least contend strongly), though Daytona superspeedway races are notoriously chaotic and hard to predict with high confidence.
Truck Series (2 wins) off
O’Reilly Series (4 wins) Winn-Dixie 250 Friday 7:30am ET on CW: AUSTIN HILL—if only he could win…well, anywhere else.
Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 Saturday 7:30pm ET on NBC FAVORITE (1 win): CARSON HOCEVAR—they’re already starting with the “he’s doing too much outside of racing” stuff. NEXT FAVORITE (2 wins): JOEY LOGANO—Team Penske getting hot at the right time. DARK HORSE (1 win): RYAN PREECE—on all four wheels this time.
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