With my Uncle Max retiring from making race picks, I decided to start making my OWN picks again in 2026. But who would I compete against? An expert? A friend? Past performance?
No—how about Artificial Intelligence.
Every week this year I’ll ask an AI platform who it thinks is going to win the Cup race. Then, 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.
ChatGPT sez: “I can’t definitively predict who will win the 2026 Daytona 500 — the race itself hasn’t happened yet (it’s scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2026) and the outcome is uncertain until the checkered flag falls.
However, based on current odds, expert forecasts, and early betting markets, here’s a snapshot of the top contenders and likely favorites heading into the race:
Ryan Blaney—One of the top early favorites in betting markets.”
Meanwhile, here’s MY human picks:
Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250 Friday 7:30pm ET on FS1: TONY STEWART—no, it’s not fixed. But it does help having four teammates in the draft.
O’Reilly (formerly Xfinity) Series United Rentals 300 Saturday 5pm ET on CW: BRANDON JONES—perfect combo of experience, teammates, and equipment…at Menards.
Cup Series Daytona 500 Sunday 2:30pm on Fox FAVORITE: AUSTIN CINDRIC—the Austin who races for a family team that we like. NEXT FAVORITE: AUSTIN DILLON—the Austin who races for a family team that we don’t like. DARK HORSE: JUSTIN ALLGAIER—if only to bring back the glory days of the diecast market.
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