A new NASCAR season is here, and with it comes a fresh start for my fantasy lineup. If you followed along last year, you know I rode with Tyler Reddick as my main driver.

He delivered some great moments, but when I dug into the numbers, stage points, Top 10 consistency, and week-to-week reliability it was clear I wanted a different foundation heading into 2026.

So this season, I’m making the switch.

Christopher Bell will be my new main driver.

Now with that decision out of the bag, I gotta say that Daytona is always its own animal. No matter how much data we study or how consistent a driver is over the course of a season, superspeedway racing has a way of leveling the playing field. Drafting partners, manufacturer alliances, and plain old survival often matter more than raw speed.

That’s why I’m taking full advantage of our pool’s Daytona exception rule.

Bell will be my  season anchor for 2026, a decision based on stage points, Top 10 consistency, and long-term reliability, however, for the Daytona 500, I’m building the strongest possible superspeedway lineup regardless of standings or anchor status.

This is the one week where strategy shifts from season-long math to short-term survival and drafting strength.

So let’s get into my picks for the 2026 Daytona 500.