We’re in the race for eight points in the 2026 NASCAR season for the Cup Series before this weekend’s action at Kansas Speedway. While there is still more than 2/3 of the season left, we can look at some NASCAR stats to highlight the drivers who have disappointed so far.
Let’s take a look at the list of NASCAR drivers who have not lived up to expectations this season. Team performance could certainly play a role in these drivers’ contention in 2026, but the point is that these drivers are not performing up to the expected standard.
Connor Zylisch
No one with any reasonable expectation thought Connor Zylisch would make The Chase in his rookie season. The learning curve in the Cup Series is too steep to be met. However, we had some hope early in the season when he was at the front of the field at the Daytona 500 and Echopark. Wrecks took him out and following COTA, where two spins resulted in a 14th-place finish, he finished 26th or worse in four of his last five races (18th at Darlington). Zyllic’s future is still bright and he could win a road-course race this year, but it’s not a good look for Trackhouse nor the No. 88 team when Zyllic is 33rd in points and Daniel Suarez would be in The Chase if the regular season ended today.
kyle busch
We agree with Denny Hamlin: Anyone expecting Kyle Busch to turn back the clock and become KFB again will have to either invent a time machine or let go of the past. Richard Childress Racing isn’t doing Busch any favors, but let’s also keep in mind that Busch now has multiple crew chiefs with the No. 8 team. Furthermore, he’s barely performing any better than teammate Austin Dillon, and the driver of the No. 3 car isn’t making as much of a fuss nor is he venting his frustrations on everyone around him. Bush’s winless streak has reached three digits, and there is no reason to think it will end in 2026. As far as numbers go, Bush’s average finishing position (22.0) is worse than Daniel Suarez (16.3), SVG (19.9), AJ Allmendinger (19.4), Zane Smith (20.3) and Eric Jones (20.4).
RELATED: Kyle Busch winless streak, things that happened before and after the win
Ross Chastain
One theme of this list has been the disappointment of NASCAR drivers with trackhouse racing. This probably says a lot more about the team than Zilleisch and Ross Chastain. As for Chastain, she finished the 2025 season with the 12th-highest average finishing position (15.8) thanks to her eighth-most top 20 finishes (26). While we’re only 8 races into the 2026 campaign, Chastain’s average finishing position has dropped to 19.375 and she’s finished in the top 10 just once (Atlanta). We’re not questioning Chastain’s talent, she may perform better on a stronger team. Unfortunately, the trackhouse situation has made this season very disappointing for him and there is no reason to think a turnaround is imminent.
chase brisco
Chase Briscoe is starting to dig himself out of the hole he found himself in just a few weeks ago. A second-place finish at Echopark (43 points) was followed by three races where he finished 36th or worse and only scored 4 points overall. He also finished outside the top-10 at Darlington and Martinsville, largely a result of starting 23rd and 27th in the respective races. This is not what we expected from a guy who won three races in his first season with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2025, even taking the No. 19 team to the championship 4. The statistics aren’t great for Briscoe at present, but he is improving and what he has shown as a driver over the past calendar year suggests he will bounce back.
RELATED: NASCAR predictions for Kansas, including Chase Briscoe
kyle larson
Kyle Larson has not won 32 consecutive Cup Series races. The winless drought seems shocking for a man considered by many to be the best driver in the world. Well, Larson last reached victory lane a year ago in the spring race at Kansas Speedway, which he completely dominated. Although he has since won the 2025 Cup Series championship, it seems strange that he has not even finished second in this season’s race. We’d say, Larson’s history of excellence and the fact that he’s second in laps led (421) this season all suggest that victory is imminent for the No. 5 team. However, this season has been a bit disappointing so far.
RELATED: NASCAR Power Rankings before Kansas
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