Who Will Excel into the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase?

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NASCAR

Peter’s Chase Picks: 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Newness is in the air for Saturdays across the upcoming NASCAR season. A new series name, new branding, new flavor, new drivers, and a new championship format are the highlights of a change-filled offseason. 2026 will soon be underway for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Daytona. All drivers in this proving ground are gunning to qualify for The Chase. A 24-race regular season will see the top 12 in points reset for battle over the final nine rounds. Here are my picks for these 12 contenders by race team, in no particular order, and why I think they will each have a 2026 Chase showing.

JR Motorsports

Saturday’s dominant force from a season ago, 2025 was the best year yet in JR Motorsports’ history. 17 total victories from six different drivers were both team records, despite coming up short in the championship finale. The top-flight Chevrolet team will return in full force to chase down 2026’s title with four stout contenders. Veteran Justin Allgaier guns for a second title in three years, and is all but a shoo-in for a few wins. Sammy Smith also returns, hoping to put the iconic No. 8 back in victory lane.

Young talents Carson Kvapil and Rajah Caruth will each spend most of 2026 racing out of JRM as well, and should be top 12 in points. Both of them are chasing maiden O’Reilly Auto Parts Series wins, and inherit teams that are more than capable of multiple checkered flags. In short, one-third of 2026’s Chase field should come from JR Motorsports. The Chevrolet powerhouse features all levels of experience represented by their quartet of drivers.

 

 

 

Joe Gibbs Racing

The standard-bearer of O’Reilly Auto Parts Series excellence, Joe Gibbs Racing hopes for a bounce-back year. Even with winning last season’s Owner’s Title, JGR only saw six wins. This was their least successful year on Saturdays since 2007. Their 2025 roster featured many young, inexperienced drivers who now look to take the next step. Established veteran Brandon Jones will likely lead the Toyota team again in wins and points standings alike. Now a winner after Martinsville last fall, Taylor Gray aspires to progress into title-threat status. Not even 18 years old yet, Brent Crews could have a banner rookie season ahead too. The Toyota prospect is being touted as the next big phenom who could take this series by storm. Crews will only be allowed to race from week four onwards, making the top 12 in points may be of little concern for him should he find victory lane.

 

 

Richard Childress Racing

Defending championship-winning team Richard Childress Racing looks to surpass 2025 with an even bigger 2026. Champion Jesse Love and veteran Austin Hill are now two of the most experienced and successful men on Saturday’s grid. It is not out of the question to see both Chevrolets win multiple races and fight each other for this title. No longer under a do-or-die playoff format, it will be intriguing to see how this team adapts to the new points structure. RCR’s winning pedigree is likely to begin this week. One of these drivers has won the Daytona season opener in the last four years.

 

Haas Factory Team

Now Chevrolet-powered, Haas Factory Team aims for victory lane with both of their drivers. Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer alike are no strangers to O’Reilly Series Chase appearances or success. Mayer’s No. 41 won once last year amid this team’s rebrand. Creed, now owning 15 second-place finishes, wants nothing more than to finally break through the glass ceiling of winning on Saturday. Each of these drivers have multiple Chase appearances between them. It is not unrealistic to pencil them both into the top 12.

 

Hendrick Motorsports

Full-time in O’Reilly for the first time in 20 years, Hendrick Motorsports returns with Corey Day. The dirt racing prodigy takes over the iconic No. 17 Chevrolet, bringing a legacy number back into the Hendrick family. Already with 11 Saturday starts under his belt, Day’s best result last year was fourth at Las Vegas. Surely a Hendrick effort is capable of maintaining a top 12 points berth. Day’s asphalt talent likewise appears to get more focused and honed in with every lap turned. Having the backing of both Jeff Gordon and Kyle Larson, Day could break into the NASCAR winner’s circle in 2026.

Honorable Mentions

• William Sawalich: Returning to Joe Gibbs Racing as a sophomore driver, the past ARCA champion may see another banner year ahead. Sawalich’s inexperience definitely showed early in 2025, with only two top-10s in the first 14 races. Last season’s second half, however, saw massive improvements from driver 18. Sawalich earned seven top-10s from June onwards, including two runner-up results. The Wisconsin teenager did have to sit out the last two races of 2025, though, for lingering concussion symptoms. If Sawalich can find his pace again early in this new year, he could break into the top 12 points threshold.
• Jeremy Clements: The most-tenured man in the 2026 O’Reilly Series, Jeremy Clements will set history in 2026. San Diego in June will see driver 51 set the series all time starts record. This will break Kenny Wallace’s mark of 547 O’Reilly Series races. A three-time past Chase contender, Clements’ family-owned No. 51 Chevrolet is typically in the hunt around the cut line. 2026 may be a repeat of this for the underdog team. A stacked O’Reilly Series lineup will have stout competition against Clements.
• Ryan Sieg: In a similar vein to Clements, Ryan Sieg has a family-run operation that has broken into the Chase before. Now a Haas-aligned Chevrolet team, the 39 crew will have bowtie motors for the first time since 2020. Sieg’s been a playoff participant four times before, but not since 2022. Sieg should absolutely be among the points bubble battle, also still chasing a maiden O’Reilly Series win.
• Harrison Burton: Making last year’s Chase on points with underdog AM Racing, Harrison Burton will try to repeat this feat with Sam Hunt Racing. This new venture marks a Toyota homecoming for the second generation star. Burton’s 2025 was highlighted by two top-fives and 10 top-10s. Burton is no stranger to being a Chase upset and finding victory lane on Saturdays. Driver 24 aims to give SHR their maiden win and their best year yet.
• Jeb Burton: Older cousin of the above-mentioned Harrison, Jeb Burton looks to upset with his own Chase showing again. The two-time O’Reilly Series Talladega winner was within a bumper of a third trophy last year. The Virginian ultimately missed out on the 12-man cut. Talladega has been Burton’s ticket to the Chase twice before under ‘win and you’re in.’ Now with a revised points format, Jordan Anderson Racing’s No. 27 hopes to turn more heads and break into the top 12.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credits to Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images