Fantasy NASCAR Asterisk Mark Report – 2026 Daytona 500

Ryan Blaney – Ryan Blaney had a great car in this year’s Daytona 500 that likely ranked among the best, but he finished an asterisk mark 27th. In the race, Blaney finished 3rd in Stage #1, finished 2nd in Stage #2, led 2 laps, was stalled back in mid-pack for much of the last Stage when Toyota’s jammed up the field 3-wide, was in 16th on lap 199 but then on the last lap, I’m assuming he crashed, since he DNF’ed and didn’t complete it

Denny Hamlin – Denny Hamlin has had a lot of tough afternoons at Daytona in the Next Gen and this year’s Daytona 500 was no different. In February, Hamlin looked good but finished 31st. In the race, Hamlin finished just outside the top ten in Stage #1, was slightly damaged in the lap 124 “Big One” while running in the top 5, was running in 12th on lap 192 but then that lap, Hamlin had contact with Bell which damaged the #11 and brought out the final caution, leading to his 31st. Additionally, Hamlin was tied for the best average running position (11.7) and ranked 12th for Driver Rating.

Chase Briscoe – In this year’s Daytona 500, Chase Briscoe looked pretty good and led 23 laps (2nd most) but then on lap 85, he was collected in a multi-car wreck which doomed him to his 36th. Shortly before his demise, Briscoe was running in the teens. If his race would’ve been incident free, I have no doubt he was a top ten contender.

Christopher Bell – Christopher Bell looked good in this year’s Daytona 500, but he finished an asterisk mark 35th. In the race, Bell had the 6th best average running position, led 9 laps, ran a lot of the last Stage near the front (was one of the Toyota’s log jamming the field) but then late in the race on lap 192, he slammed into the wall hard after contact which brought out the last caution, leading to his 35th. At the time of his late demise, he was running in the teens.