Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Darlington #1 2026
Darlington Top Ten Starters
- Tyler Reddick
- Bubba Wallace
- Chase Elliott
- Kyle Larson
- Brad Keselowski
- Chris Buescher
- Ryan Blaney
- Kyle Busch
- Denny Hamlin
- Austin Dillon
Darlington Pre-Race Notes
Carson Hocevar started in the rear of the field.
Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 90): 6,45,12,23,5,17,9,2,7,24
Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 185): 6,17,5,19,45,60,24,2,54,7
Darlington Race Notes
Tyler Reddick who started on the pole led the opening 45 laps. On lap 1, Tyler Reddick had already complained about voltage issues.
Lap 10: 45,23,5,6,17,12,9,7,11,8 … 2,35,47,3,60,24,43,71,20,48 … 19,38,54,42,21,1,4,88,77,16 … 51,22,34,41,97,10,66
Carson Hocevar was up to 28th on lap 21 after starting in the back.
Lap 25: 45,23,6,5,17,12,9,7,11,8 … 2,35,47,60,24,43,3,19,20,71 … 38,54,48,42,1,21,4,77,88,16 … 51,97,34,22,41,10,66
On lap 31, Erik Jones was up 8 positions from where he started and was in 15th.
Notable: On lap 34, Joey Logano was really struggling and was lapped.
Lap 37: 45,23,6,5,12,17,9,7,2,11 … 35,8,24,60,19,43,47,20,54,3 … 38,71,1,42,21,4,48,77,88,97 … 16,34,51,22,41,10,66
On lap 38, the opening extended green flag pit cycle started.
Notable: During his green flag pit stop on lap 46, Tyler Reddick’s pit crew had a really slow pit stop that dropped him from 1st to 7th when the pit cycle ended.
Lap 50: 6,12,23,5,17,2,45,24,9,7 … 60,35,8,20,54,19,47,11,3,1 … 43,48,4 (first driver a lap down),38,71,21,34,41,77,88 … 16,42,97,10,22,66,51
Lap 70: 6,12,23,5,45,17,2,9,24,7 .. 60,35,19,11,54,20,43,8,1,3 … 38,47 (first driver a lap down) ,48,71,21,4,77,34,88,16 … 42,97,41,10,22,51,66
Lap 80: 6,12,45,23,5,17,2,9,24,7 … 60,35,11,19,43,54,20,8,1,3 … 38,21,71,47,4,77,34,48,88,16 … 16,42,41,22,10,51,66
Lap 88: 6,12,45,23,5,17,9,2,24,7 … 60,35,11,19,43,54,20,1,8,3 … 71,21,38,77,47,97,4,88,48,16 … 42,41,22,10,34,51,66
Stage #1 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 90): 6,45,12,23,5,17,9,2,7,24
Big: During the Stage #1 caution, Tyler Reddick came to pit road early so his team could start checking out his electrical system. They then did a battery change and put in a bigger battery.
Big: During the Stage #1 caution, Ryan Blaney was going to win the race off pit road but then he ended up pitting in Cindric’s pit box to get his lug nuts tightened. It dropped him back to 20th.
Notable: Bubba Wallace had a slow pit stop during the Stage #1 caution. He finished Stage #1 in 4th, and it dropped him back to 16th.
Lap 100 (Stage #2 restart): 5,17,6,9,24,7,2,60,11,1 … 43,54,19,20,3,23,35,8,45,12 … 71,38,97,21,47,88,77,22,16,4 … 42,10,48,41,34,51,66
Lap 110: 5,6,17,24,9,2,60,7,19,54 … 11,43,23,1,20,3,35,8,45,12 … 71,97,77,38,88,22,47,21,42,4 … 16,41,48,10,34,51,66
Big: On lap 111 while battling for 11th, Denny Hamlin and Erik Jones had contact which sent the #43 spinning. Hamlin and Wallace (right behind the #11) slapped the wall in the process. During the caution, Wallace pitted an extra time for further repair after getting into the wall. Wallace had toe link damage. Jones didn’t hit anything. This dropped Wallace off the lead lap.
Lap 117: 5,6,17,9,60,24,2,7,11,19 … 1,35,54,3,20,8,45,12,43,97 … 77,38,88,47,21,42,16,4,10,41 … 34,48,71,23,22,51,66
On lap 123, Tyler Reddick expressed some brake complaints.
Lap 130: 6,17,60,5,11,9,24,19,1,54 … 2,7,20,45,3,12,97,43,35,8 … 71,77,38,88,42,47,16,21,48,10 … 4,41,34,23,22,51,66
On lap 138, some drivers who took an earlier wave around started to come to pit road. The pit cycle really picked up around lap 146.
Notable: Ross Chastain had a 20-second pit stop during his pit stop under green in Stage #2. He came in 10th and left in the 20’s.
Lap 154: 6,17,11,5,19,60,24,54,7,2 … 71,20,45,3,77,97,43,12,9,8 … 35,38,1,16,42,41,10,21,88,47 … 34,48,4,23,22,51,66
Lap 170: 6,17,5,11,19,60,24,54,45,7 … 2,20,9,12,71,77,43,97,3,35 … 8,1,88,38,42,21,16,48,34,47 … 41,10,4,22,23,51,66
Late in Stage #2 on lap 179, Denny Hamlin was falling back quite a few positions. He said something didn’t feel right with his car. He was in 4th prior to his issue and he finished Stage #2 just outside the top ten.
Lap 184: 6,17,5,19,45,60,24,54,2,7 … 11,20,12,9,77,97,43,35,71,1 … 88,8,3,21,38 (first driver off the lead lap),42,48,34,16,4 … 47,41,10,22,23,51,66
Stage #2 Top Ten Finishers (Lap 185): 6,17,5,19,45,60,24,2,54,7
Notable: During the Stage #2 caution, Denny Hamlin who finished in 11th pitted early to figure out what was his issue and that resulted in a pit penalty. This dropped him back to 24th to begin the last Stage.
