Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Charlotte 2026
Charlotte Top Ten Starters
- Tyler Reddick
- Ty Gibbs
- Shane van Gisbbergen
- Michael McDowell
- Chase Briscoe
- Ryan Blaney
- Chris Buescher
- Austin Cindric
- Austin Dillon
- AJ Allmendinger
Full Charlotte Starting Lineup
Charlotte Pre-Race Notes
Alex Bowman started in the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments.
Stage #1 Top Ten (Lap 100): 5,19,45,11,43,12,54,60,47,97
Stage #2 Top Ten (Lap 200): 11,54,19,45,5,20,12,17,97,47
Stage #3 Top Ten (Lap 300): 20,11,54,19,5,45,97,6,12,47
Charlotte Race Notes
Tyler Reddick who started on the pole led the opening 39 laps. Early on, Reddick led 55 of the first 56 laps.
Lap 10: 45,54,12,71,97,19,17,2,3,60 … 16,5,7,9,11,23,33,43,41,77 … 20,1,42,6,24,38,88,34,10,22 … 47,67,4,21,35,48,51,78,66
Lap 20: 45,54,12,71,19,97,17,2,60,3 … 16,7,11,5,9,23,33,43,20,38 … 24,1,42,77,6,34,88,47,67,41 … 22,48,10,21,4,35,51,66,78
Lap 30: 45,54,19,12,97,60,17,2,71,3 … 11,5,16,7,23,9,20,38,43,24 … 33,42,1,6,34,47,88,67,22,48 … 21,4,77,10,35,41,51,66,78
Big: On lap 35, Josh Berry who was in 31st spun which brought out the first caution. He got loose coming off a turn and didn’t hit anything. Berry remained on the lead lap.
Notable: Ryan Blaney had a slow pit stop during the Berry caution. He came in 6th and left in 20th.
During the first caution, SVG who was in 5th was said to be really happy with his car.
Notable: Carson Hocevar had an extended pit stop during the first caution for some major adjustments. He was back in the 3o’s at the time anyways, so it didn’t hurt him too much.
Lap 41: 19,45,54,11,60,97,17,5,71,2 … 23,7,3,20,38,43,16,24,9,12 … 42,6,33,47,1,10,88,34,22,48 … 21,77,4,41,67,35,51,66,78
Notable: On lap 48, Daniel Suarez made an unexpected pit stop. He was running in 11th at the time. He had a loose wheel. This dropped him a lap down.
Lap 52: 45,19,54,11,60,17,23,5,97,3 … 71,2,12,20,38,16,24,43,1,42 … 9,88,6,47,77,22,34,48,10,67 … 4,41,35,21,33,51,66,7,78
Big: On lap 53, Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric and Connor Zilisch wrecked together. It marked the end of the race for both Cindric and Zilisch. What happened is that Cindric who was in 12th spun and then Elliott and Zilisch nailed him as he was spinning and they were back around 21st. Suarez got a free pass at this time.
Some mixed pit strategy ensued during the lap 53 caution.
Notable: During the lap 53 caution, Brad Keselowski who was in 23rd pitted twice which dropped him to the back.
Notable: Bubba Wallace started in 24th and drove up into the top ten before the lap 53 caution. He was back in the mid-teens at the time of the restart.
Lap 60: 1,60,38,17,45,19,11,54,5,97 … 3,71,24,12,23,43,20,9,16,47 … 22,42,21,48,34,35,77,4,67,10 … 33,51,41,66,6,7,78,2,88
Big: On lap 60 during the restart, Bubba Wallace who was in the mid-teens got into the wall after contact and faded back. A few laps later, Wallace came to pit road and did an unexpected pit stop. The #23 was never as good after this.
Big: On lap 65, Carson Hocevar had a flat tire made an unexpected pit stop. He was running around the mid 20’s at the time.
Lap 70: 38,45,5,60,17,11,19,54,71,3 … 20,97,24,43,47,12,9,16,22,48 … 4,21,35,10,1,7,42,6,67,41 … 33,34,51,66,78 (first driver off the lead lap),77,23,2,88
Lap 80: 38,45,5,60,11,54,19,20,17,97 … 71,3,47,12,43,9,24,22,16,48 … 7,4,21,35,42,10,6,67,41,33 … 34,51,1,66,77,23,78,2,88
Lap 90: 38,11,45,5,54,20,19,60,97,12 … 71,17,3,47,43,9,22,7,16,24 … 48,6,4,21,42,35,67,41,33,34 … 10,51,1,23,77,66,78,2,88
Big: On lap 91, Chase Elliott spun and crashed into the inside wall. He was running in 16th at the time and it marked the end of his race.
Some mixed pit strategy took place during the Elliott caution.
Notable: On lap 91, Christopher Bell got a pit penalty for equipment interference. Bell was in 6th at the time.
Lap 97: 11,5,19,43,45,12,54,97,60,71 … 47,22,3,7,42,24,17,4,6,21 … 16,35,10,33,41,67,34,48,38,20 … 23,51,1,77,78,66,9,2,88
Stage #1 Top Ten (Lap 100): 5,19,45,11,43,12,54,60,47,97
During the Stage #2 caution, mixed pit strategy took place. Carson Hocevar got the free pass.
Stage #2 went caution free.
Lap 108: 5,19,11,45,12,54,47,60,97,22 … 7,3,6,24,16,21,33,35,38,67 … 34,48,20,17,23,10,71,42,4,41 … 1,43,51,77,78,66,9,2,88
Lap 120: 19,11,45,5,54,12,47,97,6,21 …. 7,17,60,22,20,77,24,67,3,35 … 41,38,43,4,48,16,33,10,42,71 … 1,51,34,23,78,66,9,2,88
Lap 135: 19,11,45,54,5,12,97,47,17,20 … 6,22,21,77,60,38,67,43,7,41 … 35,3,4,16,71,24,48,33,1,10 … 42,51,23,34,78,66,9,2,88
On lap 143, Denny Hamlin passed Chase Briscoe for the lead.
On lap 144, the green flag pit cycle for Stage #2 started. William Byron was the first driver to come in.
Notable: Joey Logano had a jack issues during his pit stop on lap 151 and had a slow stop. He was running just outside the top ten prior to the pit cycle.
Big: Carson Hocevar had major problems during his Stage #2 pit stop. He was running around the mid-teens prior to the pit cycle. It dropped him off the lead lap into the 30’s.
Lap 158: 11,19,54,5,45,12,20,97,47,17 … 60,6,21,38,7,43,3,16,67,24 … 41,22,35,71,33,4,1,42,10,23 (first driver off the lead lap) … 51,48,77,34,78,66,9,2,88
Notable: On lap 163, Daniel Suarez made an unexpected pit stop. He said something didn’t feel right. It dropped him from 18th back to the 30’s. This was his 2nd unscheduled pit stop of the race.
Lap 170: 11,19,54,5,45,20,12,97,17,47 … 60,21,38,43,6,3,16,41,24,22 … 67,35,71,1,33,42,10,4,23,77 … 51,48,34,7,78,66,9,2,88
Lap 180: 11,54,19,5,45,20,12,17,97,47 … 60,38,21,43,3,6,41,16,24,22 … 71,1,35,67,33,23,10,42,4,77 … 51,48,7,34,78,66,9,2,88
Big: On lap 189 it was reported that Alex Bowman had transaxle issues for much of Stage #1 and didn’t have 1st and 2nd gear.
Lap 190: 11,54,19,5,45,20,12,17,97,47 … 60,38,21,43,41,3,6,16,22,1 … 24,71,35,33,23,67,10,42,4,77 … 51,48,7,34,78,66,9,2,88
Notable: Late in Stage #2 on lap 198, Michael McDowell who was in the low 20’s made an unexpected pit stop.
Lap 198: 11,54,19,5,45,20,12,17,97,47 … 60,21,38,41,43,22,6,1,16,3 … 24,35,33,23,67,10,4,77,42,7 … 48,34,71,51,78,66,9,2,88
Notable: On the last lap of Stage #2, Zane Smith had a flat tire and dropped back rapidly. He was in 13th on lap 198 and ended Stage #2 in 24th.
Stage #2 Top Ten (Lap 200): 11,54,19,45,5,20,12,17,97,47
Big: Christopher Bell who just finished 6th in Stage #2 was penalized during the Stage pit stop for pitting outside of his pit box.
