If you’re looking for a car on a track right this second, you’re kinda looking in the wrong place. Well, mostly. It is January 16, 2026. In the world of NASCAR, this is that weird "limbo" week where the engines are quiet in Charlotte but deafening in Tulsa.
Nobody is leading a Cup Series race today because the season hasn't officially green-flagged yet. But if we’re talking about who is leading the narrative and the momentum heading into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, that’s a whole different conversation.
The Offseason King: Christopher Bell is On Fire
Right now, the guy "leading" the pack in terms of pure performance is Christopher Bell. While the Next Gen cars are sitting in the shops being tweaked for the Daytona 500, Bell just put on a clinic at the Chili Bowl Nationals.
Just last night—Thursday, January 15—Bell charged from eighth to first to win his preliminary feature. He’s basically untouchable on dirt right now. Honestly, it’s scary. He already won the Race of Champions earlier this week. If you want to know who is leading the "unofficial" NASCAR power rankings, it’s the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
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He’s showing the kind of late-race execution that was his bread and butter in 2025, when he and his teammates Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe combined for a massive 13 wins.
What About the Actual Standings?
Since the 2026 points haven't started yet, we have to look at how we left off. Kyle Larson is the defending champion. He’s the man with the target on his back.
- Kyle Larson: 5034 points (2025 Final)
- Denny Hamlin: 5031 points
- Chase Briscoe: 5019 points
- William Byron: 5004 points
Larson entering 2026 as the champ isn't surprising. He had 22 top-10 finishes last year. But here’s the kicker: NASCAR just dropped a massive bombshell for the 2026 season. They are bringing back "The Chase."
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Why the 2026 Leaderboard Will Look Totally Different
NASCAR basically nuked the old playoff system. For 2026, they are going back to a modified "Chase" format. It's meant to reward season-long consistency way more than the "win and you're in" chaos of the last decade.
Basically, they want the guy who leads the most laps to actually have a shot at the trophy. Imagine that.
The new system gives 55 points for a win. That’s a 15-point jump from before. They also brought back "stage breaks" and something called the "Xfinity Fastest Lap" bonus. If a driver has a "perfect" Sunday, they can bank 76 points in a single afternoon.
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The Race to the Clash at Bowman Gray
The first time we’ll see an actual car leading a pack on asphalt this year is February 8th. That’s the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.
Last year, Chase Elliott absolutely owned that place. He led 171 out of 200 laps. It was vintage Elliott—smooth, defensive when he needed to be, and just faster than everyone else. Ryan Blaney tried to make a run at him toward the end, but the "Madhouse" is too tight for those kinds of heroics unless you're willing to wreck someone.
Drivers to Watch Right Now
- Connor Zilisch: This kid is 19. He’s stepping into the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevy full-time. Most people think he’s the next coming of Jeff Gordon.
- Daniel Suárez: He’s got a fresh start at Spire Motorsports in the No. 7. He needed the change after a rough 20th-place finish last year.
- Shane van Gisbergen: The "Road Course Ringer" is back for a full season. If there’s a right turn on the track, he’s probably leading.
The Bottom Line for Fans
If you're asking who leading the NASCAR race today, the answer is nobody is on a track in a Cup car. But the "leader" of the sport's momentum is Christopher Bell, while the "leader" of the record books is Kyle Larson.
Keep an eye on the Chili Bowl finals this Saturday. Bell and Larson are both locked in. It’s the closest thing we have to a Cup Series showdown until we get to Winston-Salem in February.
Your Next Steps for the 2026 Season
Don't wait for Daytona to get your picks ready. Start tracking the practice speeds for the Bowman Gray Clash as soon as they go live in early February. With the new Chase points system, every lap led matters more than it has in years. Check out the revised 2026 schedule to see which tracks favor the high-points earners like Hamlin and Larson before the season officially kicks off.