The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season has moved through its opening stretch with five races completed on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. From the Daytona 500 to the Las Vegas event, each NASCAR race has already shown which teams have early speed. Some drivers have led hundreds of laps. Others have not led a single lap yet.
Nine drivers remain at zero. Their positions in the NASCAR Cup Series standings and the wider NASCAR standings 2026 reflect those struggles. The group includes veterans, young drivers, and part-time entries.
NASCAR Teams Still Searching for Speed
Daniel Suarez sits 17th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with one top-10 finish. He moved to Spire Motorsports this season. The team shows flashes of speed, but not enough to control a NASCAR race. Suarez has focused on clean runs, which keep him in the middle of the pack.
Austin Dillon is 24th in the 2026 NASCAR standings with no top-10 finishes. His team has dealt with setup problems and two DNFs. The car has lacked balance, which limits his ability to move forward during a NASCAR race.
Erik Jones ranks 27th. He works with a new crew chief, and the team is still building chemistry. He has one top-10 finish but has not had the pace to stay near the front on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
Noah Gragson is 28th. His team has delivered steady finishes but lacks the speed needed to lead laps. Mechanical issues and strategy calls have also kept him from the front of the field in each NASCAR race.
Young Drivers are Still Learning the Level
Connor Zilisch is 35th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. The rookie continues to learn the demands of the Cup level. He is working on race pace, tire wear, and track position. Two DNFs have slowed his progress during the early NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
Riley Herbst sits 23rd in the NASCAR standings 2026 with one top-10 finish. He has shown some speed but focuses on finishing races. His starting position and race flow have limited his chances of leading any NASCAR race so far.
Limited Starts and Health Setbacks
Alex Bowman is 36th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings after only three starts. He missed races at Phoenix and Las Vegas due to vertigo. That reduced his opportunities across the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. In his starts, he has not been in a position to lead a NASCAR race.
Casey Mears ranks 37th with one start. He runs a part-time schedule with a smaller team. Limited track time and car speed make it hard to compete for the lead in any NASCAR race.
BJ McLeod is 38th with two starts. He also runs part-time. Mcleod team focuses on finishing races rather than leading them. Starting deep in the field limits his chances across the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.
These drivers remain at zero laps led after five races. Their positions in the NASCAR Cup Series standings show how team strength, experience, and opportunity shape results early in the 2026 NASCAR standings.
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