¡Viva, Las Vegas!
Better yet: Viva, intermediate tracks.
After races on a pair of drafting tracks, a road course and a 1-miler, the meat and potatoes of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule begins in earnest this Sunday at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Sun., 4 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
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The significance of these 1.5-mile venues — even this early into the 2026 season — is twofold. One: This weekend’s race is the first of nine contests on traditional 1.5-mile tracks, the most in a season since nine in 2021. Quick math means that, in a 36-race schedule, this encompasses 25% of the docket. This isn’t a percentage to scoff at; these tracks matter, and for the Cup Series field still trying to navigate the Upside Down that is the standings, they offer an opportunity to correct some chaos.
Which leads to Point No. 2: The big dogs have a knack for showing off here.
Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing, this means you.
In the Next Gen era, these two organizations have combined for 16 victories on 1.5-mile tracks: Hendrick with 11 and Joe Gibbs with five. As such, it’s no surprise that pilots from these camps are all over average-finish leaderboards among active drivers.
Best Average Finish on 1.5-mile tracks in the Next Gen Car
| Driver | Average finish | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) | 9.82 | 2 |
| Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) | 11.22 | 6 |
| Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) | 11.36 | 2 |
| Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing) | 11.93 | 2 |
| Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) | 12.32 | 3 |
| Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) | 13.75 | 3 |
| Alex Bowman (Hendrick Motorsports) | 13.84 | 1 |
| Joey Logano (Team Penske) | 14.00 | 3 |
Stats courtesy Racing Insights
Starting is just as important as finishing, and once again, these organizations have been at the forefront. Joe Gibbs Racing drivers won the pole for the last three races on 1.5-mile tracks (Chase Briscoe with two, Denny Hamlin with one). Hendrick Motorsports, meanwhile, had the top-rated car on speed on intermediates in six of the nine races in 2025. In other words, these two organizations have not only finished well but have excelled in practice and qualifying in the lead-up to each weekend’s main event.
Paving the way for Hendrick Motorsports has been Kyle Larson, whose six wins on 1.5-mile tracks lead all drivers in the Next Gen era. Denny Hamlin, meanwhile, has been the ace for Joe Gibbs, with three such victories. A trio is right behind them with two wins apiece: Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs), William Byron (Hendrick) and Chase Elliott (Hendrick).
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What is the common denominator of this success? It goes back to speed. On comparable tracks in 2025, six Hendrick Motorsports/Joe Gibbs Racing drivers ranked in the top 10 in Speed Rating, which, according to NASCAR Insights, analyzes a driver’s overall pace relative to the field by tracking lap times throughout the race. Once again, each organization’s heavy hitter showed out; Larson ranked first, followed by Hamlin in second. Byron (fifth), Bell (sixth), Elliott (seventh) and Alex Bowman (eighth) rounded out the group.
And so, it makes sense that drivers from these organizations have led a ton of laps on 1.5-milers. The top four in this category? Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing drivers.
Laps Led on 1.5-mile tracks in the Next Gen Car
| Driver | Laps led |
|---|---|
| Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) | 1,780 |
| William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports) | 886 |
| Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing) | 665 |
| Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing) | 627 |
| Ryan Blaney (Team Penske) | 497 |
| Ross Chastain (Trackhouse Racing) | 475 |
| Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing) | 471 |
Stats courtesy Racing Insights
At this juncture, you get the gist. The track record — no pun intended — for these two organizations has been stout at 1.5-mile facilities. Sure, 2025 was so last year, but recent history plays into each organization’s favor in 2026, especially given the schedule. Of the nine traditional 1.5-mile races this season, four of those will make up the 10-race Chase later this year, with all four coming over the final seven races. In fact, the season finale — the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race — will occur at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a 1.5-mile track.
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Much can occur between now and the season’s end. Perhaps the organizations hit a major rough patch. The standings could very well unravel further. “Anything can happen,” so the cliche goes. But if the statistics suggest anything, it’s that Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing will show up and produce at 1.5-mile tracks. And with these venues making up such a hefty dose of the schedule, momentum could very well sway toward these two powerhouse organizations.
It all starts in Las Vegas. And should the metrics prove correct once again, it could be Hendrick Motorsports’ and Joe Gibbs Racing’s world, with everyone else living in it.