Kevin Harvick Bets on William Byron to 2026 NASCAR Cup Championship

2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick sees William Byron securing his maiden premier division title in the 2026 NASCAR season.

Kevin Harvick Bets on William Byron to 2026 NASCAR Cup Championship

Kevin Harvick and William Byron (Via IMAGO)

In Short
  • Kevin Harvick predicts William Byron will win the 2026 NASCAR Cup Championship under the new chase format.
  • Harvick emphasizes Byron's maturity and strong relationship with crew chief Rudy Fugle as key advantages.
  • Co-hosts on the podcast also made their picks, with Mamba Smith choosing Christopher Bell and Kaitlyn Vincie selecting Chase Briscoe.

The NASCAR community is set for an entirely different championship battle dynamic, as the sport is set to decide the champion under the new version of the chase format. The 16-driver format that will reward consistency and wins more is expected to bring legitimacy back to the sport.  

2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick on his Happy Hour podcast, shared his thoughts on which driver he expects to take advantage of the format change and win the title. He believes Hendrick Motorsports’ No:24 Chevy driver William Byron will have the best shot at winning the Bill France Cup.

The veteran racer believes, Byron and two times Daytona 500 winning team has the maturity that is required to thrive under the new format.  The relationship between the racer and his crew chief Rudy Fugle also give them a significant advantage over their rivals.

I’m going to take (William) Byron. It’s just that maturity and the things that go with a team. I think him and (crew chief) Rudy (Fugle) have a great relationship and they have worked through a lot of hard moments together, and that’s what it takes to be the champ.

Kevin Harvick said via Happy Hour podcast.

Senior Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass was also present in the podcast, and he is picked 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney to be crowned the first champion under the new format. The No:12 Ford driver is one of the most consistent Ford drivers in the garage, who is known for his grind in the playoff’s era.

Cup champion? Blaney.

Bob Pockrass said.

Kevin Harvick’s co-hosts picks Toyota drivers to win the championship

In the same podcast, the co-hosts of the show also made their picks. Mamba Smith picked one of his most favorite driver Christopher Bell, who has been one of the most consistent racers in the Next-Gen era for Toyota and the whole Cup garage. Ironically in 2025 Harvick picked Bell and Smith picked Byron as championship favorites.

Chase Briscoe (via USA Today), William Byron (via NKP), Kevin Harvick (via AP)
Chase Briscoe (via USA Today), William Byron (via NKP), Kevin Harvick (via AP)

Man, I love that, you know I love that pick. You know I love that pick. Last year I went Byron and I feel like the fire is still there. But I’m going Christopher Bell. I think Bell, I don’t know man, it’s something about it. [Harvick] picked him last year, and I just think that it’s his time.

Mamba Smith said.

In the same conversation, the second co-host of the show Kaitlyn Vincie made her pick and it was Bell teammate Chase Briscoe, who had an impressive debut season with JGR. She believes the No:19 team is capable of delivering consistently just like they did last season.

I’m going with (Chase) Briscoe. I’m sticking with this. He made the Champ 4 a year ago, who’s to say he can’t do that again and claim the top prize?

Kaitlyn Vincie asserted.

The comments from Kevin Harvick and his team seems to on point. All three manufactures have young racers known for their consistency capable of winning the title. The veterans like Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano are also going to play a significant role in the title chase.

Also Read: Kevin Harvick Exposes the Real Reason why Bowman Gray Clash Was a “Sh*t Show”