Agatha Christie was famous for gathering her murder suspects in the library before revealing the killer through a maze of plot twists. The NASCAR Cup playoffs have followed a similarly tangled script. Since the opening chapter seven races ago, one apparent champion after another has emerged, only to be replaced by a new “likely winner.” With three races to go, it is anyone’s guess who will be the 2026 NASCAR champion. Even Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple would struggle to solve this mystery. Who will claim the 2026 title? Only the Shadow knows!
Last week, series leader Kyle Larson had a disastrous day. This plot twist lacked credibility. Those watching gasped in disbelief. From nowhere, Tyler Reddick returned to Victory Lane. He raised the prospect that the most likely suspect at the beginning had returned to the forefront. The butler did it!
Reddick, of Corning, California, won at Phoenix ahead of Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Corey Heim and Joey Logano. Larson finished 34th, while Denny Hamlin was 28th. Christie could not have written it better.
When the dust settled, Larson remained the leading title contender, with Bell moving into second, just five points behind. Chase Briscoe, Hamlin, Blaney and Logano followed. With three races remaining and only 46 points separating the contenders, who will be champion is anyone’s guess.
As if the story needed more twists, the next race adds new storylines that could unravel the whole plot. It is Talladega, where the mistress of luck decides who will win based on criteria known only to her. Stay tuned.
The same is true in the O’Reilly series, where championship points leader Sheldon Creed fell victim to car woes entering Phoenix and dropped from the top of the standings to fourth as Jesse Love won the race over Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, Corey Day and Sammy Smith.
With the win, Love, the reigning O’Reilly champion, took the points lead from Creed and leads Allgaier, Day, Creed and Carson Kvapil. The points spread is not so close, as Love is 36 points ahead of Allgaier and 39 ahead of Creed. Mayer, in sixth, is 86 points behind.
The Craftsman Truck Series contest featured a race-long, seesaw battle between Kaden Honeycutt and Layne Riggs, a rivalry mirrored in the championship standings. Honeycutt won the race ahead of Riggs and now leads him by 39 points in the title fight.
Christian Eckes finished third and holds the same position in the standings, 111 points behind Honeycutt. Ty Majeski placed fourth in the race, followed by Jake Garcia and William Sawalich.
Next week, Tony Stewart will return to the series behind the wheel of a Dodge Ram. It is like Sherlock Holmes returning from his plunge over Switzerland’s Reichenbach Falls after battling Professor Moriarty. Well played, Mr. Doyle!
Formula One is in Texas this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas. Series points leader, 20-year-old Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, can become F1’s youngest champion with a win, provided his Mercedes teammate, George Russell, finishes ninth or worse and third-place Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari finishes fifth or worse.
Hamilton has been connected to Kim Kardashian as a possible running mate in life. Can you imagine the prenup?
The NHRA has a six-race playoff that completed its fourth event in Texas last weekend. Antron Brown beat rookie Maddi Gordon in Top Fuel dragsters. J.R. Todd topped Matt Hagan in Funny Car. Dallas Glenn won in Pro Stock over Matt Hartford, and Matt Smith took the Wally trophy in Pro Stock Motorcycle, beating Richard Gadson.
There are two events left: Las Vegas on Nov. 1 and Pomona on Nov. 14. Champions will be decided at Pomona. If it ended today, Shawn Langdon in Top Fuel, Matt Hagan in Funny Car, Dallas Glenn in Pro Stock and Richard Gadson in Pro Stock Motorcycle would wear the crowns.
There is lots of racing on YouTube, and we still are not done as East Coast programs appear at Placerville, Ventura, Phoenix and more. Keep racing. You might need the adrenaline therapy.