The Elite NASCAR Drivers Entered In The 2026 Chili Bowl
The biggest race in dirt track racing, the Chili Bowl Nationals, is happening soon to kick off the 2026 racing season in style! Of course, many of the drivers entered are the best of the best in the dirt track scene.
Like Logan Seavey, Sammy Swindell, Gio Scelzi, Chris Windom, and many others, of course!However, even many of the best drivers NASCAR has decided to enter this year, as they’ve done recently.
With more NASCAR drivers than ever coming from dirt racing backgrounds, and the NASCAR world and the major grassroots events like the Chili Bowl synergizing more than ever, it’s surprising that the trend is still continuing.
The Current NASCAR Drivers Entered
Starting with the biggest name in NASCAR and dirt track racing, Kyle Larson. The two-time Cup champion and current Hendrick Motorsports driver, who was compared to Jeff Gordon early on in his career. A comparison he’s lived up to, and one that started partly because of Larson’s skill on the dirt tracks.
He might be the best dirt track driver and NASCAR driver in the world at the same time. Having won many of the most notable dirt track races, including the Chili Bowl, three times before. And it is coming into 2026 as the defending winner. So will be looking to defend his trophy.
Kyle Larson
We also have the next Kyle Larson, according to many in Corey Day. The Hendrick development driver will be full-time at O’Reilly next year. But he will start his 2026 racing in the Chili Bowl. And trying to add that crown jewel to his trophy case.
Sheldon Creed
Another three-time Chili Bowl champion who’s a top NASCAR driver entering is Christopher Bell. The driver of the JGR Toyota has not won since his three-peat ended in 2019. A very interesting entry is Sheldon Creed. A driver who, when not racing in NASCAR, is most associated with off-road racing, a category in which he’s won titles.
The 2020 NASCAR Truck Series champion has dabbled in dirt track racing since 2018 and wants to use all his experience to show the world he can be great in and win in another motorsport.
J.J. Yeley
J. J. Yeley looks to end his decades-long search for his first Chili Bowl win. NASCAR fans know him for being a bust at JGR in Cup and for driving any car with an owner willing to give him a wheel and a seat, with a check optional.
In the dirt racing world, however, he’s a living legend. Being one of seven drivers in history to win the USAC triple crown. Along with Pancho Carter, Tony Stewart, Dave Darland, Jerry Coons Jr., Tracy Hines, and Logan Seavey.
Winning 24 USAC wins in his 2003 season, breaking the previous record of nineteen set by A. J. Foyt in 1961. But despite all that, he’s never won the Chili Bowl, only coming 2nd in 2007, and at 49, he won’t have many chances to do so. So expect him to give it his all this year.
Ty Gibbs
Speaking of JGR, Ty Gibbs is entering the Chili Bowl this year, too, despite having a short track background. Trying to expand his skills by facing new challenges. Another NASCAR driver entering the Chili Bowl without a dirt track racing background is Josh Bilicki. Another young, promising NASCAR driver entering is Jesse Love.
The defending Xfinity Series is a proud dirt racer with an extensive trophy case will be looking to add the Chili Bowl championship to it. And a social media fan favorite, Brayton Laster, will enter his first-ever Chili Bowl and will hope to win so he can spend the check on as much Pizza as he wants.
An up-and-coming NASCAR backmarker, Ryan Roulette, will look to use his years of dirt racing experience to turn heads and establish himself once and for all at this year’s Chili Bowl.
Former NASCAR Drivers Are Entering The Chili Bowl
But it’s a lot more than current drivers entering the event. Many NASCAR drivers come from dirt, so many drivers who have been left behind by NASCAR have returned to the dirt track racing world. And made it to the top of it, and so will be entering the 2026 Chili Bowl.
Santino Ferrucci
The most interesting of which is former F1 hopeful and current IndyCar driver Santino Ferrucci. Open wheel racing and dirt racing in America used to go hand in hand. But as open-wheel racing in the US evolved to compete with F1, they slowly let go of their dirt-racing roots.
Making Ferrucci’s entry a throwback. Ferrucci’s IndyCar career was recently revived. It looked like it was dying in 2021 and 2022, which is when the Italian Americans’ brief flirtation with NASCAR occurred.
But in 2023, he went full-time in IndyCar again with the historic A.J. Foyt, who now has an alliance with Penske. He’s shown how fast he can be, earning multiple podiums with the resurgent midpack team, but his reckless streak still haunts him, with needless incidents following him.
Tanner Berryhill
A often forgotten driver is Tanner Berryhill. With his only NASCAR shot coming with very low-budget teams in the mid-2010s, he couldn’t often get great results. But since then, he’s stayed in the dirt track racing world and found success. Which he’ll be looking to add to with a Chili Bowl win.
Todd Kluever
A driver still talked about, despite not being in NASCAR for years, is Todd Kluever. The driver was hyped to replace Mark Martin, who is remembered as a bust for Roush Racing. Since he left NASCAR, he’s transitioned from short-track racing to dirt-track racing.
And he’ll want to pull off an all-time upset by winning the 2026 Chili Bowl.These great NASCAR drivers, past and present, along with the elite dirt track racers in this year’s Chili Bowl, will make the 2026 race another classic in a list of classics. Thanks a bunch for reading!
