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The NFL has long been a copycat league, so expect other teams to replicate the strategies and personnel that powered the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl LX. One of the most obvious commonalities between this year’s Super Bowl participants was the quality of their respective secondaries. The 2026 NFL Draft is not as top-heavy as last year, but I like the talent and depth of its defensive backs with seven projected in this updated first-round mock draft, my first since the order and eligible player pool have been finalized. 1. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14): Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Incoming head coach Klint Kubiak was surely lured to Las Vegas by the opportunity to land the consensus top quarterback of this class. Unlike recent No. 1 overall selections, Mendoza does not necessarily have to start immediately. The Raiders, of course, still have veteran Geno Smith, who, like Mendoza, is a clean schematic fit in Kubiak’s offense. Smith’s presence should allow Kubiak and the Raiders the increasingly rare opportunity to truly prepare Mendoza for the NFL, rather than rush him onto the field. The Heisman Trophy winner and national champion has the prototypical build, all the intangibles and enough physical traits to ultimately become a star in the NFL. 2. New York Jets (3-14): Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State Any chance that the Raiders would move out of the first pick or take anyone other than Mendoza seemingly ended once Kubiak agreed to become head coach. While perhaps disappointing for Jets fans, it does provide general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn with plenty of notice that their best chance at finding realistic competition for Justin Fields is probably through free agency or trading for a veteran. Mougey has made bold trades before, of course, peddling the Jets’ most impactful defenders — Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams — in a November fire sale. In a class relatively lacking in top-end talent, Reese is one of a handful of the few true elite talents, profiling similarly to Micah Parsons. 3. Arizona Cardinals (3-14): Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame Like the Jets a pick earlier, the Cardinals are facing a massive decision at quarterback which will obviously impact how they use this selection. New head coach Mike LaFleur might very well push to boost the trenches with his first pick. Arizona was pushed around a lot in the NFC West during Jonathan Gannon’s tenure, with the Cardinals finishing 3-15 in the division. Time spent with the 49ers and Rams’ dynamic offenses, however, will give him an appreciation of true star power at the skill positions and GM Monti Ossenfort could be feeling some pressure. In my opinion, the gap between Love and the rest of this year’s running back class isn’t quite as steep as the one separating Mendoza at quarterback, but it’s comparable. Love is right there with Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley as the top running back talents I’ve evaluated over the past 25 years. 4. Tennessee Titans (3-14): Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State Speaking of the NFC West and immediate impact rookies, Styles’ fit as the centerpiece of Robert Saleh’s defense in Tennessee is a fascinating one. Like former teammate Arvell Reese, Styles is an athletic phenom who’s steadily improved over his college career and has easy traits to project to the next level. It isn’t a hard argument to make that plugging him into a defense that already boasts All-Pro Jeffery Simmons is the quickest way for the Titans to advance in the AFC South. 5. New York Giants (4-13): Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami Similar to the aforementioned Titans, I think the Giants’ draft picks are going to be a direct reflection of their new head coach. Few players in this draft strike me as a cleaner fit for John Harbaugh than Mauigoa, a massive and mauling three-year standout who ranks as the cleanest plug-and-play offensive lineman of this class. With current right tackle Jermaine Eluemanor (31) a free agent, the Giants would be wise to build around Jaxson Dart by making their protection of him top priority. 6. Cleveland Browns (5-12): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah If John Harbaugh does, indeed, take the first blocker off the board a pick earlier, don’t be surprised if his former offensive coordinator Todd Monken follows suit a pick later. Whether it’s Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson or anyone else starting at quarterback for the Browns next season, addressing an offensive line that surrendered 51 sacks will be a priority — especially with four-fifths of the primary blocking unit for Cleveland scheduled for free agency. Fano is massive and nimble with starting experience at both left and right tackle. 7. Washington Commanders (5-12): Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State No one needs to remind Washington head coach Dan Quinn about the importance of protecting quarterback Jayden Daniels, and the best way of doing that with this pick might be to bolster a receiving corps that, frankly, didn’t live up to expectations. Big and smooth, Tate would add a dynamic downfield presence to add some vitality to a group of pass-catchers overly reliant on 30-year-old Terry McLaurin as Deebo Samuel and Zach Ertz head to free agency. 8. New Orleans Saints (6-11): Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami With iconic players like Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Taysom Hill among 18 unrestricted free agents this year for the Saints, the roster set by head coach Kellen Moore could look much different in his second season in Baton Rouge than his first. If Moore and longtime New Orleans GM Mickey Loomis fully commit to rebuilding this roster, Bain plays with the physicality and mentality of a franchise anchor. 9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-11): Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Safeties — at least the traditional “box” safeties of yesteryear — are simply not as valued in today’s passer-friendly league that penalizes many of the bone-crunching hits which used to dominate the middle of the field. Downs does so much more than tackle, however. Adding his instincts and playmaking skills to an already gifted Chiefs secondary is a smart strategy given all the quarterback talent in the AFC West. Of note, if the draft were to play out as I have it projected, Downs would be the fourth Buckeye selected among the top 10 — an unprecedented number in NFL draft history. 10. Cincinnati Bengals (5-12): David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech With their star quarterback healthy and all three AFC North divisional opponents featuring entirely new coaching staffs, the Bengals could find themselves in an exciting position to springboard from holding a top-10 pick to possible divisional winner a year from now. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Bailey doesn’t fit the measureables Duke Tobin has preferred in the past. but he’s this year’s top pass-rusher. 11. Miami Dolphins (7-10): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee The Dolphins appear to be considering a complete rebuild. It already started among the decision-makers, of course, with the hiring of new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. But there will be plenty of changes on the roster, as well, with the duo inheriting a club with 29 current unrestricted free agents (including six cornerbacks), as well as a massive decision on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. McCoy is viewed by many scouts as the top corner of this class and a top 20 candidate, despite missing the entire 2025 season recovering from a torn ACL. 12. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU Even prior to the surprising late-season release of former All-Pro Trevon Diggs, the Cowboys were likely looking hard at this year’s quality cornerback crop, as the club has three others (Corey Ballentine, Reddy Stewart and CJ Goodwin) entering free agency. Delane would fit right in with Dallas’ current top cornerback DaRon Bland, as he is a natural ballhawk who recorded 27 pass breakups, as well as eight interceptions (and four forced fumbles) over his collegiate career. 13. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons, 8-9): Makai Lemon, WR, USC The Rams were only a few plays away from playing in Super Bowl LX, and with an extra pick acquired a year ago from Atlanta, I expect general manager Les Snead to attack this draft in an effort to erase whatever gap there is between his club and Seattle’s. Adding Lemon — the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top wideout — to a receiver rotation that already boasts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams might be all the motivation Matthew Stafford might need to play a few more years. 14. Baltimore Ravens (8-9): Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M Bringing back Jesse Minter to the Ravens is a strong indication that Baltimore is ready to recommit to its once-proud defense. Long known for their defense throughout the John Harbaugh era, the Ravens stumbled to a tie for 30th in the NFL in quarterback sacks in 2025. Last year’s prized rookie Mike Green generated just 3.5 sacks and the club was led by Travis Jones’ five QB takedowns. Howell is explosive upfield and also agile enough to drop into coverage. His versatility and intensity make him an intriguing fit for a defense needing a bit of both to kick off Minter’s return. 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9): Keldric Faulk, DL, Auburn There is plenty of blame to go around for the Bucs’ late-season collapse, but a pedestrian pass rush that featured just two defenders generating more than 3.5 sacks certainly played a role. With “just” two sacks of his own in 2025, Faulk might seem like a poor choice to supplement Tampa Bay’s roster, but scouts are enamored with the 20-year-old’s length, strength and upside. 16. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts, 8-9): Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee Given that he recorded 41 of them over a brilliant 15-year playing career, Aaron Glenn must find it infuriating that his New York Jets did not record a single interception all season long. Teams often take on the personalities of their head coach; if that is going to be the case with the Jets, adding some playmaking chops to the secondary should be a priority. Hood is an ascending talent who excels in man coverage, turning heads last week at the Senior Bowl and at Tennessee in 2025, where he registered a career-high eight pass breakups. 17. Detroit Lions (9-8): Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia The magic in Motown didn’t entirely run out in 2025, but it did age. The same offensive line that dominated the past few seasons showed cracks with longtime left tackle Taylor Decker missing multiple starts for the third consecutive season. The Lions could save approximately $22 million in cap space by moving on from Decker, who turns 33 in August. With a frame and game similar to Decker, Freeling could be a younger, cheaper option to reset Detroit’s front. 18. Minnesota Vikings (9-8): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia The Vikings are reportedly paying defensive coordinator Brian Flores $6 million per year, making him the highest-paid assistant coach in NFL history. The massive salary suggests Flores will also have a greater say in personnel. The second level of the Vikings’ defense is missing a true alpha with the speed, physicality and instincts to star as an every-down linebacker. Allen would be a great fit in Flores’ system. 19. Carolina Panthers (8-9): Kevin “KC” Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M For as good as Bryce Young and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan proved to be in their first year together, one has to wonder if there isn’t a lot more “meat on the bone” for the Panthers to enjoy with a second reliable playmaker added to the equation. Concepcion’s electric speed and elusiveness could be the perfect complement to T-Mac, as well as provide some spark to a return unit that has produced just one TD over the past eight years. 20. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers, 9-7-1): Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois No rookie is likely to replace Micah Parsons, but the Cowboys are not unlikely to leave the first round of this draft without boosting their edge rushers. Jacas led the Big Ten with 11 sacks in the regular season and carried that momentum into Mobile, Ala., where he was this year’s top pass-rusher at the Senior Bowl. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Jacas is athletic and technically sound, and best of all, he’s as proven as it gets with 27 sacks and seven forced fumbles in his college career. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7): Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State Mike McCarthy certainly sounded eager to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. If that is going to be the case, Pittsburgh really should invest in another playmaking receiver capable of starring against single coverage as defenses focus so much attention on the imposing DK Metcalf. Tyson has the sharp change of direction and reliable hands to quickly earn the trust of Rodgers — or whoever is playing quarterback for the Steelers in 2026. 22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6): Caleb Banks, DT, Florida Along with death and taxes, Jim Harbaugh investing along the line of scrimmage is one of the rare certainties in life. While protecting Justin Herbert with blockers would seem to make sense, I think the Chargers are planning for healthier bodies along the offensive line, not new ones. Pardon the puns, but Banks made a lot of cents with a flashy performance at the Senior Bowl, wowing scouts with his combination of size, power and mobility. 23. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama With one of the best rosters in the NFL, the Eagles could go in a variety of directions with this pick, but if a talented big man like Proctor were still on the board, I have to think general manager Howie Roseman would consider him as a possible insurance policy against Lane Johnson retiring. The Eagles have been willing to gamble on elite traits in the past, and the power-packed 6-foot-7, 366-pound Proctor has plenty of those. It is worth noting that every snap of his three years at Alabama were at left tackle, but scouts are split as to where he’ll fit best in the NFL. At minimum, he’d provide an immediate boost to a sagging Tush Push. 24. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars, 13-4): Denzel Boston, WR, Washington It won’t much matter which of the quarterbacks on Cleveland’s roster is starting Week 1 for Todd Monken if the Browns don’t find some difference-makers at receiver. Jerry Jeudy led all Cleveland wideouts this past season in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns — quite the accomplishment until you realize that he caught just 50 passes for 602 yards and two scores, production that would qualify for third or fourth on most NFL teams. I’m not convinced the Browns don’t need multiple receivers out of this draft, but the 6-foot-4, 209-pound Boston would be a great start. Boston isn’t the most explosive athlete of this year’s receiver crop, but he’s a jump-ball dynamo with impressive body control, including quickness, flexibility and strong hands. 25. Chicago Bears (11-6): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon The defensive backs are a relative strength of this year’s rookie class, and I expect Chicago to be among the teams to take full advantage of that fact. After all, the Bears finished 29th in the NFL with 31 passing touchdowns allowed. And with eight defensive backs on the roster set to hit free agency — including starting safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker — GM Ryan Poles has a chance to reset the Chicago secondary. Thieneman is a personal favorite. He’s instinctive, versatile and a natural playmaker with 10 turnovers forced over three years at Oregon and Purdue. 26. Buffalo Bills (12-5): Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech One of the underlying reasons for Sean McDermott’s dismissal in Buffalo was his defenses’ inability to slow down opposing running games. Buffalo finished the regular season ranked 28th in in rushing yards allowed (136.2 per game) and surrendered a league-high rushing 24 touchdowns. Hunter is a wide-bodied run plugger with impressive quickness and agility. Reinforcing the Bills’ current front with both Hunter and a healthy Ed Oliver would drastically stiffen the run defense. 27. San Francisco 49ers (12-5): Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon No one needs to tell general manager John Lynch (or 49er fans) that recent games against the Seahawks might have looked a lot different had San Francisco boasted its full and healthy roster. A unique weapon like the 6-foot-3, 240-pound bowling ball that is Sadiq would give Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan a lot of options, especially with 32-year-old George Kittle coming off an Achilles tear. 28. Houston Texans (12-5): Olaivavega “Vega” Ioane, OG, Penn State The Texans should aggressively attack this offseason to make sure that CJ Stroud’s disappointing third year in the NFL isn’t his new normal. Specifically, the Texans must continue adding to their offensive line. The powerful and passionate Ioane is the top interior blocker of this class. Plugging him at left guard would allow the Texans to move Tytus Howard back outside to right tackle, upgrading two positions at once. 29. Los Angeles Rams (12-5): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson Having used their first pick on an explosive playmaker to help Matthew Stafford and the offense, GM Les Snead will be looking to fill a need here. The Rams have four cornerbacks set to hit free agency, including starter Cobie Durant as well as primary nickelbacks Derion Kendrick and Roger McCreary. Snead and Sean McVay have valued grit and playmaking ability over size at cornerback, and Terrell, an NFL legacy who led the ACC this year with five forced fumbles, certainly has those traits. 30. Denver Broncos (14-3): Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh With starting linebackers Justin Strnad and Alex Singleton set for free agency, don’t be surprised if the Broncos target a linebacker (or two) early in this draft. Selecting Louis here might turn some heads, however. While perhaps a few inches and pounds smaller than scouts would prefer, Louis is a dynamic athlete with the mobility to excel in coverage and the burst to be a real factor on blitzes. 31. New England Patriots (14-3): Blake Miller, OT, Clemson For all the talk about Drake Maye and the Patriots’ defense, reaching the Super Bowl with two rookies manning the left side of the offensive line is truly a remarkable achievement and a testament to both offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and offensive line coach Doug Marrone. Morgan Moses was arguably New England’s best blocker in 2025, but he’ll be 35 in March. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Miller has an upright stance that might irk some coaches, but he plays with good balance and power, capably locking down right tackle the past four years at Clemson. 32. Seattle Seahawks (14-3): Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina The Seahawks have four key defensive backs set to hit free agency: cornerbacks Tariq Woolen and Josh Jobe and safeties Coby Bryant and Ty Okada. As mentioned previously, defensive back is one of this year’s strongest positional groups. Among the youngest players in this class at just 20 years old, Cisse (pronounced Sea-say) jumped into the draft after just one season as a starter at South Carolina, following a transfer from NC State. He’s already shown NFL-caliber athleticism and competitiveness, but he’s still guessing at times in coverage, getting by with his athletic tools. There are safer prospects available, but Cisse could be a star in the making — especially if plugged into a defense such as Seattle’s.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

My phone rang at 9:15 a.m. CT. The number was unfamiliar, but I had a hunch and answered. “Hello?” “RJ, this is Tim Polasek,” he said. “How are you?” This is the head coach of North Dakota State, the steward of the most dominant program in modern FCS history. And yet, there were no airs, no assumption that I should already understand what his name, or his program, has meant to college football over the last 15 years. He did not present himself as the latest in a line of NDSU coaching heavyweights — from Craig Bohl to Chris Klieman — who helped deliver seven national titles in 15 years. He didn’t mention the Bison’s 9–5 record against FBS opponents in that span, or the six wins over Power 4 programs. But I knew. And chances are, you do, too. It’s why the program’s decision to leave the Missouri Valley Conference and join the Mountain West on July 1, 2026, as a football-only member, drew so much attention earlier this week. North Dakota State’s pedigree, combined with the looming departures of Boise State and Fresno State — winners of four of the last Mountain West titles — makes the Bison an immediate favorite to win the conference. But my question for Polasek wasn’t about competing for a conference title. It was about attempting to make history. “Do you think your team is capable of competing for the College Football Playoff?” I asked. “I think I like our team,” Polasek told me. “We’re going to have some learning and growing to do about our opponents, but I really like our process, the year-round work that we do and how we practice. Those things position us to be very competitive in every game. And if you happen to knock them down one at a time, there’s no reason NDSU can’t be in the conversation for the College Football Playoff.” The Bison have had time to consider the gravity of that task. The decision to move to the FBS has been at least four years in the making. While serving as Wyoming’s offensive coordinator, Polasek said his predecessor at North Dakota State — now Fresno State coach Matt Entz — spoke with him about the possibility as far back as 2021. But it wasn’t until nearly a month ago that the move felt not only possible, but likely. “I just had my focus on the process of things that needed to get done as an FCS program, but then there was obviously a shift and an excitement level that this thing could become a reality,” Polasek told me. North Dakota State will pay the Mountain West $12.5 million to enter the conference and the NCAA $5 million to reclassify from FCS to FBS. The next hurdle for Polasek and the program is convincing the NCAA to waive the mandatory two-year probationary period for FCS teams moving to FBS. If the NCAA denies the waiver, the Bison would be ineligible to compete for the Mountain West championship or the College Football Playoff until 2028. On top of that, the program will likely need to increase its operating budget for football. Given that the school recently opened a $54 million indoor stadium, funded entirely by private donors, Polasek does not anticipate football finances being a concern. “I haven’t given it much thought at all,” he told me, “but I believe that we would not be making this transition if we didn’t think we could position ourselves to be competitive from a budget standpoint and facility standpoint most certainly.” North Dakota’s recent success, combined with past results of programs making the transition from FCS to FBS, indicate the Bison will hit the ground running: Four of the last six teams to make the same move have won six or more games in their first season of FBS competition. Curt Cignetti’s 2023 James Madison team finished 10-0 and, two years later, reached the CFP. Now, the 137th team in the Football Bowl Subdivision hopes to persuade the NCAA to give it a chance to reach the CFP in Year 1. When Polasek and I finished talking, I felt then what I feel now: there has never been a program better prepared to do just that. In the Big Picture, we contextualize key moves and moments so you can instantly understand why they matter.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Brad Keselowski didn’t know in January if he would walk again, but there he was walking with a cane Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway. And, of course, driving a race car. Keselowski passed a 50-lap driving test Monday at Charlotte Motor Speedway that gave him the confidence he could race the Daytona 500 this week. And less than two months after breaking his femur on Dec. 18 when he fell on ice getting out of his vehicle at a ski resort. “I’m eight weeks in and I’ll tell you, until about three to five weeks in, there was a question of if I was going to walk again — let alone drive a race car,” Keselowski told reporters Wednesday at Daytona 500 media day. “Those were the thoughts that were going through my mind. I was confident I was going to put the work in and I was going to own whatever result there was.” The result was that Keselowski practiced Wednesday and set to qualify his car for the Daytona 500. “When I’m in the car, I feel I know I’ve got an injury, don’t get me wrong, but I feel the best in the car,” Keselowski said. “The seat is molded to me really well, and you get a little adrenaline flowing. So I felt pretty good.” The Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing co-owner and driver obviously wanted to race in the biggest event of the season, a race he hasn’t won in 16 starts. The 2012 Cup champion sheared his right femur and lost some feeling in his upper leg. The intense rehab of more than six hours a day got him into a position to race with an injury that likely won’t truly be healed for at least another four months. “When I was laying on the ground, and I was completely immobile immediately after I broke my leg, what was going through my mind was like, ‘Oh my God — think about the soldiers in the Civil War. They would just cut their leg off right here.’ “And I understood why they would do it because it hurt so bad. It was by far the worst pain I ever went through. I get why they would bring out the hacksaw. There was part of me that’s like, ‘That might actually feel better.’” After practice Wednesday, the team made some slight changes to the cockpit area as far as where his knees could hit a bar with the way he is seated in the car. “There’s not a lot you can do,” Keselowski said. “We put a little bit of soft padding in one section, but ultimately it is what it is.” Keselowski has former Cup driver David Ragan as a backup for the next couple of weeks and then will use road-racing standout Joey Hand as his backup for the road-course race Mar. 1 at Circuit of the Americas. “COTA is a big concern for me,” Keselowski said. “I’ve got two-and-a-half weeks to COTA. If I had to run the full race today, I’m not 100 percent sure I could do it. But I’ll have another two weeks of reps and rehab to continue to gain and hopefully I can get there.” Keselowski turns 42 on Friday and reiterated that he wants to continue racing for at least another few years. He was laughing and in a good mood Wednesday, even showing off the cane with the sponsor logs on it. “Got to own it,” Keselowski joked. “This is NASCAR. … I knew I probably was going to get picked on a little bit and at some point, own it.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There’s no sugarcoating it. Corbin Carroll’s hamate bone injury is a brutal loss for Team USA in next month’s highly anticipated World Baseball Classic. The Diamondbacks’ star outfielder broke his right hamate bone during batting practice at the outset of spring training on Tuesday. Carroll underwent surgery for the hand fracture on Wednesday, and he’s expected to be sidelined for several weeks, which sent Team USA scrambling for a replacement. Filling Carroll’s shoes won’t be easy. The 25-year-old is coming off his first-career 30/30 season. Carroll recorded a 140 OPS+ and won the Silver Slugger award last year. Team USA, strutting into the WBC with the best all-around roster in the tournament, suddenly needs to find another outfielder to suit up alongside Aaron Judge, Byron Buxton and Pete Crow-Armstrong. As difficult as it will be to replace Carroll, who has been among the top position players in baseball since he debuted in 2022, if there’s any team that can pivot quickly to an exciting name, it’s the USA. Let’s dig into possible outfield replacements Team USA could try to recruit: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers Though Tucker might immediately seem like a no-brainer, particularly because he participated in the 2023 WBC for Team USA, there are some concerns worth flagging. Tucker played through a right-hand injury last season, and even though the newest Dodgers star is expected to be fully healthy to begin the year, playing in the WBC might not be worth the risk. The Dodgers also might prefer the outfielder to stick around at spring training and familiarize himself with his new team. Still, Tucker is the most obvious backup to fill in at the last minute. Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres Merrill, entering his third season in the big leagues, is another logical replacement for Carroll. Though the 22-year-old only played in 115 games last season due to injuries, he still hit 16 home runs, collected 67 RBI and posted an OPS+ of 112. By any measure, that’s solid production for a center fielder in his sophomore season, even if it fell short of his incredible rookie campaign. Merrill is an obvious bounce back candidate for 2026 — and he can warm up by bringing his talents to the international stage. Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees After inking his new five-year contract with the Yankees, Bellinger said he preferred to stay with his team in a full spring-training regimen rather than compete in the WBC. But that could change now that Team USA is in need of his services. His Yankees teammates Judge and reliever David Bednar will be suiting up for the USA, and Bellinger has never participated in the WBC. The 30-year-old is coming off a successful year in New York; he hit 29 home runs and posted an .813 OPS in 152 games for the Yankees. In addition to his bat, Bellinger’s defensive versatility would be another huge asset for Team USA. James Wood, Washington Nationals Talk about imposing. This would be a tremendous opportunity for Team USA to roster a pair of 6-foot-7 outfielders in Judge and Wood. Wood is coming off a breakout season for the Nationals; the 23-year-old slugged 31 home runs and recorded an OPS+ of 132 last year despite no real protection in the lineup. The concerns for rostering Wood are his sky-high strikeout rate and limited track record. He might be overmatched in the WBC, especially against Japan’s terrifying pitching staff, should the USA face the Samurais. But Wood’s menacing power is enough for manager Mark DeRosa to give him a call. Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers One of the biggest losses stemming from Carroll’s absence is his stolen-base threat — and Langford could be the best option to restore that speed. The 24-year-old swiped 22 bases and hit 22 home runs for the Rangers last year. Langford is one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, and though he’s not as impactful at the plate or a brand-name like Carroll, his on-base skills and speed are worth seriously considering. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels Could this really happen? Will the former captain once again wear the Stars and Stripes? It’s unlikely, due to the insurance issues that are preventing a number of MLB stars from participating in the tournament. But we can still dream.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There are three things Sebastian Berhalter does in order to perform at his best. Getting a good night’s sleep, of course. Reading – he’s currently digging his way through ‘The Light We Give.’ And thirdly, being diligent in his routine. This part Berthalter maps out carefully. The Vancouver Whitecaps and U.S. men’s national team midfielder keeps a data diary of his training and stays on top of his recovery. At home he uses a hyperbaric chamber, Normatec boots and a red light mat to make sure his body is right where he wants it to be. “I’m not saying those things make a difference, but for me, if there’s anything I can be doing to keep my mind and my body feeling as good as it possibly can, then I’m going to do it,” Berhalter told me ahead of the Whitecap’s preseason training. “Even just spending time with friends, going for walks and just being myself.” Berhalter, 24, is among the pool of MLS players hoping to make the 2026 World Cup roster. USA coach Mauricio Pochettino can only take 26 players to the tournament, which begins June 11. Somewhere around 17-20 of those guys play overseas, including the likes of forward Christian Pulisic and midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. That doesn’t leave many spots for MLS-based players. But Berhalter, along with his MLS comrades, is doing everything possible to stay sharp and ready to get called up. The next international window in March – which also happens to be the last camp before Pochettino makes his final World Cup roster decisions – is crucial. It will include matches against European powers Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta. And for all intents and purposes, if you’re going to make the final World Cup roster, it’s best you get called up in March. Pochettino said as much in a January conference call with reporters. “The idea is that the World Cup will start in March,” Pochettino said. The manager also delivered a message to his players in November after the squad’s last training camp when he said they “need to do everything to be in the best form to be selected for March.” Easier said for European players, who are in the thick of their respective club seasons. But as it pertains to MLS hopefuls like Berhalter, it’s a little more challenging being that most of them have been in the offseason since early November and preseason recently started. The MLS season begins Feb. 21, meaning they will only have a handful of matches under their belts before the March window. So what can guys do to stay in Pochettino’s World Cup plans? The USA’s staff doesn’t give players specific direction or instruction, though they’re always around as a resource. “They trust us and know we got to the national team for a reason,” Berhalter told me. “There’s nothing regimented. People have different ways of doing things. Some people like more recovery, some people do less, and they feel just as good. Everyone has their own things and different things they like.” Making the World Cup? ‘North Star Goal’ Berhalter took a week and a half off after starting for the Whitecaps in their MLS Cup final loss to Inter Miami on Dec. 6. He focused on eating clean and not pushing his body much physically aside from yoga just to stay active. After his self-allotted downtime, he was back to individual training sessions and getting touches on the ball. He ramped up the intensity over the next few weeks, writing down a list of what he wanted to accomplish each day in a notebook. He created a plan that included gym sessions, meetings, and meditation, and every time he’d complete something on the schedule, he’d check off the box he drew beside it. “It’s a system I’ve been using for awhile now and I feel like it’s something that keeps me accountable because I want to go back to the box and I want to check them off,” Berhalter said. “It’s satisfying to see at the end of the week that they’re all checked off. It’s about prioritizing things that I want to improve on or off the field and that keeps me organized.” Columbus Crew wing back Max Arfsten, who last played a competitive match in the USA’s 5-1 win over Uruguay on Nov. 18, spent part of his offseason in his hometown of Fresno, Calif. In the mornings, he’d train with a group of friends who also happened to be local professional players – mostly from the United Soccer League. They’d do technical work and play small-sided games. Then in the afternoons, Arfsten would go to the gym and lift before more conditioning. He’d also use the time as an opportunity to work on parts of his game that he can’t always get to during the season. For example, he’d take 30-40 shots in a row on goal or work on defending, crossing or building out of high-pressure situations that will help him as a left back in Pochettino’s system. “Having that North Star goal of trying to make the World Cup, there’s no time to just sit around, you know?” the 24-year-old Arfsten told me about his summer ambitions. “If you take too much time off, then it just takes longer to get back into it and I don’t think anybody wants to be in that situation.” Tim Ream, who will be 38 at this summer’s World Cup, agrees. When his season with Charlotte FC ended in early November, he took the necessary amount of time to rest and recover, and quickly jumped back into his program. “I’m one of those [guys] that I struggle with too much time off,” Ream told reporters during the USA’s November camp. “I’ll take 10 days off, completely shut the body down, and then get back on the bike and get back to running and get back to doing the things that I know work for me in the offseason. “As you get older, you actually need — or should be taking — less time off. I’ve found for me personally that’s really the approach. I’ll treat this preseason and this offseason the same way I treat every single one that I have in my career and come back ready to go in January knowing that 2026 is a huge, huge year, and that I have goals that I want to reach. It’s what you do when no one’s looking that allows you to reach those goals. And that’s what I’ll be doing.” ‘We’ll Have That Mental Freshness’ There are still a few weeks before the MLS season begins and soon after that, Pochettino will call in his March roster. Because of the layoff, are MLS players at a disadvantage in making the squad because they haven’t been playing regular matches like their European counterparts? Pochettino says no. “They’re going to [have] a very good level of energy,” the manager said in January. “Maybe [there’s a] lack of games, but I think you compensate with energy because they came from a period of rest and recovery and now they are charging their batteries to be full, to start competing in the end of or the middle of February. “And that is very good because I think in March they are going to be with all the power and it’s going to be good for them to show their quality. And of course for us, it’s good because they are going to be with all the energy and motivation to be part of the roster.” MLS players shrug their shoulders at the notion that the different schedules might play a part in who’s most deserving of a roster spot. There’s nothing they can do about it. “It just is what it is,” Berhalter said. “I think guys in MLS are just going to get right back at it.” “We can’t control the schedule,” added Arfsten. “One way to look at it is like, we’ll be more fresh. The European players by that time will be toward the end of the season. So they’re going to be more fit and in shape and in form, but I mean, after a long season you’re mentally drained so I think maybe we’ll have that mental freshness.” World Cup Watch: Could This Teenage Defender Make USA’s Squad? Thinking about that, though, is not productive for these MLS players. They’ve spent months trying not to get overwhelmed by how massive a year 2026 could be for them. Many are striving to play in their first World Cup. “I’m confident that everything I’ve done to get here is for a reason, and it’s worth it. It makes sense,” Berhalter said. “Anytime I step into the team – regardless if I am or not – I bet I’m the most prepared, the most hardworking, and it gives me a little edge, like, ‘I should be here. I deserve to be here. And now why not go ball out and do my thing?’ “If I get to the World Cup, that’s amazing. But if not, it doesn’t mean I’m not a good soccer player. I feel like you need to have perspective that even if it doesn’t happen, I’m going to be OK. I’ll be all right, and I’m gonna keep working. I don’t like to look at it as this is something hanging over my head like, ‘S—, I need to make the team.’ I take it day by day, and it would be the biggest honor of my life if I’m there.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Daytona International Speedway was alive again on Wednesday as the NASCAR Cup Series officially opened the Daytona 500 with the first practice. 2022 race winner Austin Cindric led the 45-car field with a session-best lap of 48.025 seconds (187.402 mph) in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford. Ross Chastain and Corey LaJoie followed closely behind. Check out the full results below. 2026 Daytona 500 Practice Results What is the Daytona 500 Schedule? Wednesday, February 11 Thursday, February 12 Friday, February 13 Saturday, February 14 Sunday, February 15​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Giving the command to start engines for the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington next month will be two athletes who are familiar to anyone who has paid an ounce of attention to Texas sports. Pro Football Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware and National Baseball Hall of Famer Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez were announced as the grand marshals for the March 15 race. The race will be the inaugural street-course event in Texas on a 2.73-mile circuit, that winds its way through the Arlington entertainment district, including AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) and Globe Life Field (home of the Texas Rangers). Ware, a former Cowboy linebacker, is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Rodriguez, a former Rangers catcher, earned 13 Golden Glove awards. “DeMarcus Ware and Iván ‘Pudge’ Rodríguez represent the very best of North Texas, championship-caliber excellence, unwavering pride and a deep connection to this community,” said race president Bill Miller in a news release.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The NASCAR Cup Series has been unpredictable for several years, and a few of FOX Sports’ motorsports experts expect the 2026 season to be just as wild. In the most recent edition of “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour,” Bob Pockrass, Kevin Harvick and Mamba Smith were all over the map with their predictions for the upcoming season. Each of them had different picks on who’ll be this year’s breakout driver, who’ll have the most wins and who’ll ultimately be the Cup Series champion. So, with Sunday’s Daytona 500 just days away (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), here is how Pockrass, Harvick and Smith expect the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series to play out. Which team has the most to prove this season? Pockrass: Richard Childress Racing With an uncertain future looming around RCR following an underwhelming season, Pockrass believes that Richard Childress Racing is under the most pressure in 2026. “You talk about Kyle Busch being a free agent and can you get the track right there with a new crew chief and get him feeling like this can be a place where he wants to keep racing at,” Pockrass said. “Where is Austin Dillon in his career? He obviously wants to run better as well. You’ve got a couple of young guys there who want to go Cup racing. Where are they looking for their futures? To me, RCR, they’ve gone through another round of competition changes, which seems like they’ve had a lot over the last two or three years. To me, they’re probably under the most pressure.” Both Dillon and Busch finished outside the top 12 in the Cup Series standings last year, placing 15th and 21st, respectively. Harvick: 23XI Harvick simply believes that 23XI needs to do more in 2026, specifically pointing to Tyler Reddick as a driver that needs to step up. “We gave them a mulligan last year,” Harvick said. “The bottom line is, Bubba [Wallace] got to victory lane, and we saw improvement from that car last year. Tyler Reddick has to win. I think he’s expected and went there to win races and been there long enough to win races. I think the scrutiny of that organization if they don’t, there’s no gimme this year. “Bubba’s been there long enough now that it’s time to start creeping into that multiple wins [per season]. Riley will hopefully run better after his first year in Cup. But the big Tyler Reddick scenario to me is you’re expecting multiple race wins out of that car and that company and, in my opinion, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin expect them to go out and contend for a championship.” After a three-win season in 2024, Reddick wasn’t able to get a win in 2025. He had seven top-five finishes, placing ninth in the season-long standings. Smith: RFK/22 Group Smith has a pair of teams that he believes need to step up in 2026. “RFK needs to show they can be a top team again,” Smith said. “Obviously, what we just saw with Ryan Preece, that was great. He’s their top guy. He’s consistently their fastest guy. If I would say who is the most motivated, the 22 Group is the most motivated because of maybe how much people on social media talk about their championships. “Watch the 22 Group show you what they can do in a different format. Watch them come out and be a top team as far as average, because it’s different.” None of RFK’s racers won a race last year, with all three finishing outside the top 15. Breakout Driver of the Year Pockrass: Chris Buescher Pockrass believes that Buescher could benefit from a potential strong season from RFK Racing. “When we talk to other drivers about, ‘Who do you think is gonna make the chase this year who didn’t make it last year?,’ a third of them didn’t even think twice before they said Chris Buescher. If RFK is stronger as a group, he’s going to be really strong,” Pockrass said. Buescher has taken a step back in the last two seasons following his seventh-place season finish in 2023, but had five top-five finishes in 2025. Harvick: Ty Gibbs Harvick thinks that one of Gibbs’ traits makes him strong enough to break through in 2026. “Just because he’s been so fast. He’s got the speed in the race car to keep himself in contention, can race well, and it’s just about getting over that hump to get to victory lane,” Harvick said. “I think they have the capability, the stability within the team now that they think they can have a breakout year.” The 23-year-old has finished in the top 20 of the Cup standings in all three of his seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing. He had five top-five finishes in 2025. Smith: Chase Elliott Yes, Elliott is a past Cup champion, but Smith believes he’s due to climb back into contention after slipping to outside the top five in recent years. “I’m just thinking that they started figuring it out with the car,” Smith said. “That was just the biggest thing. He wasn’t very comfortable driving this car. Now, they figured it out. They went through all their gremlins. And their system is more to their liking. They probably feel like, ‘It’s back in our wheelhouse.” They’re probably going to have a good year.” Elliott finished eighth in the standings last year, picking up two wins. Who has the most wins this season Pockrass: Kyle Larson Pockrass thinks we see another strong year out of the No. 5 car in 2026 following his second Cup Series win last year. “I don’t see any reason why they’re going to get any worse,” Pockrass said. Harvick: Denny Hamlin Harvick believes that some external factors could come into play and lead to Hamlin having a strong year in 2026 following his second-place finish in 2025. “I could definitely make the argument for Larson, but there’s still a lot of motivation for Denny Hamlin,” Harvick said. “I just know he’s talked about his shoulder being hurt, being through so many things with his family, losing the championship and his dad’s passing and everything. I still believe there’s some fire in there to motivate him and as a driver, every year you’re looking for something to motivate you when you’ve done it that long. I hope that plays out, because I think he deserves it. I think sentiment for Denny Hamlin this year is going to be different. It started to shift last year. I believe that fan sentiment is going to be pretty positive this year as he rolls into the race track.” Smith: Christopher Bell Similar to Harvick with Hamlin, Smith thinks that motivation will play a role in Bell getting the most wins in 2026 after his midseason struggles last year. “I almost went with his other teammate, Chase Briscoe, but Christopher Bell is highly, highly motivated to win a championship,” Smith said. “That group is so fast. There’s really not any holes in his game. So, I think there’s a very good chance he ends the year with the most wins.” Who will be the Cup Champion? Pockrass: Ryan Blaney Pockrass didn’t offer an explanation for his pick, but Blaney has consistently been among the Cup Series’ top drivers. His sixth-place finish last year came two years after his 2023 title and a year after his 2024 second-place finish. Harvick: William Byron Harvick thinks it’s time for Byron to get over the hump following three top-five finishes. “It’s just that maturity and the things that go with a team. I think he and Rudy have a great relationship,” Harvick said. “They have worked through a lot of hard moments together, and that’s what it takes to be the champ.” Smith: Christopher Bell If Bell is going to get the most wins, why can’t he win the Cup Championship? That’s what Smith thinks of Bell entering 2026 as he had his fourth straight top-five finish in 2025. “Last year, I went with William Byron, and I still feel like the fire is there. But this year, I’m going with Christopher Bell. There’s something about it with him, and I think it’s his time.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson left full-time NASCAR racing after the 2020 season. Some thought he would come back for another full year in 2021 in front of post-COVID fan-filled tracks, but Johnson was ready for his next adventure. He’s had plenty of next adventures, including a couple of years racing in INDYCAR and purchasing a stake in GMS Racing, eventually becoming the majority owner of what is now Legacy Motor Club, which plans to expand from two to three Cup cars in 2027. Johnson had moved to England for a couple of years before returning to the United States full-time in 2025. He is back in the states trying to guide his team to improved performance. He also has two Cup races on his schedule this year — the Daytona 500 (he has run it the last three years) and the one-time race at Naval Base Coronado, near his hometown of El Cajon, California. Johnson talked to me about who he is — especially in his post-full-time NASCAR racing life: Post-full-time NASCAR career, who is Jimmie Johnson? It’s a great question. I am more aware. It’s been a great way to reflect. I’m learning more about myself, who I was, what it took to be that person. You know competition demands so much out of you that you’re on the hamster wheel but maybe don’t have the awareness that you could or should, and the more time I spend away from that environment, the more aware I become. So it’s a lot of reflection, I guess. How would your wife, Chani, describe you? I think at the core, she would say I’m so very much the same person — the work ethic, the journey, the motivation, my hours. Everything else is different, like my focus has shifted. I’m hopeful to train a couple of days a week. I’m still up so many hours and motivated by being a team owner and the things that go with it versus being out on a run in the morning. The hours and dedication are still very similar, but the pressure of [no longer] competing has brought awareness, peace, enjoyment, some other elements that I certainly think I’m much more aware of now. I think Chani would say the same. I remember when you helped open a street food restaurant in Charlotte. What’s more difficult, owning a restaurant or owning a race team? A race team. I had great partners in either scenario, but the restaurant was founded in an environment that was enhanced by my participation, not dependent upon it. So you’re saying that you’re more relied upon on the race team side? Totally. I’m the approved owner of the charters. My involvement is in some contracts written in with our partners and sponsors and in other elements, it’s maybe not in writing, but it’s an understanding. The big business side of this — if I wasn’t in it like I am, we wouldn’t have the great partners that we do. You seem to be a guy who loves people and loves relationships. Legacy has certainly had its share of changes. So I’m curious, how hard is it for you to make personnel changes as an owner? Without question, the most difficult part I’ve played. Because coming in, I felt like I would spend more time in a competition department. I probably talked about it before. As we’ve been on this journey, we’ve realized that my strengths are in different areas, and also my interests are in different areas. [Former Cup champion and Legacy adviser] Matt Kenseth has been such an asset for me, personally, to have the competition side with that experienced, watchful eye that I thought I could offer and bring to and the accountability that I could to our drivers and crew chiefs. But I’ve been on the front lines of revenue generation, partnerships and finding investors, all these different layers. So it’s been in a different scope of work, but highly relationship. Through that, we’ve had some turnover on the business ops side, but more turnover on the performance side. I haven’t been directly in a lot of that, and that’s an area that I’ve got to get more comfortable with and understand. But we’ve had groups that have evolved quite a bit, and there certainly have been plenty of tough conversations. So you’re racing this year, you have at least two Cup races, a truck race (also at Coronado), an off-road race. Is that just the start, or is that mostly what you’re going to do this year? Yeah, that’s the bulk of it. There’s a few historic car races I’ll be playing in. I’ll go to Monterey [California] this year and got a couple historic cars that I’ve purchased, and I’ll have a chance to drive them in addition to the Goodwood revival [in England]. That’s it for now. If something came along, I’d certainly take a look at it. From a Cup standpoint and the at-track demands that I have, I’m far more effective and useful out of a race car. So the Cup side is kind of baked for ’26, but if other opportunities came about, I’d look real hard at them. What is the most Californian thing about you? I’d say my eating habits. Full Mex at all times, especially growing up as close to the border as I did. What I know when we talked when you kind of went INDYCAR racing, of the reasons you went is because you could and because it was something that you wanted to do and had the opportunity to do. And I’m curious, what other things have you been able to do because you could and you had opportunities that you maybe you never thought you would get a chance to do, or were your favorite things to be able to do? I would say each step that I’ve made, personally and professionally, [has] been looking through that lens. Our time in London, that was kind of a reward that Chani and I had for ourselves. When the full-time racing stopped, we wanted to live abroad. And then it delayed a couple of years due to my idea to go INDYCAR racing. And then it all came together, and I was an owner, and thought, ‘Man, maybe, maybe it’s not a good time to go.’ And we had our tragedy [where investigators say his mother-in-law murdered her husband and her grandchild before killing herself], which then shifted it to, yeah, we should probably take advantage of this opportunity. It seems like a blessing that’s for us to be a family unit and be together. And that turned into a second year [there]. That’s one that really stands out personally. And then professionally — I guess it’s maybe not professionally in some respects — but driving that unlimited hydroplane [boat], committing to the [off-road race], committed to engage with a current partner and do cool things, Carvana and their support in this whole journey are like, what else do you want to do on that bucket list of ideas? So to create this fun opportunity with them, they’re like, ‘Hey, what do you want to go and try and do?” We try and do come up with those ideas and just have fun with it. What do you miss most about not being in London? There was a sense of freedom. That first year was really tough, but when you got established, there was big sense of freedom. And it was a good moment for me to separate from this hamster wheel that I’ve been on. You’re abroad. You’re five, six hours ahead. Sure, I had obligations and stuff as an owner and a partner to Maury [Gallagher at GMS], but it was Maury calling the shots. He was still the majority owner. And my schedule lightened up, and it was a nice shift for me to let go in a lot of ways and be with my family. And so that freedom that being away offered in my position in the team as a minority owner, and then the family time — it was just window of time I’ll always cherish. Are your teenage daughters into the 6-7 fad. And if they are, do you embrace it, or do you tell them that’s not allowed in the house? They were. It’s moved on to something else. When we try to be cool and bring it up, we get yelled at like, “You’re not cool, that’s so old, that’s yesterday.” But were you one who allowed it? Are you somebody who thinks there are other things to be worried about or fret over about. Or are you somebody who’s like: I don’t like it, we’re not having it? No. The fads, we just laugh. It’s funny. I remember feeling that my parents were so old and didn’t get it, and I remember thinking, “I’ll never be that.” And before I knew it, and without any clear understanding, I don’t know how to work my phone, I don’t know the fads — any electronic device that I get handed, they’re like, “[Give it] here dad” and within a few clicks, they’ve got it. It’s just wild when you’re younger and you make little mental notes or whatever it might be, “I’m not going to be that.” All of a sudden, you are that. And then finally, is this going to be your last Daytona 500? No, no, no. That was a quick answer. Yeah. Especially owning the team. I can call these shots, do what I want. So, yeah, without a doubt, there’s a trend of things slowing down. But this won’t be my last 500. What is it about the Daytona 500 that keeps bringing you back? What’s the best way to put it? Last year, I finished third. And when I go to other Cup races, and when you’re not a regular with a regular team, squeezing out that last little sliver of speed week in and week out, you’re just not in the window of the win. And it’s just a harsh truth, and one that I’ve accepted recently. And when I look over time and the unpredictable winners of a restrictor-plate race and also of the Daytona 500, why wouldn’t I? I can go get another one, get my 84th [win]. So it just works well with a part-time or a moonlight or whatever the right phrase would be. I think plate races in general, and then, of course, if you’re going to do it, you may as well do the big one.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — For a moment when I saw Tony Stewart in November and asked him about racing a truck at Daytona, I had the feeling I looked at him as if he had two or three heads. As my camera rolled, Stewart declined to answer at the time about why he would think about doing it, but certainly my reaction wasn’t the only one. Apparently the reaction is common. Stewart described in a Dodge-moderated teleconference with reporters last month that his wife, Leah, also looked at him with some skepticism. “She looked at me like I had three heads,” Stewart said. “So it took a little bit of convincing to convince her that I was serious about it.” Oh wait, that actually was about him just racing a truck again. Not even at Daytona. And then she gave him another look when she heard about the plan for him to race for Kaulig Racing in the season opener Friday night. “She’s like, ‘Why would you do that?’” Stewart told me. “And she goes, ‘You’ve always told me it’s about a 70 percent chance you’re going to get wrecked out of any race at Daytona.’” So why is Stewart doing it? It’s no secret his NHRA drag racing team exists at least in part because of the investment from Dodge, the sister company to Ram, which enters the trucks for the 2026 season with an eye on returning Dodge to Cup in 2027 or 2028. The three-time Cup champion hasn’t raced anything in NASCAR since 2016, and he figures at least he knows the draft at Daytona. “All these guys that are running the truck series, they know the handling characteristics of these trucks,” Stewart said. “But when you go to a place like Daytona and Talladega, they aren’t necessarily the same handling characteristics and the things that you truly need to know about that is the draft. “And it doesn’t matter how much technology changes. The one thing that doesn’t change at Daytona is the air. So I think our record book shows we had a pretty good success rate at Daytona, and at least that we understood that part of it.” It will be cool to see Stewart in the truck race but also a little scary. It’s no secret that sometimes truck superspeedway races can morph into wreckfests. And at age 54, with a 15-month-old son and a vibrant NHRA team as well as a sprint-car team, is he taking too big of a risk? Stewart, who knows that his racing days are nearing an end, has never shied away from risks and part of him thinks this will be cool. Of course, there’s the big question mark of why even return to NASCAR considering what came out in the 23XI/Front Row antitrust lawsuit against the sanctioning body. Text messages revealed NASCAR brass wanted to “put a knife” in Stewart’s SRX Series that several NASCAR drivers participated in — something that NASCAR felt could impact its television rights negotiations if drivers continued to participate in other nationally televised stock-car events, albeit on a much smaller scale at smaller tracks than Cup typically visits. “I think everybody that’s on this call understands I didn’t have the best relationship with NASCAR, and surely, over the last 12 months, have had more reason to not have the best of relationships,” Stewart told me. “But still, at the end of the day, there were parts of the racing and people there that made it worthwhile — and the tracks and the cars, there were a lot of aspects that I truly do still miss to this day of it.” For young fans and his biggest fans, it will be a treat to see Stewart race the truck. He won’t even rule out another appearance later in the year. And if Stewart really wants to do it, then great — he’s earned the right to do what he wants. But let’s not hope he’s not doing it too often as a favor or in hopes of making sure he keeps his Dodge support. Doing it once as a bit of thanks and strengthening a relationship makes sense. But there’s a lot of risk for that to be the answer. In Second Thoughts, Bob Pockrass offers his opinion on a burning motorsports topic.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports