NASCAR Championship Contenders to Race Final Three

Four drivers remain in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series title hunt as the season approaches its final three events.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Motorsports

Expressive sports illustration showing motion-blurred race cars on a banked track, capturing the high-speed intensity of the final NASCAR championship races. — NASCAR championship contender Jesse Love leads the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series standings heading into the final three races at Talladega, Martinsville, and Homestead. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Jesse Love currently leads the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series championship standings by 36 points with three races remaining in the season. A new champion will be crowned following upcoming events at Talladega, Martinsville, and Homestead.

Why it matters

The final three races represent the ultimate test for the four remaining contenders as they compete for the championship. Each race victory awards 20 bonus points, providing a significant opportunity for drivers to overcome current point deficits.

Jesse Love holds a 36-point lead in the standings, while victory in any of the final three races provides a crucial 20-point bonus. Current deficits for title contenders Corey Day and Sheldon Creed sit at 39 and 59 points, respectively.

The players

Jesse Love

He is the current leader in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series championship standings.

Justin Allgaier

He is a competitor currently trailing the championship leader by 36 points.

Corey Day

The 20-year-old driver has secured four wins during the current racing season.

Sheldon Creed

He is a contender who won postseason races at both Darlington and Bristol.

The details

Jesse Love enters the closing stretch with momentum after his recent win at Phoenix, while Corey Day looks to leverage his four season victories to close the gap. Sheldon Creed, a previous winner at Bristol and the Darlington postseason race, also remains mathematically in contention as the final trio of venues looms.

Corey Day won at Talladega in April 2026.
The championship will be determined over the next three weeks.

Season Trajectory

The current battle mirrors the path of past rookie champions like Chase Elliott in 2014, William Byron in 2017, and Tyler Reddick in 2018. This season illustrates the ongoing trend of young drivers quickly ascending to challenge for the series title.

Drivers must navigate the upcoming tracks at Talladega, Martinsville, and Homestead to secure the title. The 20-point bonus for a race win serves as the most critical factor for the three drivers trailing Love in the current standings.

The takeaway

The championship remains highly competitive as the point margins for the final three contenders are all within 60 points of the leader. Strategies will likely focus on securing race wins to capture the 20-point bonus and force a shift in the standings.