As Chase’s top seed, Denny Hamlin is optimistic about NASCAR title bid against surging Team Penske
Hamlin enters the 16-driver playoff with a 25-point lead, while Team Penske has won four of the past six races.
- With a seventh-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday, Denny Hamlin clinched the top seed in the 10-race Chase, with the playoffs beginning next month at Darlington Raceway.
- Hamlin enters the 16-driver Chase as the favorite with a 25-point lead, bolstered by four victories at Las Vegas, Nashville Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway, and Pocono Raceway.
- Team Penske president Michael Nelson acknowledged the team has been "licking our wounds" on 1.5-mile ovals, though Penske should excel on shorter tracks like Bristol Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.
- Heading into Saturday's regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway, the final two Chase spots remain contested between Austin Cindric, Shane van Gisbergen, and Ryan Preece, who trails 16th by 31 points.
- Racing with desperation for a 2027 seat, Wood Brothers Racing driver Josh Berry continues his longest top-10 streak since 1994 after Richard Childress Racing announced Austin Hill's return.
20 Articles
20 Articles
As Chase's top seed, Denny Hamlin is optimistic about NASCAR title bid against surging Team Penske
With a seventh place Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin clinched the top seed in the 10-race title run that begins next month at Darlington Raceway.
Associated Press News
As Chase’s top seed, Denny Hamlin is optimistic about NASCAR title bid against surging Team Penske
With a seventh place Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin clinched the top seed in the 10-race title run that begins next month at Darlington Raceway.
Denny Hamlin Locks Up No. 1 Seed for 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase
Denny Hamlin did not win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He did, however, leave Loudon with something no other NASCAR Cup Series driver can take from him. The No. 1 seed in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase officially belongs to Hamlin. Hamlin’s seventh-place finish at New Hampshire was enough to secure the top spot before the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. Whatever happens Friday night in the Coke Zero Sugar 400…
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