Denny Hamlin will enter the Chase as the driver to beat in the NASCAR Cup Series. On Sunday afternoon, Hamlin clinched the No. 1 seed for the Chase during the 2026 Cup Series season. With an over 70-point lead entering Daytona International Speedway, no one can pass Hamlin in the points standings.
NASCAR won’t reward a regular-season championship, so Hamlin won’t receive the honor or a trophy for his accomplishment. Instead, Hamlin and the No. 11 team for Joe Gibbs Racing will enter the Chase with a 25-point advantage over second-place in the standings.
It is isn’t a massive gap with 10 races, including Talladega Superspeedway, but the higher a driver finishes in the standings, the better. For Hamlin, there will be on one in front of him. If a driver wants to win the 2026 Cup Series championship, they must go through Hamlin in the Chase.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Denny Hamlin earns No. 1 seed for 2026 Chase in NASCAR Cup Series
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