1 month ago
Two races into NASCAR's new Chase, the championship standings are already showing how quickly things can change.
Kyle Larson left Darlington 49 points behind Denny Hamlin. One win at Gateway later, he sits second, just nine points back.
Ryan Blaney experienced the opposite. He entered Gateway 16 points behind Hamlin before a brake failure ended his race in 35th. Now he trails by 33.
Next comes Bristol Motor Speedway, and there is no reset waiting on the other side.
Under NASCAR's previous playoff format, drivers raced through elimination rounds with points resets along the way. The 2026 Chase is different. After the initial reseeding, all 10 races count toward the same championship total.
#points #championship
Kyle Larson left Darlington 49 points behind Denny Hamlin. One win at Gateway later, he sits second, just nine points back.
Ryan Blaney experienced the opposite. He entered Gateway 16 points behind Hamlin before a brake failure ended his race in 35th. Now he trails by 33.
Next comes Bristol Motor Speedway, and there is no reset waiting on the other side.
Under NASCAR's previous playoff format, drivers raced through elimination rounds with points resets along the way. The 2026 Chase is different. After the initial reseeding, all 10 races count toward the same championship total.
#points #championship
1 month ago
Ja'Marr Chase, George Pickens and other fantasy football bad beats not to worry about appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Week 1 can make fantasy managers question an entire summer of research. A first-round receiver disappears, a breakout candidate misses his projection and suddenly the trade block looks tempting. The better approach is to separate disappointing box scores from genuinely concerning roles. Ja'Marr Chase and George Pickens hurt lineups in Week 1, but neither performance provided a good reason to panic.
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Chase delivered the most shocking dud of the opening weekend, catching two of four targets for only 12 yards in Cincinnati's 33-27 victory over Tampa Bay. He finished behind Mike Gesicki, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown in targets despite entering the week as fantasy football's consensus top wide receiver.
The four targets were frustrating, but the result looks more like an outlier than a changing offensive hierarchy. Chase's 3.2 PPR points represented the second-worst fantasy performance of his career. He has also averaged 5.5 fewer fantasy points in September than during every other month, demonstrating that slow starts are nothing new.
#fantasy #george #receiver
Week 1 can make fantasy managers question an entire summer of research. A first-round receiver disappears, a breakout candidate misses his projection and suddenly the trade block looks tempting. The better approach is to separate disappointing box scores from genuinely concerning roles. Ja'Marr Chase and George Pickens hurt lineups in Week 1, but neither performance provided a good reason to panic.
Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Chase delivered the most shocking dud of the opening weekend, catching two of four targets for only 12 yards in Cincinnati's 33-27 victory over Tampa Bay. He finished behind Mike Gesicki, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown in targets despite entering the week as fantasy football's consensus top wide receiver.
The four targets were frustrating, but the result looks more like an outlier than a changing offensive hierarchy. Chase's 3.2 PPR points represented the second-worst fantasy performance of his career. He has also averaged 5.5 fewer fantasy points in September than during every other month, demonstrating that slow starts are nothing new.
#fantasy #george #receiver
1 month ago
The NFL Week 1 schedule concludes Monday night when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos in an AFC West matchup at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
For Kansas City, the biggest question heading into the season opener has centered on its quarterback. Patrick Mahomes has spent the offseason working his way back from a major knee injury that ended his 2025 season.
The 30-year-old quarterback has not played since suffering a torn ACL and LCL in December 2025. The injury sparked concern across Chiefs kingdom and Kansas City also missed the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era.
MORE: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson dealt good and bad news after Colts game
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15). Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
#kansas #quarterback #patrick
For Kansas City, the biggest question heading into the season opener has centered on its quarterback. Patrick Mahomes has spent the offseason working his way back from a major knee injury that ended his 2025 season.
The 30-year-old quarterback has not played since suffering a torn ACL and LCL in December 2025. The injury sparked concern across Chiefs kingdom and Kansas City also missed the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era.
MORE: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson dealt good and bad news after Colts game
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15). Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
#kansas #quarterback #patrick
2 months ago
Spire Motorsports owner Jeff **** erson responded to Denny Hamlin's bold statement about his team being an "unserious" one. The comments were made on Hamlin's "Actions Detrimental" podcast in the wake of a controversial incident involving Brad Keselowski and Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar at Darlington.
Towards the end of Stage 1 in the Cook Out Southern 500, contact between Hocevar and Keselowski sent the latter spinning. After the race, Hocevar was tight-lipped in his reaction to the incident, simply saying:
"I don't know. He spun."
Keselowski, meanwhile, had fiery comments for the driver of the No. 77 after the race."His day's coming and it's coming hard. Watch out, Carson," he said.
Hocevar said he will "tighten his belts" in response to Keselowski's comments.
#keselowski #spire
Towards the end of Stage 1 in the Cook Out Southern 500, contact between Hocevar and Keselowski sent the latter spinning. After the race, Hocevar was tight-lipped in his reaction to the incident, simply saying:
"I don't know. He spun."
Keselowski, meanwhile, had fiery comments for the driver of the No. 77 after the race."His day's coming and it's coming hard. Watch out, Carson," he said.
Hocevar said he will "tighten his belts" in response to Keselowski's comments.
#keselowski #spire
2 months ago
Spire Motorsports has been in the news all week for all the wrong reasons, especially for Daniel Suarez, who is in the NASCAR Chase.
Suarez, driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, has grown weary of hearing about his teammate Carson Hocevar spinning out Brad Keselowski at Darlington on Sept. 6 and the subsequent criticism aimed at Spire.
He is ready to shift gears and focus on the Sept. 12 NASCAR Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (2 p.m. C.T., USA).
DENNY HAMLIN BLASTS SPIRE MOTORSPORTS: What Carson Hocevar said about Brad Keselowski's threat and Denny Hamlin's podcast comments
"It's difficult because I think we're doing a lot of great things at Spire Motorsports," Suarez said. "Carson is going to have his personality, I am going to have my personality, Michael (McDowell) is going to have his personality, and that's Ok. We have to be authentic. But we don't want to affect the reputation or the integrity or create a distraction within the team. We already have enough distractions within the team."
#suarez #personality #brad
Suarez, driver of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, has grown weary of hearing about his teammate Carson Hocevar spinning out Brad Keselowski at Darlington on Sept. 6 and the subsequent criticism aimed at Spire.
He is ready to shift gears and focus on the Sept. 12 NASCAR Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (2 p.m. C.T., USA).
DENNY HAMLIN BLASTS SPIRE MOTORSPORTS: What Carson Hocevar said about Brad Keselowski's threat and Denny Hamlin's podcast comments
"It's difficult because I think we're doing a lot of great things at Spire Motorsports," Suarez said. "Carson is going to have his personality, I am going to have my personality, Michael (McDowell) is going to have his personality, and that's Ok. We have to be authentic. But we don't want to affect the reputation or the integrity or create a distraction within the team. We already have enough distractions within the team."
#suarez #personality #brad
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2 months ago
Christopher Bell opened The Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series by earning his first victory of the 2026 season. After passing Kyle Larson for the lead with 12 circuits remaining, Bell captured the victory in Sunday night's Cook Out Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway.
It was Bell's first Darlington win, first victory of the 2026 season and 14th career Cup win overall. The win was huge for Bell's championship hopes as he moved into the second position in the standings, 12 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.
It was a trying evening for Hamlin, who entered the Chase as the top seed. In the final stage, contact between Hamlin and Michael McDowell caused toe link damage on the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
The contact forced Hamlin to go a lap behind. The 45-year-old gained his lap back and ultimately finished 18th. Going into Darlington, Hamlin had a 25-point lead over second place Ryan Blaney. Now, the JGR driver has a 12-point edge over Bell.
William Byron had a difficult evening at Darlington as he posted a DNF of 37th place. The driver of the No. 24 suffered a flat tire in the final stage, then suffered an engine failure on the subsequent restart.
#darlington #bell #season #behind
It was Bell's first Darlington win, first victory of the 2026 season and 14th career Cup win overall. The win was huge for Bell's championship hopes as he moved into the second position in the standings, 12 points behind leader Denny Hamlin.
It was a trying evening for Hamlin, who entered the Chase as the top seed. In the final stage, contact between Hamlin and Michael McDowell caused toe link damage on the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
The contact forced Hamlin to go a lap behind. The 45-year-old gained his lap back and ultimately finished 18th. Going into Darlington, Hamlin had a 25-point lead over second place Ryan Blaney. Now, the JGR driver has a 12-point edge over Bell.
William Byron had a difficult evening at Darlington as he posted a DNF of 37th place. The driver of the No. 24 suffered a flat tire in the final stage, then suffered an engine failure on the subsequent restart.
#darlington #bell #season #behind
2 months ago
The NASCAR Cup Series began the Chase on Sunday night, and it was a thrilling show. Christopher Bell and the No. 20 team for Joe Gibbs Racing won at Darlington Raceway, earning their first victory of the 2026 Cup Series season. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin struggled after damage, shrinking his championship lead.
Leaving Darlington, Hamlin only holds a 12-point advantage over Bell for the lead in the Chase. There are nine races remaining, so there is plenty of time; however, it wasn't an ideal start for the No. 1 seed. For Bell, it was a much-needed victory in the 2026 Southern 500 at Darlington.
Check out the Chase standings for the Cup Series with nine races left in 2026!
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: +12
No. 20 Christopher Bell: -12
#series #christopher #lead
Leaving Darlington, Hamlin only holds a 12-point advantage over Bell for the lead in the Chase. There are nine races remaining, so there is plenty of time; however, it wasn't an ideal start for the No. 1 seed. For Bell, it was a much-needed victory in the 2026 Southern 500 at Darlington.
Check out the Chase standings for the Cup Series with nine races left in 2026!
No. 11 Denny Hamlin: +12
No. 20 Christopher Bell: -12
#series #christopher #lead
2 months ago
The first race of the Chase did not go the way Denny Hamlin was hoping for on Saturday at Darlington.
Heading into the Chase as the top car in the standings and the favorite to finally win his first championship, Hamlin was hoping to extend his lead on the field with a strong finish at the Track Too Tough to Tame.
While the No. 11 ran out front to start the race, a poor pit stop later put him out in the middle of the field, where he made contact with Michael McDowell. That contact caused a bit of damage that kept him from the speed he had maintained early in the day, and Hamlin ultimately had to settle for an 18th-place finish.
After the race, Hamlin was frustrated, as he felt his car was just starting to peak when the contact occurred.
"Certainly not the finish we were hoping for. Good first couple of stages. Just got to where our car was actually the best right before that wreck in stage three," Hamlin said. "We certainly made gains on it all day. It was really good in the short run, we got it really good in the long run by the time that third stage came, but never got to see it through."
#hoping #field
Heading into the Chase as the top car in the standings and the favorite to finally win his first championship, Hamlin was hoping to extend his lead on the field with a strong finish at the Track Too Tough to Tame.
While the No. 11 ran out front to start the race, a poor pit stop later put him out in the middle of the field, where he made contact with Michael McDowell. That contact caused a bit of damage that kept him from the speed he had maintained early in the day, and Hamlin ultimately had to settle for an 18th-place finish.
After the race, Hamlin was frustrated, as he felt his car was just starting to peak when the contact occurred.
"Certainly not the finish we were hoping for. Good first couple of stages. Just got to where our car was actually the best right before that wreck in stage three," Hamlin said. "We certainly made gains on it all day. It was really good in the short run, we got it really good in the long run by the time that third stage came, but never got to see it through."
#hoping #field
2 months ago
Christopher Bell finally broke through when it mattered most.
Bell won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night, capturing his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2026 season and opening the Chase with a massive statement win. The victory was Bell's 14th career Cup Series win and ended a frustrating stretch of near-misses that had seen him finish runner-up seven times.
Tyler Reddick entered Darlington with plenty of momentum and started the race from the pole after weather forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying.
Reddick immediately showed why he was considered one of the favorites, winning the opening stage after battling with Denny Hamlin throughout the first portion of the race. Bubba Wallace and Hamlin remained near the front as the field dealt with Darlington's notoriously difficult tire-wear conditions.
Reddick's strong start put him in position to score valuable playoff points, but the race was far from over.
#darlington #series
Bell won the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night, capturing his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2026 season and opening the Chase with a massive statement win. The victory was Bell's 14th career Cup Series win and ended a frustrating stretch of near-misses that had seen him finish runner-up seven times.
Tyler Reddick entered Darlington with plenty of momentum and started the race from the pole after weather forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying.
Reddick immediately showed why he was considered one of the favorites, winning the opening stage after battling with Denny Hamlin throughout the first portion of the race. Bubba Wallace and Hamlin remained near the front as the field dealt with Darlington's notoriously difficult tire-wear conditions.
Reddick's strong start put him in position to score valuable playoff points, but the race was far from over.
#darlington #series
2 months ago
Denny Hamlin preserved his NASCAR Cup Series Chase lead after an eventful Cook Out Southern 500 on Sept. 6 at Darlington.
Hamlin is 12 points ahead of Christopher Bell going into next week's race at Gateway, the second of 10 races in the Chase.
Bell broke the seal in 2026 with the victory at Darlington, his first win since last year at Bristol.
Hamlin recovered from a broken toe link to finish 18th while bagging 16 stage points to minimize the points damage.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#cook
Hamlin is 12 points ahead of Christopher Bell going into next week's race at Gateway, the second of 10 races in the Chase.
Bell broke the seal in 2026 with the victory at Darlington, his first win since last year at Bristol.
Hamlin recovered from a broken toe link to finish 18th while bagging 16 stage points to minimize the points damage.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#cook
2 months ago
Carson Hocevar spun out Brad Keselowski, bringing out a caution and ending the first stage of the NASCAR Darlington race on Sept. 6.
There were still a few laps left in the stage, but when the yellow comes out so near the end, a new NASCAR rule states the stage ends.
Hocevar came close to taking out Joey Logano as well when he got into the back of Keselowski. There did not seem to be a reason for Hocevar making contact.
It was the first caution of the race.
Tyler Reddick won the stage, with Bubba Wallace second and Denny Hamlin third.
#hocevar #first
There were still a few laps left in the stage, but when the yellow comes out so near the end, a new NASCAR rule states the stage ends.
Hocevar came close to taking out Joey Logano as well when he got into the back of Keselowski. There did not seem to be a reason for Hocevar making contact.
It was the first caution of the race.
Tyler Reddick won the stage, with Bubba Wallace second and Denny Hamlin third.
#hocevar #first
2 months ago
The Kansas City Chiefs adjusted practice squad depth by signing international tight end Thomas Odukoya, utilizing the International Player Pathway Program exemption. The front office added the 6-foot-6 target to expand its roster allowance following final preseason cuts.
The strategic addition bolsters coverage in the tight end room while veteran starter Travis Kelce prepares for his 14th season. Odukoya provides developmental length as the coaching staff builds insurance behind their starting rotation.
Odukoya gives Kansas City another tight end option after joining through the International Player Pathway Program. The move expanded the Chiefs' practice squad to 17 players under the exemption rules.
Born in Amsterdam, Odukoya played college football at Eastern Michigan before entering the NFL through the same pathway with Tennessee.
Aug 15, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; KKansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) on field against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of the pre season at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
#odukoya #tight #international #travis
The strategic addition bolsters coverage in the tight end room while veteran starter Travis Kelce prepares for his 14th season. Odukoya provides developmental length as the coaching staff builds insurance behind their starting rotation.
Odukoya gives Kansas City another tight end option after joining through the International Player Pathway Program. The move expanded the Chiefs' practice squad to 17 players under the exemption rules.
Born in Amsterdam, Odukoya played college football at Eastern Michigan before entering the NFL through the same pathway with Tennessee.
Aug 15, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; KKansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) on field against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of the pre season at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
#odukoya #tight #international #travis
2 months ago
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The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500. (Sean Gardner / Getty Images)
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin Sunday night at Darlington Raceway, and the Cook Out Southern 500 gives The Chase the kind of opener it deserves. Ryan Preece forced his way into the 16-driver field with a win at Daytona last weekend, grabbing the final playoff spot and adding one more dramatic twist before the ***** le fight officially begins. Now the regular season is over, the field is set, and only 16 drivers have a path to the championship.
Denny Hamlin starts The Chase in the best position, carrying a 25-point lead over Ryan Blaney, while the rest of the field has plenty of ground to make up. Preece enters as the final seed and starts 100 points back, but with 10 races still ahead, there is still plenty of time for chaos, comebacks, and mistakes that can reshape the standings quickly. Darlington is the perfect place to start, with its tire wear, narrow racing groove, and unforgiving walls ready to punish anyone who gets too aggressive too early. The Chase is wide open, and Sunday night is the first real test.
The green flag drops for the first race of The Chase at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, and racing fans can watch every lap on Sling TV.
#series
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500. (Sean Gardner / Getty Images)
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin Sunday night at Darlington Raceway, and the Cook Out Southern 500 gives The Chase the kind of opener it deserves. Ryan Preece forced his way into the 16-driver field with a win at Daytona last weekend, grabbing the final playoff spot and adding one more dramatic twist before the ***** le fight officially begins. Now the regular season is over, the field is set, and only 16 drivers have a path to the championship.
Denny Hamlin starts The Chase in the best position, carrying a 25-point lead over Ryan Blaney, while the rest of the field has plenty of ground to make up. Preece enters as the final seed and starts 100 points back, but with 10 races still ahead, there is still plenty of time for chaos, comebacks, and mistakes that can reshape the standings quickly. Darlington is the perfect place to start, with its tire wear, narrow racing groove, and unforgiving walls ready to punish anyone who gets too aggressive too early. The Chase is wide open, and Sunday night is the first real test.
The green flag drops for the first race of The Chase at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, and racing fans can watch every lap on Sling TV.
#series
2 months ago
23XI Racing will lead the NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup for the Chase race at Darlington Raceway in September. Tyler Reddick won the pole for the 2026 Southern 500 at Darlington this weekend. Daniel Suarez will join Reddick on the front row for Sunday afternoon's event. Qualifying was cancelled due to lightning.
Ryan Preece and Denny Hamlin will follow the two drivers on the second row. Most notably, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, and Chris Buescher are the Chase drivers starting 20th or worse for Sunday afternoon's event.
The full NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup at Darlington in September 2026 is below!
No. 45 Tyler Reddick*
No. 7 Daniel Suarez*
#darlington
Ryan Preece and Denny Hamlin will follow the two drivers on the second row. Most notably, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, and Chris Buescher are the Chase drivers starting 20th or worse for Sunday afternoon's event.
The full NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup at Darlington in September 2026 is below!
No. 45 Tyler Reddick*
No. 7 Daniel Suarez*
#darlington
2 months ago
What time does NASCAR start today? TV schedule, channel, live stream to watch 2026 Darlington playoff race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Now that the NASCAR regular season is officially over, it's time to head into a thrilling playoff Chase. Drivers will not get much time to ease into competition, as the Cook Out Southern 500 gets things started on Sunday.
With the playoff circuit heading to Darlington, things should get interesting. The South Carolina oval is also known as "The Track Too Tough to Tame", and the Cook Out Southern features a grueling 501-mile stretch that has been humbling drivers for more than 70 years.
This weekend's race serves as the first of 10 postseason competitions that will culminate in a 2026 Cup Series champion. Only 16 drivers qualified for the Chase, with Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick leading points, and Ryan Preece just squeaking in after winning last weekend's ******* e Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
Who can make an impression as the NASCAR postseason gets started?
#nascar #drivers #darlington #cook
Now that the NASCAR regular season is officially over, it's time to head into a thrilling playoff Chase. Drivers will not get much time to ease into competition, as the Cook Out Southern 500 gets things started on Sunday.
With the playoff circuit heading to Darlington, things should get interesting. The South Carolina oval is also known as "The Track Too Tough to Tame", and the Cook Out Southern features a grueling 501-mile stretch that has been humbling drivers for more than 70 years.
This weekend's race serves as the first of 10 postseason competitions that will culminate in a 2026 Cup Series champion. Only 16 drivers qualified for the Chase, with Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick leading points, and Ryan Preece just squeaking in after winning last weekend's ******* e Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
Who can make an impression as the NASCAR postseason gets started?
#nascar #drivers #darlington #cook
2 months ago
West Florida hits the road Saturday for its first United Athletic Conference matchup as the Argonauts visit Central Arkansas at Estes Stadium in Conway, with kickoff set for 7:00 PM ET on ESPN+. The matchup comes just one week after West Florida made a memorable FCS debut, while Central Arkansas will be playing its 2026 home opener.
Aug 28, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Central Arkansas Bears quarterback Luther Richesson (5) hands off to running back Chapman McKown (29) against the Missouri Tigers during the second half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Channel: ESPN+
#stadium #matchup
Aug 28, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Central Arkansas Bears quarterback Luther Richesson (5) hands off to running back Chapman McKown (29) against the Missouri Tigers during the second half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Channel: ESPN+
#stadium #matchup
2 months ago
Carson Kvapil is on the pole for the Fleetio 200 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Sept. 5 at Darlington.
Kvapil bested teammate Justin Allgaier with a lap of 30.424 seconds to claim the pole.
Among Chase drivers, all 12 qualified inside the top seven rows.
Here's the full starting lineup for Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race:
NASCAR CUP CHASE PICKS: NASCAR Chase picks, surprises: Will Denny Hamlin finally win the Cup Series ****** le?
#race
Kvapil bested teammate Justin Allgaier with a lap of 30.424 seconds to claim the pole.
Among Chase drivers, all 12 qualified inside the top seven rows.
Here's the full starting lineup for Saturday's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race:
NASCAR CUP CHASE PICKS: NASCAR Chase picks, surprises: Will Denny Hamlin finally win the Cup Series ****** le?
#race
2 months ago
Denny Hamlin may have bigger hardware on his mind over the next 10 weeks, but NASCAR's top driver through the first 26 races of 2026 finally has a trophy to show for it.
Hamlin finished the regular season atop the NASCAR Cup Series standings, securing the No. 1 seed for the newly revived Chase and a 25-point advantage over Ryan Blaney entering Sunday's postseason opener at Darlington Raceway.
There was just one unusual detail.
With NASCAR returning to a 10-race Chase format this season, the sanctioning body moved away from the official "regular-season champion" designation and trophy that had accompanied the previous playoff system.
Hamlin still got one anyway.
#blaney
Hamlin finished the regular season atop the NASCAR Cup Series standings, securing the No. 1 seed for the newly revived Chase and a 25-point advantage over Ryan Blaney entering Sunday's postseason opener at Darlington Raceway.
There was just one unusual detail.
With NASCAR returning to a 10-race Chase format this season, the sanctioning body moved away from the official "regular-season champion" designation and trophy that had accompanied the previous playoff system.
Hamlin still got one anyway.
#blaney
2 months ago
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Denny Hamlin has never won a Cup Series championship.
This may be the 45-year-old's best chance based on his overall body of work this season.
Hamlin enters NASCAR's modified 10-race playoff format known as "The Chase" with a 25-point cushion over second-place Ryan Blaney and an even bigger advantage over the rest of the 16-driver field after finishing the regular season with the most driver points.
The new format — which was last used in 2013 — is designed to reward performance throughout the entire season and provide a larger sample size to determine a champion. Fans have been clamoring for its return because of its simplicity.
And the drivers love it.
#hamlin #driver #blaney
This may be the 45-year-old's best chance based on his overall body of work this season.
Hamlin enters NASCAR's modified 10-race playoff format known as "The Chase" with a 25-point cushion over second-place Ryan Blaney and an even bigger advantage over the rest of the 16-driver field after finishing the regular season with the most driver points.
The new format — which was last used in 2013 — is designed to reward performance throughout the entire season and provide a larger sample size to determine a champion. Fans have been clamoring for its return because of its simplicity.
And the drivers love it.
#hamlin #driver #blaney
2 months ago
Tyler Reddick knows how quickly a NASCAR championship run can unravel.
He's lived just about every version of it.
There were seasons when simply making the postseason felt like an accomplishment. There were years when he entered as a legitimate championship threat. He's experienced early exits, deep runs and the pressure that comes when winning a Cup Series ******* le stops feeling hypothetical.
Now Reddick is getting another shot, and this one begins from a position of strength.
The 23XI Racing driver enters NASCAR's 10-race Chase third in the standings, trailing only Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney. He also arrives at Darlington Raceway having already won there this season.
#chase #denny #ryan
He's lived just about every version of it.
There were seasons when simply making the postseason felt like an accomplishment. There were years when he entered as a legitimate championship threat. He's experienced early exits, deep runs and the pressure that comes when winning a Cup Series ******* le stops feeling hypothetical.
Now Reddick is getting another shot, and this one begins from a position of strength.
The 23XI Racing driver enters NASCAR's 10-race Chase third in the standings, trailing only Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney. He also arrives at Darlington Raceway having already won there this season.
#chase #denny #ryan
2 months ago
NASCAR's new superspeedway package didn't completely transform the racing at Daytona, but it showed enough improvement to deserve another opportunity.
The package debuted during Saturday's ******* e Zero Sugar 400 with the rear spoiler reduced from seven inches to four and horsepower lowered from 510 to 465. NASCAR's goal was to reduce drag and give drivers a better opportunity to move through the field instead of relying so heavily on fuel-saving strategies to gain track position. NASCAR
From a viewer's perspective, there were encouraging signs.
The field still raced three-wide, but the cars didn't appear permanently locked into place. After approximately 10 to 15 laps, the bottom and top lanes began separating as handling became more important. Denny Hamlin noticed the same development, explaining on his podcast, Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin, that the field could run three-wide for roughly 10 to 15 laps before the middle lane disappeared. The bottom lane would then move down the track while the top lane moved higher as drivers searched for clean air and additional room to move side to side. Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin
That separation created more room for drivers to search for clean air and attempt moves. Bubba Wallace said the runs felt slightly larger and that drivers could make some passes. Chase Briscoe and runner-up Daniel Suárez went further, saying the package allowed drivers to create runs and make moves that were more difficult under the previous configuration. Postrace driver reactions
#drivers #move
The package debuted during Saturday's ******* e Zero Sugar 400 with the rear spoiler reduced from seven inches to four and horsepower lowered from 510 to 465. NASCAR's goal was to reduce drag and give drivers a better opportunity to move through the field instead of relying so heavily on fuel-saving strategies to gain track position. NASCAR
From a viewer's perspective, there were encouraging signs.
The field still raced three-wide, but the cars didn't appear permanently locked into place. After approximately 10 to 15 laps, the bottom and top lanes began separating as handling became more important. Denny Hamlin noticed the same development, explaining on his podcast, Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin, that the field could run three-wide for roughly 10 to 15 laps before the middle lane disappeared. The bottom lane would then move down the track while the top lane moved higher as drivers searched for clean air and additional room to move side to side. Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin
That separation created more room for drivers to search for clean air and attempt moves. Bubba Wallace said the runs felt slightly larger and that drivers could make some passes. Chase Briscoe and runner-up Daniel Suárez went further, saying the package allowed drivers to create runs and make moves that were more difficult under the previous configuration. Postrace driver reactions
#drivers #move
2 months ago
Denny Hamlin posted an 11th-place finish in last Saturday's ***** e Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. However, there was confusion on the driver of the No. 11's end on why he finished where he did.
Based on the timing of when the caution came on the final lap of Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series race, Hamlin believes he scored a top-10 result. Instead, the 45-year-old was ranked 11th, while Josh Berry earned a ninth-place run.
The call to place Hamlin 11th left the Cup Series points leader puzzled after the race.
It did not matter to Hamlin where he finished at Daytona. Because the Joe Gibbs Racing star had already locked up the top seed for the Chase, he was not concerned about points.
However, Hamlin had a discussion with NASCAR following the race as he revealed on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast. Hamlin plans to have a follow-up discussion about the caution light procedure in the future to avoid future misunderstandings.
#race #daytona #however
Based on the timing of when the caution came on the final lap of Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series race, Hamlin believes he scored a top-10 result. Instead, the 45-year-old was ranked 11th, while Josh Berry earned a ninth-place run.
The call to place Hamlin 11th left the Cup Series points leader puzzled after the race.
It did not matter to Hamlin where he finished at Daytona. Because the Joe Gibbs Racing star had already locked up the top seed for the Chase, he was not concerned about points.
However, Hamlin had a discussion with NASCAR following the race as he revealed on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast. Hamlin plans to have a follow-up discussion about the caution light procedure in the future to avoid future misunderstandings.
#race #daytona #however
2 months ago
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) -- The countdown to kickoff for the Alabama game continues to wind down, and Pirate starting quarterback Mitch Griffis is fired up and ready to go.
Griffis has plenty of experience under his belt with stops Wake Forest and Texas Tech, and at one point decided to give up on football. Now, he'll have one final fling this season.
Griffis said the journey has been a long one to get here, but that he's getting more comfortable by the day, especially since his first days on campus.
"Being out there and just getting reps of different guys who are new to the system," Griffis said. "I definitely think as a unit we've grown a ton, so the summer in camp was big for us."
The Pirates and Crimson Tide kickoff at noon on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
#alabama #mitch #wake #forest
Griffis has plenty of experience under his belt with stops Wake Forest and Texas Tech, and at one point decided to give up on football. Now, he'll have one final fling this season.
Griffis said the journey has been a long one to get here, but that he's getting more comfortable by the day, especially since his first days on campus.
"Being out there and just getting reps of different guys who are new to the system," Griffis said. "I definitely think as a unit we've grown a ton, so the summer in camp was big for us."
The Pirates and Crimson Tide kickoff at noon on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
#alabama #mitch #wake #forest
2 months ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was hard to tell which Washington rookie was more excited after his big league debut, Yohandy Morales or Jared Simpson.
Morales had three hits, including a homer. Simpson threw three perfect innings and got the win. Both were called up from the minors before the game, and the Nationals' expanded roster beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 on Tuesday night.
"Unbelievable from both of those guys," Nationals manager Blake Butera said.
This was the second time since 1901 a player homered in his debut, while a different player on the same team earned the win on the mound in his debut, according to Sportradar. It also happened on April 4, 2005, when Colorado's Jeff Baker homered against San Diego, and Ryan Speier of the Rockies got the win in the season opener.
On five other occasions, the same player has both homered and earned the win in his debut: Kenta Maeda of the Dodgers in 2016, Jason Jennings of the Rockies in 2001, John Montefusco of the Giants in 1974, Hal Haydel of the Twins in 1970 and Denny McLain of the Tigers in 1963.
#morales #Rockies #three
Morales had three hits, including a homer. Simpson threw three perfect innings and got the win. Both were called up from the minors before the game, and the Nationals' expanded roster beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 on Tuesday night.
"Unbelievable from both of those guys," Nationals manager Blake Butera said.
This was the second time since 1901 a player homered in his debut, while a different player on the same team earned the win on the mound in his debut, according to Sportradar. It also happened on April 4, 2005, when Colorado's Jeff Baker homered against San Diego, and Ryan Speier of the Rockies got the win in the season opener.
On five other occasions, the same player has both homered and earned the win in his debut: Kenta Maeda of the Dodgers in 2016, Jason Jennings of the Rockies in 2001, John Montefusco of the Giants in 1974, Hal Haydel of the Twins in 1970 and Denny McLain of the Tigers in 1963.
#morales #Rockies #three
2 months ago
The breakfast dining sector has faced financial challenges in 2026, leading dining chains to close locations or, in some cases, file for bankruptcy protection.
Franchisees of iconic chain Denny's, such as DBJ US Corp. in Miami Beach, Fla., have been among the restaurant operators who have filed for bankruptcy.
And smaller chains, such as Sarabeth's in New York City and Breakfast Republic in San Diego have closed several of their locations to cut costs to stay in business.
And now the owner of breakfast and brunch dining chain **** ermilk Eatery has filed for Chapter 11 protection to reorganize its business, facing a lawsuit.
Asani Restaurant Group LLC filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida on Aug. 31, listing over $75,000 in **** ets and over $407,000 in debts.
#chains #locations #business
Franchisees of iconic chain Denny's, such as DBJ US Corp. in Miami Beach, Fla., have been among the restaurant operators who have filed for bankruptcy.
And smaller chains, such as Sarabeth's in New York City and Breakfast Republic in San Diego have closed several of their locations to cut costs to stay in business.
And now the owner of breakfast and brunch dining chain **** ermilk Eatery has filed for Chapter 11 protection to reorganize its business, facing a lawsuit.
Asani Restaurant Group LLC filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida on Aug. 31, listing over $75,000 in **** ets and over $407,000 in debts.
#chains #locations #business
2 months ago
Denny Hamlin is entering the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase with one of the best opportunities of his career to finally capture his first championship.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver will lead the 16 driver postseason field as the No. 1 seed after putting together a dominant regular season. Hamlin officially clinched the top seed following his seventh place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He enters the Chase with a 25 point advantage over Ryan Blaney.
Hamlin's regular season was highlighted by an impressive three-race winning streak. He picked up victories at Nashville Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway, establishing himself as one of the strongest drivers in the series heading into the postseason.
Consistency has also been a major reason for Hamlin's success. After 26 regular-season races, he finished with 1,027 points before the championship reset. That reset puts him at 2,100 points to begin the Chase, giving him the largest starting advantage in the 16 driver field.
Now, Hamlin will try to turn that regular-season success into a championship.
#championship
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver will lead the 16 driver postseason field as the No. 1 seed after putting together a dominant regular season. Hamlin officially clinched the top seed following his seventh place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He enters the Chase with a 25 point advantage over Ryan Blaney.
Hamlin's regular season was highlighted by an impressive three-race winning streak. He picked up victories at Nashville Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway, establishing himself as one of the strongest drivers in the series heading into the postseason.
Consistency has also been a major reason for Hamlin's success. After 26 regular-season races, he finished with 1,027 points before the championship reset. That reset puts him at 2,100 points to begin the Chase, giving him the largest starting advantage in the 16 driver field.
Now, Hamlin will try to turn that regular-season success into a championship.
#championship
2 months ago
If you went to Kroger Field the last couple of years, you probably left with a sour taste in your mouth. Kentucky was just 1-8 over the last 2 seasons against Power 5 schools at home. But it wasn't just the on-field performance that left a lot to be desired.
Fans saw places like Bryant-Denny and Williams-Brice come alive with lights, music, and great sound. The pregame atmosphere was electric. For Kentucky, everything had seemed a little stale. There was Grove Street but not much else. And a lot of fans complained about the speaker system that felt like it was only being played on one end of the stadium. And the stadium itself needed a good, deep cleaning after a couple of years of grime had built up on the outside.
Will Stein heard those comments.
The new head coach said he wanted new traditions; he talked about how he would love to extend the Wildcat walk and have different songs and an electric atmosphere. He and new AD J Batt even delivered pizzas to fans who wanted to set up their tailgating spots.
They power-washed the stadium and cleaned up the inside and out. It was announced that they have now put in field-level speakers to help boost the sound, and they will have a new game-day host to help keep the atmosphere rocking all night long.
#fans #atmosphere #couple
Fans saw places like Bryant-Denny and Williams-Brice come alive with lights, music, and great sound. The pregame atmosphere was electric. For Kentucky, everything had seemed a little stale. There was Grove Street but not much else. And a lot of fans complained about the speaker system that felt like it was only being played on one end of the stadium. And the stadium itself needed a good, deep cleaning after a couple of years of grime had built up on the outside.
Will Stein heard those comments.
The new head coach said he wanted new traditions; he talked about how he would love to extend the Wildcat walk and have different songs and an electric atmosphere. He and new AD J Batt even delivered pizzas to fans who wanted to set up their tailgating spots.
They power-washed the stadium and cleaned up the inside and out. It was announced that they have now put in field-level speakers to help boost the sound, and they will have a new game-day host to help keep the atmosphere rocking all night long.
#fans #atmosphere #couple
2 months ago
The NASCAR Cup Series Chase field was set after the ****** e Zero 400 race on Aug. 29 at Daytona.
Ryan Preece clinched a Chase spot via his first career win in a frantic final lap at Daytona.
Austin Cindric joined him, clinching with a sixth-place run. Shane van Gisbergen dropped out of the top 16 following a 27th-place finish, giving up track position with a pit stop before the overtime restart.
Denny Hamlin clinched the Chase's top seed last week at New Hampshire and goes into the Chase with a 25-point lead.
Here's a look at the 16 NASCAR Cup Series Chase drivers, with the 10-race Chase beginning next week at Darlington:
#week #zero
Ryan Preece clinched a Chase spot via his first career win in a frantic final lap at Daytona.
Austin Cindric joined him, clinching with a sixth-place run. Shane van Gisbergen dropped out of the top 16 following a 27th-place finish, giving up track position with a pit stop before the overtime restart.
Denny Hamlin clinched the Chase's top seed last week at New Hampshire and goes into the Chase with a 25-point lead.
Here's a look at the 16 NASCAR Cup Series Chase drivers, with the 10-race Chase beginning next week at Darlington:
#week #zero
2 months ago
NASCAR playoff standings 2026: Updated points, scenarios for final Cup Series spots at Daytona originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After a regular season filled with highlights, the Cup Series is mercifully approaching its crescendo — a 10-race postseason to determine who will hoist NASCAR's greatest prize, the Cup Series crown.
This year's playoff format is markedly different from its latest predecessors. The "win-and-in" format gave way to the Chase, popularized in the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s. The new layout rewards consistency as opposed to one-race excellence, offering a new path for riders who routinely place inside the top-five and top-10.
Toyota has shined in lieu of the change thus far — five of the top six performers helm the **** pits of the **** anese manufacturer, including regular-season champion Denny Hamlin.
Further down the standings, things remain compelling. Austin Cindric and Shane van Gisbergen are clinging to postseason berths heading into the final week of the regular season. They have more work to do to lock themselves into the Round of 16 and give themselves a chance at competing for the top-flight's signature prize.
#playoff #race
After a regular season filled with highlights, the Cup Series is mercifully approaching its crescendo — a 10-race postseason to determine who will hoist NASCAR's greatest prize, the Cup Series crown.
This year's playoff format is markedly different from its latest predecessors. The "win-and-in" format gave way to the Chase, popularized in the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s. The new layout rewards consistency as opposed to one-race excellence, offering a new path for riders who routinely place inside the top-five and top-10.
Toyota has shined in lieu of the change thus far — five of the top six performers helm the **** pits of the **** anese manufacturer, including regular-season champion Denny Hamlin.
Further down the standings, things remain compelling. Austin Cindric and Shane van Gisbergen are clinging to postseason berths heading into the final week of the regular season. They have more work to do to lock themselves into the Round of 16 and give themselves a chance at competing for the top-flight's signature prize.
#playoff #race
2 months ago
Kansas City Chiefs players Wesley Bissainthe and Omari Evans could get another chance to play college football after a recent court ruling involving the NCAA. Both players went undrafted in 2026 but later joined the Chiefs as free agents. The ruling has opened the door for players in their situation to regain college eligibility.
The case comes from a dispute over NCAA eligibility rules and an extra year of college football. A judge temporarily blocked restrictions that could have prevented the players from returning.
Chiefs' undrafted free agents Wesley Bissainthe and Omari Evans now have a chance to return to college football. The case reached court after several athletes challenged NCAA rules that could prevent them from going back to college sports. The NCAA and several major conferences had opposed the return of players who had entered a professional draft, signed with a professional team or appeared on a pro roster. The players argued that briefly moving into professional football should not cost them their college eligibility.
On Thursday, a Texas judge issued a 14-day restraining order. The order prevents the NCAA, SEC and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey from blocking 41 athletes from returning to college sports for another season. Wesley Bissainthe and Omari Evans are among those athletes, along with Dallas Cowboys receiver Jordan Hudson.
Dec 31, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
#college #evans
The case comes from a dispute over NCAA eligibility rules and an extra year of college football. A judge temporarily blocked restrictions that could have prevented the players from returning.
Chiefs' undrafted free agents Wesley Bissainthe and Omari Evans now have a chance to return to college football. The case reached court after several athletes challenged NCAA rules that could prevent them from going back to college sports. The NCAA and several major conferences had opposed the return of players who had entered a professional draft, signed with a professional team or appeared on a pro roster. The players argued that briefly moving into professional football should not cost them their college eligibility.
On Thursday, a Texas judge issued a 14-day restraining order. The order prevents the NCAA, SEC and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey from blocking 41 athletes from returning to college sports for another season. Wesley Bissainthe and Omari Evans are among those athletes, along with Dallas Cowboys receiver Jordan Hudson.
Dec 31, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
#college #evans
