2 days 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
5 days 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
6 days 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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10 days 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
10 days 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
10 days 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
10 days 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
10 days 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
10 days 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
10 days 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
10 days 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
11 days 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
11 days 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
14 days 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
14 days ago
The marquees for all 41 Broadway theatres will be dimmed in honor of Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, Clive Davis and more stars who've recently passed away.
On Wednesday, the Broadway In Memoriam Committee confirmed the list of late honorees. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the marquees will dim at 6:45 p.m. ET. Gina Ferrall, Josh Grisetti, Jeff Hamlin, Glen Hansard, Louise Lasser, Anna Louizos, Seth Marquette, Anne Russell, James Walsh and Harold Wheeler will also be honored.
In 2025, the Broadway In Memoriam Committee created a quarterly tradition called Broadway in Memoriam to honor individuals who left their mark on the Great White Way. The mass dimming now takes place four times a year on the second Tuesday of September, December, March and June.
Parton wrote the music and lyrics for the 2009 stage adaptation of "9 to 5," which received four Tony Award nominations, including one for her original score. The singer's second show, "Dolly: A True Original Musical" will begin previews Dec. 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City with an opening set for Jan. 19, 2027, on what would have been her 81st birthday. Parton announced the Broadway engagement in July.
The production will tell her story through some of her biggest hits, including "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You," alongside new songs she wrote specifically for the musical. Parton co-wrote the show's book with two-time Emmy winner Maria S. Schlatter. Tony winner Bartlett Sher is directing, with "So You Think You Can Dance" and "La La Land" choreographer Mandy Moore choreographing the production.
#dolly #committee #james #tony
On Wednesday, the Broadway In Memoriam Committee confirmed the list of late honorees. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the marquees will dim at 6:45 p.m. ET. Gina Ferrall, Josh Grisetti, Jeff Hamlin, Glen Hansard, Louise Lasser, Anna Louizos, Seth Marquette, Anne Russell, James Walsh and Harold Wheeler will also be honored.
In 2025, the Broadway In Memoriam Committee created a quarterly tradition called Broadway in Memoriam to honor individuals who left their mark on the Great White Way. The mass dimming now takes place four times a year on the second Tuesday of September, December, March and June.
Parton wrote the music and lyrics for the 2009 stage adaptation of "9 to 5," which received four Tony Award nominations, including one for her original score. The singer's second show, "Dolly: A True Original Musical" will begin previews Dec. 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City with an opening set for Jan. 19, 2027, on what would have been her 81st birthday. Parton announced the Broadway engagement in July.
The production will tell her story through some of her biggest hits, including "Jolene," "Coat of Many Colors," "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You," alongside new songs she wrote specifically for the musical. Parton co-wrote the show's book with two-time Emmy winner Maria S. Schlatter. Tony winner Bartlett Sher is directing, with "So You Think You Can Dance" and "La La Land" choreographer Mandy Moore choreographing the production.
#dolly #committee #james #tony
14 days 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
14 days 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
15 days 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
15 days 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
16 days 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
18 days 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
19 days 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
21 days ago
NASCAR "driver appearances" were once so common, you couldn't avoid them on any milk-and-bread run, not to mention a swing by the local auto parts store.
Well, this week in Daytona, you can meet two former champions as well as the two best NASCAR racers to win everything BUT a championship.
Along the way, you can meet a driver at a pool party.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, who recently released an autobiography — "Never Lift" — will be among the big names you can find Thursday at one of the old staples of NASCAR partnerships: Winn-Dixie.
His fellow famous non-champ, Denny Hamlin, can also be found there.
#well #driver #meet #famer
Well, this week in Daytona, you can meet two former champions as well as the two best NASCAR racers to win everything BUT a championship.
Along the way, you can meet a driver at a pool party.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, who recently released an autobiography — "Never Lift" — will be among the big names you can find Thursday at one of the old staples of NASCAR partnerships: Winn-Dixie.
His fellow famous non-champ, Denny Hamlin, can also be found there.
#well #driver #meet #famer
23 days ago
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 ****** e Zero Sugar 400, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran will begin the Chase from the front.
And he will have some breathing room.
Hamlin will carry a 25-point advantage over the second seed when the 10-race Chase begins Sept. 6 at Darlington Raceway.
#speedway
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 ****** e Zero Sugar 400, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran will begin the Chase from the front.
And he will have some breathing room.
Hamlin will carry a 25-point advantage over the second seed when the 10-race Chase begins Sept. 6 at Darlington Raceway.
#speedway
25 days ago
Shedeur Sanders was down to his final shot to stake a claim to the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback job. It started very well. Then there was an interception.
Browns coach Todd Monken said before Saturday's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills that he plans to name a quarterback for the regular season early next week, via Cleveland.com. Sanders has been behind Deshaun Watson for most of the offseason and training camp and didn't start Cleveland's first preseason game. Sanders got the start on Saturday, and if Monken sticks with his timeline it was Sanders' last chance to make an impression.
Sanders came out hot, completing his first eight passes including a touchdown. He was driving the Browns again late in the first half, and after a nice 23-yard pass on third-and-15 he made a crucial mistake. Sanders threw behind tight end Jermaine Terry. The ball bounced up and Bills safety Damar Hamlin picked it off. Terry could have made a great catch, but it should have been a routine pass to an open tight end and Sanders missed the target.
If the Browns have been leaning toward Watson, as it has seemed, that interception will give them the reason they need to name him the starter over Sanders.
There hadn't been many signs that Sanders is close to overtaking Watson in the competition to start in Week 1. Watson got the start last week and although he didn't play great, Monken said he thought Watson functioned at a "high level."
#Browns
Browns coach Todd Monken said before Saturday's preseason game against the Buffalo Bills that he plans to name a quarterback for the regular season early next week, via Cleveland.com. Sanders has been behind Deshaun Watson for most of the offseason and training camp and didn't start Cleveland's first preseason game. Sanders got the start on Saturday, and if Monken sticks with his timeline it was Sanders' last chance to make an impression.
Sanders came out hot, completing his first eight passes including a touchdown. He was driving the Browns again late in the first half, and after a nice 23-yard pass on third-and-15 he made a crucial mistake. Sanders threw behind tight end Jermaine Terry. The ball bounced up and Bills safety Damar Hamlin picked it off. Terry could have made a great catch, but it should have been a routine pass to an open tight end and Sanders missed the target.
If the Browns have been leaning toward Watson, as it has seemed, that interception will give them the reason they need to name him the starter over Sanders.
There hadn't been many signs that Sanders is close to overtaking Watson in the competition to start in Week 1. Watson got the start last week and although he didn't play great, Monken said he thought Watson functioned at a "high level."
#Browns
25 days ago
When the green flag waves at New Hampshire on Sunday, every car will run the same 301 laps on the same track, chasing the same checkered flag. But with only two races left before the Chase begins, what counts as a good Sunday has a different meaning for every driver.
Start near the back of the Chase picture, where the margin for error is thinnest. Shane van Gisbergen currently holds the 16th and final Chase spot with a 50-point cushion over Ryan Preece. For SVG, Sunday is about keeping Preece from making a significant dent in that advantage. For Preece, it's about closing the gap enough to give himself a realistic shot at taking that final Chase spot when the regular season ends at Daytona.
Move up the standings and the picture changes. Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell have already clinched their Chase spots and enter New Hampshire tied at 695 points. Getting in isn't the problem anymore. Now it's about improving where they'll start when the points reset.
Then there's Denny Hamlin, who's playing an entirely different game. He arrives 115 points ahead of Ryan Blaney with a chance to secure the Chase's No. 1 seed before Daytona. His magic number Sunday is 37 points. Get them, and the No. 1 seed is officially his.
The battle for the win will always demand the most attention. But this Sunday, some of the most important racing may happen nowhere near the lead. They'll all take the same green flag, but a good Sunday won't look the same for any of them.
#sunday #preece #points #start
Start near the back of the Chase picture, where the margin for error is thinnest. Shane van Gisbergen currently holds the 16th and final Chase spot with a 50-point cushion over Ryan Preece. For SVG, Sunday is about keeping Preece from making a significant dent in that advantage. For Preece, it's about closing the gap enough to give himself a realistic shot at taking that final Chase spot when the regular season ends at Daytona.
Move up the standings and the picture changes. Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell have already clinched their Chase spots and enter New Hampshire tied at 695 points. Getting in isn't the problem anymore. Now it's about improving where they'll start when the points reset.
Then there's Denny Hamlin, who's playing an entirely different game. He arrives 115 points ahead of Ryan Blaney with a chance to secure the Chase's No. 1 seed before Daytona. His magic number Sunday is 37 points. Get them, and the No. 1 seed is officially his.
The battle for the win will always demand the most attention. But this Sunday, some of the most important racing may happen nowhere near the lead. They'll all take the same green flag, but a good Sunday won't look the same for any of them.
#sunday #preece #points #start
26 days ago
Just like in football, it appears that the traditionally-strong volleyball programs in northeast and north central South Dakota will again lead the way in the 2026 season.
The new season kicks off on Tuesday, Aug. 25, and continues into November with Class A and B region tournaments slated for Nov. 2-5. SoDak 16 state-qualifying matches are set for Nov. 10 (Class A and B) and Nov. 12 (Class AA) with the winners advancing to the state tournament Nov. 19-21 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls.
To help you get prepared, here's five questions that will need to be answered by Watertown and Aberdeen area teams this fall.
2025 STATE VOLLEYBALL: Hamlin takes fourth, Clark-Willow Lake fifth in state A volleyball
The Class AA Arrows went 22-11 overall and 5-4 in the Eastern South Dakota Conference, capping a third-straight trip to the state tournament with a fourth-place finish. That came after a 26-8 record and a sixth-place finish at state in 2024 and a 27-7 record and the consolation championship at state in 2023.
#state #class #tournament
The new season kicks off on Tuesday, Aug. 25, and continues into November with Class A and B region tournaments slated for Nov. 2-5. SoDak 16 state-qualifying matches are set for Nov. 10 (Class A and B) and Nov. 12 (Class AA) with the winners advancing to the state tournament Nov. 19-21 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls.
To help you get prepared, here's five questions that will need to be answered by Watertown and Aberdeen area teams this fall.
2025 STATE VOLLEYBALL: Hamlin takes fourth, Clark-Willow Lake fifth in state A volleyball
The Class AA Arrows went 22-11 overall and 5-4 in the Eastern South Dakota Conference, capping a third-straight trip to the state tournament with a fourth-place finish. That came after a 26-8 record and a sixth-place finish at state in 2024 and a 27-7 record and the consolation championship at state in 2023.
#state #class #tournament
1 month ago
Ford driver Joey Logano stayed hot in Virginia's capital on Saturday night and won for the second time in four starts, taking the checkers in the Cook Out 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at the Richmond Raceway short track in Richmond, Virginia.
The No. 22 Team Penske driver ran down Christopher Bell's No. 20 Toyota over the final 37 laps after his final pit stop and earned his second win of 2026 by holding off Chase Briscoe by 0.392 seconds.
His other victory was also on a short track in Cup racing's return to North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 19.
It was his third career Richmond win and Ford's fourth of 2026.
Austin Cindric, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott completed the top five.
#chase
The No. 22 Team Penske driver ran down Christopher Bell's No. 20 Toyota over the final 37 laps after his final pit stop and earned his second win of 2026 by holding off Chase Briscoe by 0.392 seconds.
His other victory was also on a short track in Cup racing's return to North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 19.
It was his third career Richmond win and Ford's fourth of 2026.
Austin Cindric, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott completed the top five.
#chase
1 month ago
Richmond Raceway has always been a special place for Denny Hamlin.
With Hamlin growing up in Virginia, Richmond was his home track, and his family shared plenty of memories there. Ahead of Saturday's Cup Series race, Richmond Raceway decided to honor Hamlin and his family in return.
In a post shared on social media, Hamlin stood proudly with his family behind two seats in the stands at Richmond Raceway that would be reserved in their name moving forward.
"Mom and Dad spent years at these seats," Hamlin wrote in the caption for the post. "Commonwealth, Sec H, Row 11, Seats 10-11."
It's a touching gesture to the Hamlin family, who are still mourning the loss of Denny's father Dennis, who died after a fire in his North Carolina home in December 2025.
#richmond #seats
With Hamlin growing up in Virginia, Richmond was his home track, and his family shared plenty of memories there. Ahead of Saturday's Cup Series race, Richmond Raceway decided to honor Hamlin and his family in return.
In a post shared on social media, Hamlin stood proudly with his family behind two seats in the stands at Richmond Raceway that would be reserved in their name moving forward.
"Mom and Dad spent years at these seats," Hamlin wrote in the caption for the post. "Commonwealth, Sec H, Row 11, Seats 10-11."
It's a touching gesture to the Hamlin family, who are still mourning the loss of Denny's father Dennis, who died after a fire in his North Carolina home in December 2025.
#richmond #seats
1 month ago
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Ryan Blaney can't fully explain his recent dominance in NASCAR qualifying, but he attributed Mother Nature with an ****** ist Friday at Richmond Raceway.
The Team Penske driver captured his third pole position in the past five races and the 16th of his Cup Series career, turning a lap in 22.225 seconds (121.485 mph) around the 0.75-mile oval. Blaney was the second-to-last driver to make an attempt, and a cloud late in the session cooled the track for better grip and faster speeds.
"I appreciate the cloud," said Blaney, who also qualified first last week at Iowa Speedway and last month at EchoPark Speedway. "I got the benefit."
With 12 races remaining after Saturday's 400-lap event at Richmond, Blaney already has a career-best four pole positions for a single season and is tied with points leader Denny Hamlin for the series lead in 2026.
"I wouldn't specify myself as a very good qualifier," Blaney said. "For a little bit I struggled in qualifying, just not really able to find the one-lap speed and kind of doing the wrong things behind the wheel. But I think (crew chief) Jonathan (Hassler) and I have just worked through how we can get better and adjust from the end of practice to the start of qualifying. It's been fun to work through that."
#qualifying #speedway
The Team Penske driver captured his third pole position in the past five races and the 16th of his Cup Series career, turning a lap in 22.225 seconds (121.485 mph) around the 0.75-mile oval. Blaney was the second-to-last driver to make an attempt, and a cloud late in the session cooled the track for better grip and faster speeds.
"I appreciate the cloud," said Blaney, who also qualified first last week at Iowa Speedway and last month at EchoPark Speedway. "I got the benefit."
With 12 races remaining after Saturday's 400-lap event at Richmond, Blaney already has a career-best four pole positions for a single season and is tied with points leader Denny Hamlin for the series lead in 2026.
"I wouldn't specify myself as a very good qualifier," Blaney said. "For a little bit I struggled in qualifying, just not really able to find the one-lap speed and kind of doing the wrong things behind the wheel. But I think (crew chief) Jonathan (Hassler) and I have just worked through how we can get better and adjust from the end of practice to the start of qualifying. It's been fun to work through that."
#qualifying #speedway
