Hamlin Secures Top Seed as NASCAR Cup Playoff Picture Narrows

The Comcast Corporation-backed NASCAR Cup Series regular season is heading toward a dramatic conclusion following the Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. With just one race remaining before the playoffs, the battle for the final postseason spots intensified, while the competition for the regular-season title was decided.

Denny Hamlin secured the regular-season championship and the coveted top seed for the playoffs by finishing seventh at Loudon. Hamlin holds a 1,001-point lead over the field, extending his advantage to 77 points. His consistent performance has allowed him to overtake Tyler Reddick, whom he passed for the lead following Sonoma.

Race winner Ryan Blaney narrowed the gap to the leader with a victory on Sunday. Blaney sits second in the standings with 924 points, having clinched a spot in the 10-race Chase. Further down the order, Christopher Bell moved up two positions to fifth place after a fourth-place finish, while Chase Elliott dropped from sixth to eighth following a 25th-place result.

Thirteen drivers have now officially qualified for the Chase. The group includes Hamlin, Blaney, Ty Gibbs (880 points), Reddick (860 points), Bell, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson, and Elliott, alongside Joey Logano, Chris Buescher, Carson Hocevar, William Byron, and Daniel Suarez.

The focus now shifts to the cutoff line. Bubba Wallace, who finished second at New Hampshire, holds a comfortable 75-point buffer above the cut line. Austin Cindric remains in a safe position with a 44-point edge, while Shane van Gisbergen currently occupies the final transfer spot.

The hunt for the remaining positions is not over. Ryan Preece trails van Gisbergen by 31 points and remains mathematically eligible to clinch a spot at Daytona. Brad Keselowski is the only other driver with a chance to sneak into the field. However, Ross Chastain’s hopes ended after a last-place finish, and Erik Jones is officially out of contention.

What to watch

• The regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for this Saturday night.
• Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski are the only two drivers who can mathematically bump Shane van Gisbergen from the final Chase spot.
• Denny Hamlin will enter the playoffs as the number one seed.

Source: original release