Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano enter the Chase for the Championship

The field for the Chase for the Championship features 16 drivers, with Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano serving as the only participants to have competed in the championship format that predated the current playoff system. These two veterans have experience dating back to the 2004-2013 era, providing them with a historical baseline for the competition. Despite their shared history with previous iterations of the title hunt, both drivers acknowledge that the current format contains new elements that present ongoing challenges. As the field prepares for the next 10 weeks of racing, Hamlin and Logano are navigating the updated requirements of the current structure. The inclusion of these long-tenured drivers highlights the transition between the historical championship format and the modern playoff era as the season enters its final stretch.

• 9:58 PMMotorsport.com — The new Chase for the Championship is different but the same