Denny Hamlin leads 2026 NASCAR Cup Chase field after Daytona
4 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 1, 2026, 5:15 PM
Last updated Sep 1, 2026
Denny Hamlin enters the 2026 NASCAR Cup Chase as the No. 1 seed following a points reset. This comes after an eventful night at Daytona International Speedway, where Ryan Preece secured his first NASCAR Cup victory in his 249th career start. Preece's win allowed him to replace Shane van Gisbergen as the final driver in the 16-driver field for the upcoming championship races. This year's Chase will comprise ten races, with all 16 drivers now confirmed.
- •Denny Hamlin is the No. 1 seed heading into the Chase.
- •Ryan Preece won his first NASCAR Cup race at Daytona.
- •Preece replaces Shane van Gisbergen in the Chase field.
- •The Chase consists of ten races for the championship.
- •All 16 drivers for the Chase are confirmed after Daytona.
- 5:15 PMYahoo Sports — NASCAR Legend Reveals the “Money Reason” Behind 16-Driver Chase Field
- 6:08 AMYahoo Sports — Complete NASCAR Cup points standings after Daytona 2026
- 2:59 AMYahoo Sports — The complete NASCAR Cup 2026 Chase grid after points reset
- 2:59 AMMotorsport.com — The complete NASCAR Cup 2026 Chase grid after points reset
"Denny Hamlin will lead the field of 16 into the ten-race Chase for the championship as the No. 1 seed, and after a wild night of racing at Daytona International Speedway, we now know all of the drivers who will join him. Making his 249th career start, Ryan Preece earned his first-ever NASCAR Cup win, replacing Shane van Gisbergen as the final driver in the 2026 Chase for the ...Keep reading
"NASCAR brought back the 10-race Chase for 2026, but one controversial part of the old system remained: 16 drivers still […]
"Let the Chase begin, with 16 drivers locked into ten-race championship battle
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 1, 2026, 5:15 PMNASCAR Legend Reveals the “Money Reason” Behind 16-Driver Chase Field
NASCAR brought back the 10-race Chase for 2026, but one controversial part of the old system remained: 16 drivers still […]
- Yahoo SportsAug 30, 2026, 6:08 AMComplete NASCAR Cup points standings after Daytona 2026
Let the Chase begin, with 16 drivers locked into ten-race championship battle
- Yahoo SportsAug 30, 2026, 2:59 AMThe complete NASCAR Cup 2026 Chase grid after points reset
We now know all 16 drivers who will compete for the 2026 NASCAR Cup title
- Motorsport.comAug 30, 2026, 2:59 AMThe complete NASCAR Cup 2026 Chase grid after points reset
Denny Hamlin will lead the field of 16 into the ten-race Chase for the championship as the No. 1 seed, and after a wild night of racing at Daytona International Speedway, we now know all of the drivers who will join him. Making his 249th career start, Ryan Preece earned his first-ever NASCAR Cup win, replacing Shane van Gisbergen as the final driver in the 2026 Chase for the ...Keep reading
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