League: NASCAR Sport: Motorsports Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Denny Hamlin leads NASCAR's points after mixed finishes in opening Chase races

Motorsport.com • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 17, 2026, 5:02 PM

Last updated Sep 17, 2026

Denny Hamlin leads NASCAR's points after mixed finishes in opening Chase races

Summary

Denny Hamlin began the Chase for the Championship with finishes of 18th and 9th, yet remains the points leader due to the 16 stage points he accumulated at Darlington Raceway two weeks ago. This has sparked debate among fans about the value of stage points, with some arguing that the traditional focus on overall race results should take precedence. As the series progresses, the implications of stage points could continue to influence both strategies and fan sentiments.

Source Links

Motorsport.com

By the Numbers

•Denny Hamlin's Chase finishes: 18th, 9th.
•Hamlin leads points due to 16 stage points from Darlington.
•Debate arises over importance of stage points in NASCAR.
•Fans call for a return to traditional race result emphasis.

Latest Updates

5:02 PMMotorsport.com — Are stage points too valuable in NASCAR's Chase for the Championship?

What they're saying

"
Denny Hamlin has opened the Chase for the Championship with finishes of 18th and 9th but remains the points leader primarily because of the 16 stage points he earned at Darlington Raceway two weeks ago. Naturally, there is a subset of the NASCAR fan base that believes Hamlin should have been punished for those results. They claim tradition and purity, an emphasis on race results over where a ...Keep reading
— Motorsport.com

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