Denny Hamlin loses playoff lead following pit stop issues at Darlington

Denny Hamlin saw his NASCAR playoff lead cut in half to 12 points after finishing 18th at Darlington Raceway on September 6, 2026. A sluggish pit stop following Stage 2 forced Hamlin to restart in the middle of the pack, where subsequent contact with Michael McDowell caused damage to his vehicle. While Hamlin maintained his position among the leaders throughout the first two stages, the mid-race setback significantly impacted his points standing. Christopher Bell also navigated the event as he looks to build on his season performance. The NASCAR field now shifts focus to World Wide Technology Raceway for the next stage of the postseason. Teams must now adapt to the varying track conditions and competitive density inherent in the final playoff rounds.

• 9:09 AMYahoo Sports — NASCAR Chase sends early message to Denny Hamlin, for whom the Bell tolls