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

Seven NASCAR drivers secure spots in the 2026 Chase after Richmond

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 16, 2026, 9:30 PM

Last updated Aug 16, 2026

Seven NASCAR drivers secure spots in the 2026 Chase after Richmond

Summary

Following the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, seven drivers have officially clinched their spots in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell are among those guaranteed a championship opportunity. Hamlin leads the standings with 969 points, followed by Blaney and Gibbs. Nine Chase spots remain open with two races left in the regular season at New Hampshire and Daytona, setting the stage for crucial battles among other drivers vying for the playoff positions.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Denny Hamlin tops the standings with 969 points.
•Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell have also secured Chase places.
•Nine spots still available with two regular-season races remaining.
•New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Daytona are the final venues.
•Kyle Larson and Joey Logano are among those fighting for remaining spots.

Latest Updates

9:30 PMYahoo Sports — These 7 NASCAR Drivers Have Officially Clinched a Spot in the 2026 Chase

What they're saying

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Seven NASCAR Cup Series drivers have officially secured their places in the 2026 Chase following Richmond, leaving nine spots still up for grabs with two regular-season races remaining.
— Yahoo Sports

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