Story perspectives

Hamlin clinches Chase top seed after New Hampshire seventh

8/25/2026

Summary

Hamlin Clinches Seed

Denny Hamlin clinched the top seed for the NASCAR Cup Series Chase with a seventh-place finish at New Hampshire.
Ryan Blaney captured his third New Hampshire win, moving to second in the standings, 77 points behind Hamlin.
Thirteen drivers, including Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and William Byron, secured Chase berths after New Hampshire.
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

Summary

Chastain Breaks Down

Ross Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet broke down after 40 laps, ending his Chase chances.
Josh Bell received safety-violation penalty after his crew member was dragged across the pit wall.
Josh Berry’s four-race top-10 streak is the best for a Wood Brothers driver since 1994.
Team Penske president Michael Nelson said the team must improve on 1.5-mile ovals.
NASCAR added aerodynamic and horsepower rules for the Daytona 2.5-mile race and cut practice.

History

Historical Context

In 2004 NASCAR introduced the Chase for the Cup, a ten-race playoff that locked the top ten drivers after 26 races. The field expanded to twelve in 2007 and sixteen in 2014, adding elimination rounds and points resets. Today, Denny Hamlin’s top seed, Ryan Blaney’s New Hampshire win and Ross Chastain’s failure show the original late-season pressure still drives strategy.

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Hamlin Clinches Seed

Denny Hamlin clinched the top seed for the NASCAR Cup Series Chase with a seventh-place finish at New Hampshire.
Ryan Blaney captured his third New Hampshire win, moving to second in the standings, 77 points behind Hamlin.
Thirteen drivers, including Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and William Byron, secured Chase berths after New Hampshire.
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.

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