The Road to The Chase
Ryan Blaney captured his third victory of the season at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a performance that catapulted him to the pinnacle of the latest NASCAR Power Rankings. His team, however, is said to be grappling with potential pit‑crew adjustments as the season‑ending Daytona event approaches.
Not far behind, veteran Denny Hamlin secured the regular‑season championship after a solid seventh‑place finish at Loudon, guaranteeing him the top seed heading into the Daytona finale.
The latest rankings also reflect a surprising drop for William Byron, who fell out of the list after having been positioned seventh just weeks earlier.
Kyle Larson continued to demonstrate momentum with back‑to‑back top‑six finishes, highlighted by a fifth‑place result at Loudon that underscores his potential as a dark horse in The Chase.
Ryan Wallace cemented his place in The Chase with a second‑place finish at New Hampshire, a result that has put him among the drivers battling for a final spot.
Kyle Busch added another top‑five finish, marking his sixth in the past eight races, even as a chaotic skirmish involving Carson Hocevar and Connor Zilisch saw him finish 14th, a result that still secured a Chase spot.
Kurt Busch, who started from pole position, fought through an early spin to finish eighth, while Brandon Berry claimed third place for the fourth straight top‑eight finish, keeping his 2027 prospects alive.
Joe Gibbs notched his sixth top‑10 finish in the last eight races, riding the momentum from a recent Iowa victory, and Ty Dillon’s disappointing 26th‑place result after a failed two‑tire stop highlighted the fine margins that can define a season.
As the season draws to a close, drivers such as Chris Buescher, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott, Ryan Preece and Zane Smith hover on the cusp of securing Chase spots, while Ryan Blaney’s team prepares for potential pit‑crew adjustments ahead of the final race.