Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Team Penske across Nascar.
The playoffs begin with a 25‑point reset between Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney, setting the stage for a 10‑race battle that will crown a champion at Homestead‑Miami Speedway in November.
The 2026 NASCAR playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway, featuring a 16‑driver field where Denny Hamlin closes to within 25 points of Ryan Blaney and a ten‑race cumulative points battle determines the champion.
An editorial look at the 16‑driver playoff field, the teams backing them, and the storylines that will define the road to the 2026 NASCAR champion.
NASCAR has abandoned its 'win and in' playoff format, replacing it with a season-long championship that rewards consistency. Denny Hamlin tops the standings, but the revised point structure tightens the battle for the title.
The 2025 Cup Series playoffs have switched to a ten‑race format, reshaping the path to the championship. Drivers such as Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick headline a field where team execution and track‑specific strengths could prove decisive.
A Saturday night showdown at Daytona International Speedway saw Ryan Preece take the checkered flag, while Denny Hamlin’s top‑10 run kept his championship hopes alive. With only five drivers contesting three playoff spots, the stage is set for a dramatic climax at Darlington Raceway.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase lineup is taking shape after the Coke Zero 400, with Preece’s maiden win and Cindric’s sixth‑place finish earning them spots, while Hamlin holds a 25‑point lead.
Ryan Preece finally broke through at Daytona, winning a race reshaped by multiple wrecks and securing a spot in the season playoffs.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs were decided in dramatic fashion at Daytona International Speedway, where a tangled finish forced officials to reset the points standings and reshuffle the championship field. Denny Hamlin emerged as the top seed, carrying a 2100‑point tally that positions him ahead of all rivals as the series heads into the final stretch. In a surprise turn, Ryan Preece captured his maiden NASCAR Cup win, a result that not only adds a new name to the winner’s list but also secures his spot as the final driver to qualify for the 2026 Chase. The victory came after a review of the race’s chaotic conclusion, which saw several drivers battling for position in the closing laps. Officials adjusted the finishing order, promoting Kyle Larson ahead of Chase Elliott in the revised standings. Following the reset, the 16‑driver Chase field now reflects a blend of veteran talent and emerging drivers. Points were recalibrated to reflect the new finishing order, with Larson’s move to second place pushing Elliott down a spot. Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports each placed multiple drivers inside the top ten, underscoring the strength of their programs. Ty Gibbs and Chase Briscoe represent Joe Gibbs Racing, while Christopher Bell and William Byron feature prominently for Hendrick. Spire Motorsports and RFK Racing also fielded two entries each, ensuring a diverse lineup that includes drivers from a range of organizations such as 23XI Racing and Team Penske. The updated grid sets the stage for a tightly contested championship race, with Hamlin’s lead, Preece’s breakthrough win, and the reshuffled point order promising fierce competition in the weeks ahead.
Ross Chastain captured his maiden Busch Light pole at Daytona, edging Chris Buescher by 0.051 seconds and setting a new lap speed of 184.391 mph, a milestone that underscores his career resurgence and sets the stage for the championship‑bound Chase.
NASCAR’s final playoff qualifier at Daytona International Speedway will see 41 entries contesting 40 positions, with a 31‑point lead for Shane van Gisbergen over Ryan Preece heading into the weekend’s action.
A sudden thunderstorm forecast has put Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series qualifying in jeopardy, prompting a metric‑based lineup that could reshape the season‑ending race.
A look at the major driver contract updates, retirements, and roster shifts set to define NASCAR's 2027 season.
The season‑ending Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway will decide the final three drivers who join the 2026 playoffs, with a new points system and race‑win incentives reshaping the championship picture.
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Daytona International Speedway, the last three Chase positions will be decided in a race defined by unpredictability, team momentum and the ever‑present chance of a last‑lap pass.
With only two drivers left in the battle for the final playoff spot, Brad Keselowski’s championship hopes hinge on a victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, while Ryan Preece clings to a slim points margin.
Denny Hamlin’s strong finish at New Hampshire propels him to the top seed entering the NASCAR Chase, while Team Penske must improve on longer ovals. With Austin Cindric, Shane van Gisbergen and Ryan Preece vying for the last two spots, the stage is set for a dramatic playoff.
Denny Hamlin entered the playoffs as the top seed, bolstered by a strong record on high‑speed ovals and a four‑win season, while Team Penske battles to improve on mile‑and‑a‑half tracks ahead of the decisive Chase schedule.
Denny Hamlin’s strong points tally and four wins position him as the top seed, yet challenges remain on the tracks where rivals have historically excelled.
Denny Hamlin holds a 25‑point advantage after a seventh‑place finish at New Hampshire, while his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates and rivals gear up for the final stretch.
Hamlin’s strong performance on high‑speed circuits and a 25‑point advantage set the stage for a showdown that will decide the final Chase spots.
Josh Berry's record 73‑lap lead at New Hampshire and four consecutive top‑ten finishes have positioned him as a key figure in NASCAR's evolving landscape, even as his team plans a 2027 replacement.
Denny Hamlin’s strong start to the NASCAR Chase, bolstered by recent wins and a seventh‑place finish at New Hampshire, puts him at the top of the standings, but Team Penske’s performance on 1.5‑mile ovals remains a key storyline.
Denny Hamlin’s seventh‑place run at New Hampshire secures the top seed in the NASCAR Chase, while Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney looks to extend its short‑track advantage. With new regulations looming for the Daytona 400 and a handful of drivers battling for the final spots, the championship picture remains fluid.