
NASCAR Regular Season Ends, Playoff Field Finalized with Hamlin at Top
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season concluded at Daytona, setting the stage for a 16‑driver playoff battle led by Denny Hamlin.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Austin Dillon across Nascar.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season concluded at Daytona, setting the stage for a 16‑driver playoff battle led by Denny Hamlin.

Ross Chastain secured pole position with a top speed of 184.396 mph, while Chris Buescher qualified second. The race, the final event of the 2026 regular season, will be broadcast live on NBC for the first time, showcasing a full field of drivers from teams such as Trackhouse Racing, RFK Racing, Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports.
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 29 will decide the final playoff spots, with Ross Chastain on pole and Ryan Preece facing a make‑or‑break showdown.

NASCAR’s latest aerodynamic overhaul will debut at Daytona International Speedway this weekend, but the absence of practice sessions raises safety questions and forces drivers to adapt on the fly.

Ross Chastain claimed pole position at Daytona International Speedway with a blistering lap of 48.809 seconds, edging out Chris Buescher by a narrow margin. The qualifying session highlighted strong performances from Austin Hill, Ryan Preece and several open‑car drivers, while Gray Gaulding missed the grid due to mechanical trouble.

A dramatic qualifying session at Daytona saw multiple teams and drivers jockey for position ahead of the Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar 400.
Ross Chastain secured pole position after a two‑round qualifying format, while Gray Gaulding was ruled the slowest and left out of the 40‑car field. The race, scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, marks the final regular‑season event before the playoffs.

Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Daytona International Speedway set the stage for the season‑ending Coke Zero Sugar 400, with 41 cars entering the draw and one failing to make the field.

Austin Hill, a five‑year RCR veteran, is set to assume the full‑time Cup Series seat in 2027, balancing loyalty to his team with new ambitions at Daytona.

Austin Hill, now the full‑time driver of the NASCAR Cup Series No. 33 car, reflects on his emotional transition, his loyalty to Richard Childress Racing and his ambition to win at Daytona this weekend.
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 upcoming Daytona International Speedway event, where Cup and O’Reilly Series drivers will battle under a fresh rules package, with metric scores determining the order and several surprise entries on the grid.

After the loss of Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing has seen its performance slide, poor owner standings, and questionable driver contracts, raising questions about its future in the Cup Series.
From Richard Petty’s early dominance to Justin Haley’s record‑breaking triumph, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 has become a showcase of endurance and talent. As the 2026 edition approaches, new contenders prepare to etch their names into a storied list.

As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season draws to a close, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway becomes the decisive moment for playoff qualification, featuring a tight battle between Ryan Blaney and Denny Hamlin.

Denny Hamlin questioned Carson Hocevar’s on‑track decisions after a Lap 84 crash that sent the youngster spinning, while Ryan Blaney captured the victory amid a weekend littered with incidents.

Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series after a five‑year run of championships, playoff appearances and 16 victories, including 11 on superspeedways.
After Kyle Busch’s sudden death in May 2024, Austin Hill steps into the No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, bringing his Truck Series pedigree and drafting prowess to a full‑time Cup schedule.

Contract talks between Austin Hill and Richard Childress Racing have hit a snag, casting uncertainty over the driver’s full‑time Cup Series plans for 2027. Meanwhile, teammate Josh Berry’s recent form and the team’s limited roster options add pressure to the decision.

Austin Hill will drive the No. 33 Chevrolet full‑time for Richard Childress Racing, bringing a record of 16 Cup victories and a Championship 4 appearance to the storied organization.

Austin Hill will pilot the iconic No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing beginning in 2027, bringing a championship pedigree and a proven record on drafting tracks to the team.
After a promising run that included a top‑10 at Pocono, Austin Hill has been rewarded with a full‑time Cup Series ride, joining Richard Childress Racing for the upcoming season.

Carson Hocevar navigated a rain‑soaked NASCAR Cup race at Loudon, battling spins, contact and a final 19th‑place result while earning his first Chase invitation.