Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Carson Hocevar across Nascar.
The regular‑season points reset as Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney head a 16‑driver field that will battle for the title over ten races, culminating at Homestead‑Miami in November.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs open at Darlington Raceway, where the top 16 drivers will begin a ten‑race battle for the championship, with points resets and cumulative scoring shaping the contest.
The playoff format overhaul and a narrow points gap between Hamlin and Blaney set the stage for a dramatic finish at Darlington and Homestead.
The playoff format resets points, pits Denny Hamlin against Ryan Blaney, and brings a mix of champions and underdogs into a high‑stakes sprint.
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.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway, setting the stage for a ten‑race showdown that will crown a champion in November.
The ten‑race playoff resets the standings, putting Denny Hamlin just 25 points ahead of Ryan Blaney and setting the stage for a dramatic showdown at tracks from Darlington to Homestead.
With a 25‑point advantage, Hamlin heads a field that includes Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and a host of rising contenders, all vying for the championship in a ten‑race cumulative showdown.
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.
With the regular‑season points reset, Denny Hamlin and Ryan Blaney find themselves in a tight battle, while a mix of seasoned champions and rising stars vie for the title that will be decided at Homestead‑Miami in November.
Ryan Preece's breakthrough win at Daytona secures his spot in The Chase, while Denny Hamlin holds the top seed and Ford's rising noise threatens Toyota's dominance.
Ryan Preece finally broke his 249‑race winless streak at Daytona, while Trackhouse Racing’s Chase hopes evaporated and several drivers endured dramatic crashes.
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.
Ryan Preece clinches the final playoff spot as the 2026 Chase begins at Darlington, with Denny Hamlin leading the regular‑season standings.
Ryan Preece clinches his first NASCAR Cup Series victory at Daytona in a dramatic overtime finish, securing a Chase spot while Shane van Gisbergen’s championship hopes evaporate.
Ryan Preece overcame a 31‑point deficit to win the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, clinching his inaugural playoff spot and highlighting his resilience after a near‑career‑ending crash three years earlier.
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.
Ryan Preece captured the Daytona International Speedway finale, clinching a spot in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase and pushing Shane van Gisbergen out of the field. The result reshapes the championship picture, with Denny Hamlin leading the points and a host of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers featuring prominently.
After a multicar crash reshaped the stage at Daytona International Speedway, Ryan Preece capitalized on the caution to claim his maiden Cup win, leapfrog into the playoffs, and ignite a new storyline for RFK Racing.
After 248 starts without a points‑paying win, Ryan Preece captured the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, clinching the final playoff spot and silencing his critics.
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.
Ryan Preece captured his maiden NASCAR Cup Series win after a dramatic overtime finish at Daytona International Speedway, while Shane van Gisbergen and Brad Keselowski saw their championship hopes eliminated.
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.