Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Ryan Blaney 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.
Ryan Preece's first career victory at Daytona catapults him into the Chase, reshaping the playoff picture and adding new storylines to the 2026 season.
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.
As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series playoff enters its decisive stretch, drivers like Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson vie for the championship while newcomers and long‑shots chase elusive glory.
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.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series title chase has assembled a 16‑driver field that blends seasoned champions with emerging challengers, setting the stage for a season that fans are already calling one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.
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 broke a 249‑race drought at Daytona, altering playoff dynamics and prompting discussions about sponsor shifts and veteran narratives.
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.
With Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports controlling most of the Chase, Denny Hamlin heads the points table, but the possibility of a win‑less champion looms as Darlington and other tracks promise upheaval.
During the closing moments of the Daytona Cup race, Zane Smith's attempt to block Tyler Reddick resulted in a multi‑car wreck, ending his bid for the 210th Cup win and prompting post‑race frustration.
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’s victory at Daytona, aided by a 25‑point penalty reversal, lifts him into the playoffs, while Austin Cindric holds his spot and Shane van Gisbergen falls out, prompting mixed reactions to the sport’s new aerodynamic package ahead of the Southern 500 at Darlington.
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.
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.