Denny Hamlin cannot afford another day like his recent performance at the Southern 500. A poor pit stop caused him to fall back into the field, and he sustained damage while fighting for position. Despite what could have become a disastrous race, Hamlin managed to limit the damage, losing only 13 points from his championship lead. However, one more day like that could cost him his spot at the top of the standings.
Following one race in The Chase with nine events to go, here are my current NASCAR Cup Series championship contender rankings as the teams gear up for this weekend’s race at the 1.25-mile World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway).
On The Cusp (Alphabetical Order):
- Chris Buescher (RFK Racing No. 17 Ford, -88 points): Suffered a bent toe link before halfway at Darlington and has never led a lap at Gateway.
- William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet, -114): Ended up with an engine failure at Darlington, continuing a tough season; has one top-10 finish at Gateway.
- Austin Cindric (Team Penske No. 2 Ford, -102): Needs a victory at Gateway to re-enter title contention; previously won there in 2024.
- Carson Hocevar (Spire Motorsports No. 77 Chevrolet, -89): Has a strong debut performance at Gateway but needs to make waves this weekend, especially after upsetting Brad Keselowski.
- Ryan Preece (RFK Racing No. 60 Ford, -104): Can’t afford mistakes like a loose wheel pit stop at Darlington; his average Gateway finish is 19.7.
- Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet, -94): Disappointed with a 21st at Darlington; has a Gateway average finish of 22nd.
Championship Contender Rankings:
10. Joey Logano
Fell one spot due to a lackluster showing at Darlington, where he didn’t earn any stage points and finished ninth by running on older tires. Gateway is crucial for his championship push—he’s had four straight top-five finishes there, including a win in 2022.
9. Bubba Wallace
Finished eighth at Darlington with an impressive haul of 15 stage points, but his Gateway history is weak, with just one career top-10 and an average finish of 21.3. He’ll need a strong effort at Gateway to stay in the hunt.
8. Chase Elliott
A pit stop miscommunication and radio exchanges marred his day at Darlington, resulting in a 14th-place finish. Elliott has one top-five in three Gateway starts and will need his team firing on all cylinders going forward.
7. Kyle Larson
Larson looks mentally sharp and made a strategic gamble at Darlington by staying out on old tires, finishing fifth. He led for 99 laps and holds a strong Gateway record with an average finish of 9.5 over four races.
6. Chase Briscoe
Known for his strength at Darlington, Briscoe’s sixth-place finish there was a bit disappointing, as he seemed poised for a three-peat. He boasts one pole and one top-five in four Gateway appearances.
5. Ty Gibbs
Finished second at Darlington but only earned a single stage point, placing him seventh in points earned that day. Gibbs has one top-10 in three Gateway starts and needs more consistent scoring.
4. Ryan Blaney
Earned fourth place and 11 stage points at Darlington but was not a dominant force. With two top-fives and 120 laps led in four Gateway starts, he needs to step up soon.
3. Tyler Reddick
Entering The Chase with confidence, Reddick showed strong form by winning the first stage and finishing third at Darlington. He has one top-five in four Gateway races, with an average finish of 17.8.
2. Christopher Bell
Fresh off a major win at Darlington, Bell looks like a serious challenger to Hamlin for the title. Consistent but not dominant at Gateway, he has finishes of ninth, 11th, seventh, and seventh in his four starts there.
1. Denny Hamlin
Despite an 18th-place finish at Darlington, Hamlin remains first due to his stellar season overall. He is confident going into Gateway—the defending winner—with three top-five finishes in four starts at that track.
Fan Take:
This update highlights just how tight and unpredictable the NASCAR championship hunt remains, especially with rising talents challenging established stars. Hamlin’s ability to bounce back at crucial tracks like Gateway could define not only his season but also add thrilling chapters to NASCAR’s chase for the title.
Source: www.foxsports.com
