Hamlin Enters NASCAR Chase as Top Seed With Strong Record on High-Speed Tracks

Denny Hamlin secured the top seed for the upcoming NASCAR Chase following a seventh-place finish Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, positioning himself as the favorite heading into the 10-race title run beginning next month at Darlington Raceway. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver holds a commanding 25-point advantage over the second-ranked driver and boasts an impressive record on the tracks that will comprise the bulk of the playoff schedule. Hamlin brushed off his middling performance, noting that even subpar days reflect the strength of his operation.

The playoff format features 16 drivers competing across 10 races, with six of those events held on tracks measuring at least 1.366 miles in length. Hamlin’s four victories this season came at Las Vegas, Nashville Superspeedway, Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway—all high-speed venues where his Toyota excels. His success on larger ovals contrasts sharply with Team Penske’s recent struggles on 1.5-mile tracks, where their three drivers combined for just four top-10 finishes in five races this season.

Team Penske has captured four victories in its past six races, primarily on shorter tracks, but must elevate its performance on the larger ovals that dominate the Chase schedule. Team Penske president Michael Nelson acknowledged the challenge, stating the organization is working to identify the proper setup combination for the mile-and-a-half venues. Ryan Blaney’s New Hampshire victory gives Team Penske momentum heading into the playoffs, though the driver’s best finish on 1.5-mile ovals this season remains seventh at Charlotte.

Hamlin acknowledged that while Penske may hold an edge on the three shorter Chase tracks—Bristol Motor Speedway, Phoenix Raceway and Martinsville Speedway—his team’s consistency on those venues earlier this season demonstrates competitive capability. He expressed confidence in Toyota’s strength on the high-speed tracks that represent the Chase’s backbone and indicated readiness for the title push to commence. The regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday will determine the final two playoff positions, with Austin Hill’s announced return to Richard Childress Racing eliminating a potential Cup ride option for Josh Berry.