The 2026 NASCAR season is absolutely flying by, and with only two regular season races left, it’s crunch time! Nine coveted spots are still up for grabs in the brand-new 10-race Chase playoff system. This year, it’s not win-and-in; it’s the top-16 drivers in the regular season standings who get to battle it out in what amounts to a mini-season of its own, with no eliminations once you’re in. The points reset for those 16 drivers is huge: the regular season champ kicks off the Chase with a whopping 2,100 points, second place gets 2,075, third rolls in at 2,065, and it goes down by five-point increments all the way to 16th at 2,000. Every position matters!
Who’s Already Locked In For the Chase?
Seven drivers have already punched their ticket to the field of 16, and some of them did it with serious swagger. Denny Hamlin, piloting for Joe Gibbs Racing, locked his spot down way back after Atlanta with six races still on the calendar. That’s a huge statement! He’s currently got a massive 103-point lead over his teammate Ty Gibbs in the fight for the regular season title, which, let’s be real, is a massive advantage heading into that points reset. Tyler Reddick, representing 23XI, also clinched early after Atlanta and leads the entire series with an incredible five wins this year. That dude is on fire! Ryan Blaney from Team Penske secured his spot after North Wilkesboro, boasting two victories and a series-best 16 top-10 finishes. Ty Gibbs, another Joe Gibbs Racing driver, sealed his deal at Indianapolis and leads all drivers with 195 stage points this year. The JGR squad is absolutely dominating! Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell, both from Joe Gibbs Racing, clinched their spots at Richmond, as did Hendrick driver Chase Elliott. These guys can breathe easy, but the real work is just beginning.
On the Edge, But Looking Good
Then we’ve got seven more drivers who are sitting pretty, more than 60 points above the cutline. It would take an absolute meltdown and a crazy long-shot winner from below the cutline for them to miss out. Kyle Larson, from Hendrick Motorsports, finished sixth at Richmond and is 143 points clear. He should clinch easily at New Hampshire, needing only 10 points. Joey Logano, now 142 points above the line, only needs 11 points at New Hampshire to officially join the party. Chris Buescher, from RFK Racing, is sitting at plus-136 points and needs just 17 more to clinch. Carson Hocevar, despite struggling a bit lately, is 128 points up. Needing 25 points over two races is definitely likely, but he needs to find some consistency. William Byron, another Hendrick driver, has had an uncharacteristically inconsistent season without a win, but he’s 113 points above the cutline and can race without stress. Daniel Suárez from Spire Motorsports might be the biggest surprise of the season; he’s 101 points up and should clinch at New Hampshire. He’d have to lose 25 points to the cutline to even be in jeopardy. Finally, Bubba Wallace from 23XI Racing is 70 points ahead. He can clinch if he gains seven points on the cutline at New Hampshire, and if it goes to Daytona, he knows how to get it done there.
Bubble Watch Intensifies
With 76 points being the most a driver can grab in a single race, anyone within 65 points either way is squarely on the bubble. Right now, that’s four drivers battling it out for those final spots. These next two races are going to be absolutely wild!
The regular season wraps up soon with races at New Hampshire and then the high-stakes chaos of Daytona. All eyes will be on those final nine spots and who can secure enough points to reset their championship journey. This new Chase system is making every single lap matter, and you know we’ll be glued to the screen to see who comes out on top!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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