Denny Hamlin Is 37 Points From The No. 1 Seed, And a Pink Car Is Changing How NASCAR Fans Are Made

This Sunday at New Hampshire, the green flag drops for the Dollar Tree 301, and while every car runs the same 301 laps, what counts as a win is totally different for almost everyone on the track. We’re down to just two races before the Chase kicks off, with the regular season finale at Daytona looming, and the stakes are absolutely wild.

The Chase Bubble Is Wild

Look, if you’re Shane van Gisbergen, you’re clinging to that 16th and final Chase spot with a 50-point cushion over Ryan Preece. SVG’s whole Sunday is about shutting Preece down, not letting him chip away at that lead. Preece? He’s got to make a serious move, close that gap enough to even have a prayer of snatching that spot when they get to Daytona. This isn’t just racing, it’s a chess match on asphalt.

Then you’ve got drivers like Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell. They’ve already locked in their Chase spots, tied up at 695 points. For them, it’s not about getting in, it’s about getting *better*. They’re fighting for position, trying to improve where they’ll start once those points reset. Every pass, every lap, it all adds up to a better starting line in the Chase. But let’s talk about Denny Hamlin. This dude is playing 5D chess. He rolls into New Hampshire 115 points ahead of Ryan Blaney, and he’s got a real shot at clinching the Chase’s No. 1 seed *before* Daytona. His magic number on Sunday? Just 37 points. Get those points, and that No. 1 seed is officially his. This race might not have all the drama at the front, but man, some of the most important battles are happening all over the track.

Carson Hocevar’s ‘Fast & Flirty’ Car Is Already Winning

But wait, there’s another story completely shaking up the whole scene, and it’s not even about who’s winning. Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 car, rocking the “Fast & Flirty” scheme, is impossible to ignore. We’re talking pink hearts, kisses, and “ILY” lettering all over the place. It’s already grabbing headlines before it even touches the track. If you’ve been on social media, you know the “ILY” is a nod to the creator Tabitha Swatosh, who’s been dropping “ILY” breadcrumbs for weeks while fans try to figure out what’s going on between her and her “NASCAR guy.”

Whether this was all some grand plan or not, it’s working: people are talking. Hocevar even said he got some “weird looks” for signing off on such a feminine scheme, but the coolest part? He’s hearing from female fans who are genuinely stoked about the car. This is way bigger than just a pink race car. Fandom doesn’t always start with the sport itself. Sometimes it’s a personality, a creator, a relationship, or yeah, even a paint scheme that gives someone a reason to tune in. We saw it huge with Taylor Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs when Kelce’s merchandise sales exploded. This is a smaller scale, but the opportunity to bring entirely new eyes to NASCAR? That’s priceless.

So, get ready, because this Sunday at New Hampshire isn’t just another race. With the Chase on the line for so many, plus the buzz Hocevar’s car is generating, you won’t want to miss what goes down before the regular season wraps up at Daytona.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.