Can you believe it? Out of all the drivers surveyed at the Charlotte Convention Center, a whopping twelve of them flat-out said NO when asked if this would finally be Denny Hamlin’s year to snag that title. Think about that for a second. The man is the number one seed, sitting pretty at the top of the 2026 Chase, and he’s been in this championship battle twenty times without ever clinching it. Now, as he’s going for his very first title, his own competitors are largely betting against him. Only three drivers surveyed actually said ‘Yes,’ with one giving no answer at all. That’s a brutal reality check, even for a seasoned veteran.
Talk About a Drafting Nightmare: Hocevar’s Talladega Troubles
While Hamlin faces skepticism for the big prize, Carson Hocevar is dealing with a whole different kind of shade. When drivers were asked who they’d *least likely* draft with at Talladega, a critical race on the calendar, Hocevar was the clear (and unfortunate) winner with nine votes. NINE! Daniel Suárez was a distant second with three votes, followed by Ty Gibbs with two. One driver even marked two selections, which tells you just how strongly some felt. This isn’t just about a track, this is about trust and partnership in a high-stakes, high-speed environment. Getting blacklisted by nearly a third of the surveyed drivers for such a pivotal race? That’s a major hit to a driver’s reputation and could absolutely impact his strategy going forward. Nobody wants to be the guy left out in the cold when the drafting lines form.
Underdogs Ready To Shock & Winless Streaks To Break
Despite the bleak outlook for some, there’s a serious underdog story brewing. Ryan Preece, the 16th seed, got four votes as a serious championship contender even though models suggest 85 percent of champions come from the top six seeds. William Byron (13th seed) snagged three votes, with Bubba Wallace (14th) and Christopher Bell (7th) each getting two. Preece isn’t backing down either. He told reporters he loves that many don’t think he has a shot, especially after overcoming an early-season 25-point penalty at Daytona. That’s the kind of fire you want to see!
Then there are the winless drivers in the Chase who are itching for a victory. Out of the six drivers in the Chase who haven’t won a race this year, Christopher Bell is clearly on other drivers’ radar, pulling in eleven votes as someone who will win a Chase race. Kyle Larson and William Byron each got seven votes. Bell, himself, sounds confident, pointing to his seven second-place finishes this year. He’s been close, real close. If he keeps that pace, it’s only a matter of time until he breaks through. This could be his moment to prove everyone right.
The Chase is shaping up to be wild, and with Talladega on the horizon, every move, every partner, and every vote of confidence from competitors will matter. Denny Hamlin has to ignore the noise and prove his doubters wrong, while Carson Hocevar will need to find a way to earn some trust. Keep an eye on Bell, Preece, and the other winless drivers, because they’re hungry. This isn’t just about the format or who’s on a podcast, it’s about who’s got the grit to win when it counts.
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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