As NASCAR begins another title Chase, a look at the contenders and pretenders in the 16-man field
The Chase for the championship begins at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, with the top-16 drivers embarking on a 10-race stretch that will determine who hoists the Bill France Cup at Homestead-Miami Speedway in mid-November.
NBCSports.com · Associated Press · August 31, 2026
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. The NASCAR Cup Series standings have been reset. Denny Hamlin, the regular-season champion, had his sizable advantage slashed to 25 points over Ryan Blaney as the series shifts in…