Denny Hamlin weighs in on new NASCAR format and – Sports News
A matter of weeks after tragically shedding his ailing father Dennis in a home fire, one which additionally noticed his mom Mary Lou endure extreme accidents, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin has returned to the NASCAR world forward of his twenty first full-time Cup Series season.
Moving ahead, the Cup Series’ common season will stay 26 races, with the highest 16 drivers qualifying for a 10-race ‘Chase.’ Their factors to start out off with might be decided based mostly on their standing on the finish of the common season, with the chief beginning with 2,100, second place with 2,075, third with 2,065, with every driver under a additional 5 factors behind.
Whichever qualifying driver ends the ultimate 10 races with essentially the most factors might be declared the collection champion.
Another notable change this yr is that wins might be value 55 factors as an alternative of 40, whereas additionally they will no longer guarantee entry into ‘The Chase’ as they did with the Playoffs.
Speaking to reporters for the primary time since tragically shedding his dad, Denny defined that he believes this change to ‘The Chase’ might be useful general, explaining, “Well, from a pure standpoint, it’s better,” in an interview with PRN.
“It’s going to be better. I still think the champion will be crowned at Homestead as people want it to be. But if they lock in to a championship before that, I mean, that clearly means they were head and shoulders above everyone else and deserve it.”
Denny additionally added that he believes this format will finally benefit “the same guys that are favorites every single week and it’s because those are the ones that are up front every week. That’s who this format benefits.
“I don’t think you’ll see any crazy wild cards go on runs in the final ten. If you couldn’t go on a run in 26 races, you’re not gonna go on a run more than likely in the final ten.
“So I think it really benefits four or five teams. And others, it at least allows them to kind of move, slide up and down the standings as they perform.
“There are no eliminations. They’ll just happen organically and naturally. And we’re gonna be talking about the guys that are up front each and every week.”
For Hamlin, this format change comes after one more slim title loss, seeing it slip by way of his palms on the finale at Phoenix Raceway in November, due to a late warning which noticed him fall behind eventual champion Kyle Larson on pit street, regardless of having led most of the race.
This marked the second time he’s completed runner-up in the race for a championship, regardless of profitable a series-best six races in 2025, bringing him to 60 in his profession. Hamlin now enters a contemporary season because the joint Tenth-winningest driver in Cup Series historical past, along with Kevin Harvick, three races behind Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch.
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