Denny Hamlin Locks Up No. 1 Seed for 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase

Denny Hamlin did not win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He did, however, leave Loudon with something no other NASCAR Cup Series driver can take from him.The No. 1 seed in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase officially belongs to Hamlin.Hamlin’s seventh-place finish at New Hampshire was enough to secure the top spot before the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway. Whatever happens Friday night in the Coke Zero Sugar 400, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran will begin the C