NASCAR competition officials announced revisions to Saturday’s schedule at Charlotte Motor Speedway because of the threat of inclement weather related to Hurricane Isaias.
Practice and qualifying for both the NASCAR Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will be moved two hours earlier Saturday. The O’Reilly Series is set for practice at 8:30 a.m. ET and qualifying to follow at 9:35 a.m. ET, both broadcast on ESPN Unlimited. Cup Series practice is now scheduled for 11 a.m. ET with Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 12:05 p.m. ET, with coverage on truTV, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The announcement came Friday morning as Isaias moved closer to landfall near Florida’s Gulf Coast. The storm is expected to bring heavy rain to the southeastern U.S.
Race start times currently remain unchanged for a tripleheader weekend for NASCAR’s national series.
The Craftsman Truck Series’ Ecosave 200 is set for a Friday start at 5 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX One, NASCAR Racing Network). The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series resumes its Chase postseason with the Blue Cross NC 300 on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, The CW, ESPN Unlimited, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The Cup Series hosts the Bank of America 400, the sixth of 10 races in The Chase presented by Mobil 1, with a Sunday main event (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Haas Factory Team announced Friday that Cole Custer will return for a third straight season as driver of the No. 41 entry in the NASCAR Cup Series next year.
The news came as NASCAR’s top circuit prepares for Sunday’s Bank of America 400 (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It also answers one of the few remaining questions surrounding the Cup Series’ “Silly Season” driver movement for 2027.
Custer has long been connected to team owner Gene Haas, first through Haas’ partnership with Tony Stewart under the Stewart-Haas Racing banner and later with Haas Factory Team, which rebranded after Stewart’s ownership departure ahead of the 2025 season. That reorganization established HFT as a single-car effort in the Cup Series, and Custer has been its driver ever since.
“We are excited to have Cole Custer back in the 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet for 2027,” Haas said. “Cole is a championship-caliber driver who brings the consistency we need on a weekly basis and we are proud to continue to support him in the NASCAR Cup Series.”
Custer finished 32nd in the Cup Series standings last year, and that also represents his current ranking with five races left in the 2026 campaign. The 28-year-old California native has one top-10 finish this year, a 10th-place result in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway in August.
Custer is a 15-time winner in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, capturing the 2023 championship for Stewart-Haas and finishing as the circuit’s runner-up three times. He also earned a Cup Series triumph at Kentucky Speedway in 2020, converting a bold four-wide pass on the final lap into a victory that helped him seal Rookie of the Year honors.
Haas Factory Team switched manufacturers from Ford to Chevrolet this season. The organization also fields a two-car effort in the O’Reilly Series, with points leader Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer as teammates.
While plenty remains unknown at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend, one thing appears familiar: Toyota’s strength on intermediate tracks. NASCAR’s home track hasn’t hosted a fall race on the oval in nearly a decade, but Toyota dominated before rain shortened May’s Coca-Cola 600 and flexed its muscle again last weekend at Las Vegas. Kyle Larson’s postseason surge, however, could pose the biggest threat yet to the manufacturer’s recent reign.
Returning to Fastlane this year is my weekly NASCAR 36 for 36 pick, where you can come play along. It’s a season-long points battle introduced in 2024 where strategy is the primary emphasis. With 36 chartered cars and 36 races on the 2026 schedule, players can choose each car once for the duration of the season.
MUST START
Driver:Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota Selections remaining: 2 Comment: There might not be a better driver than Briscoe currently in the Cup Series at intermediate tracks. The No. 19 team has won two of the last three races at 1.5-mile venues, including a dominant performance in Sin City. He was out front late the week before at Kansas Speedway before smacking the wall multiple times.
Driver:Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota Selections remaining: 2 Comment: With a scorching start to the 2026 season, Hamlin shouldn’t be reprimanded for how The Chase presented by Mobil 1 has begun for the No. 11 team. Before a Lap 77 spin at Las Vegas, he had a streak of eight straight races at 1.5-mile tracks with finishes of fourth or better. That included a third-place effort in May at Charlotte after leading 75 circuits.
Driver: Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, No. 45 Toyota Selections remaining: 2 Comment: Reddick recovered from an early alternator issue at Las Vegas to finish third, reminding everyone how solid the No. 45 team is at intermediates. Charlotte fits Reddick’s wheelhouse, as he led a race-high 119 laps in May. In eight starts at the Charlotte oval, he has an average finish of 9.5, which trails only Hall of Famer Rex White among drivers who have made multiple starts in NASCAR’s backyard.
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
DRIVERS TO AVOID
Driver: Joey Logano, Team Penske, No. 22 Ford Selections remaining: 4 Comment: Penske has made strides at intermediates, scoring two top fives in the last two races. Logano, however, hasn’t joined the party, with his last 1.5-mile top five coming in his 2025 Texas win. He finished eighth in May at Charlotte, but he didn’t finish better than 14th in his previous five visits.
Driver: Daniel Suárez, Spire Motorsports, No. 7 Chevrolet Selections remaining: 5 Comment: Suárez’s crew chief Ryan Sparks threw a Hail Mary attempt in May to win the crown-jewel race. Suárez fended off a Toyota brigade and was assisted by multiple cautions before Mother Nature prematurely ended the race. The victory is Suárez’s only finish better than 15th in the last 10 Charlotte races.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
SLEEPERS OF THE WEEK
Driver:Austin Cindric, Team Penske, No. 2 Ford Selections remaining: 4 Comment: History would tell you to stay far away from Cindric at Charlotte. In five starts, he has an average finish of 30.8, his worst among all Cup tracks. However, the fifth-year driver is amid consecutive top fives for the first time in his career, both coming at 1.5-mile venues.
Driver:Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, No. 97 Chevrolet Selections remaining: 5 Comment: The road-course ace has led Trackhouse at intermediate tracks in 2026, scoring his best 1.5-mile finish at Las Vegas in ninth. In May, SVG had an average running position of 7.8 and spent 328 of 373 laps planted inside the top 10.
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
FEATURED MATCHUPS
Ryan Blaney vs. Joey Logano
Pick: Blaney Comment: With a 20.1 average finish in 16 starts, Charlotte is Blaney’s worst track on the schedule, statistically. The outlier is a dominant performance in the 2023 Coca-Cola 600, leading 163 circuits. Logano is good, not great in NASCAR’s hub, but given recent performances at 1.5-mile tracks, Blaney gets the edge.
Kyle Larson vs. Tyler Reddick
Pick: Reddick Comment: Reddick has defined consistency at Charlotte, while Larson has top 10s in less than 50% of his starts. With just one start remaining with the No. 5 team the rest of the way, I’m staying clear of Larson this weekend.
Bubba Wallace vs. Carson Hocevar
Pick: Wallace Comment: Neither driver has finished races off in the Queen City. Hocevar was in contention to win the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 until his engine expired. Wallace has been plenty fast at the quad-oval, with Toyota being the overwhelming favorite entering the weekend. Give me Wallace, even though his 23.0 average finish at Charlotte is his worst among 1.5-mile tracks.
Christopher Bell vs. Denny Hamlin
Pick: Hamlin Comment: It’s rare to see Hamlin make a mistake, but his Vegas spin proved costly. Meanwhile, Bell had his own mechanical gremlins, losing power steering. Both JGR drivers need an upswing in performance at Charlotte. While Bell has been ultra-consistent at CMS, Hamlin has five finishes of seventh or better in the last seven Charlotte races, banking 22 top 10s in 35 starts.
MY LINEUP
Starting five: Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Austin Cindric. Garage: William Byron.
36 FOR 36
Pick: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports, No. 47 Chevrolet Comment: With only five races remaining in the 2026 season, it’s time to get creative with these picks. Ever since Stenhouse made his Cup debut at Charlotte with Wood Brothers Racing in 2011, he’s had a knack for the track. Dating back to 2017, the two-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion has 10 top-15 finishes in 12 Charlotte starts, including finishes of 11th and 12th in two attempts with the rebranded Hyak.
Where the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase is concerned, Justin Allgaier has been the poster boy for Murphy’s Law.
After suffering calamities in the first four postseason races, the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet is looking for a reversal of fortune in Sunday’s Blue Cross NC 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (8 p.m. ET, The CW, ESPN Unlimited, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
“Charlotte has been a really strong track for us over the last few years, but all of those races were in the heat of May, so it will be interesting to see how this weekend plays out,” said Allgaier, who has fallen from first to fourth in the standings since The Chase began at Darlington Raceway.
“I know that everyone on this team is ready to get there. Our Chase hasn’t started quite like we hoped, but this group is ready to go out there and do what we’ve done all year. There is still a lot of racing left to be done, and I feel like Charlotte is a great place to get that momentum back on our side.”
Allgaier, who trails Chase leader Sheldon Creed by 30 points with five races left, is the only former Charlotte oval winner in the field for Saturday’s race. The last 14 races on the 1.5-mile track have produced 14 different winners.
Both second-place Carson Kvapil (19 points behind Creed) and third-place Jesse Love (21 points behind) gained ground at Allgaier’s expense in last Saturday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Love, the defending series champion, finished third behind race winner Corey Day and runner-up Kvapil at Las Vegas, sparking optimism for Saturday’s race at Charlotte.
“We were really good here in the spring,” said Love, who finished second to full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain in a rain-shortened race in May. “It fits our package.
“We learned some things last week in Las Vegas that we will implement in Charlotte and go from there. I think we’re struggling with some things that, if we fix for Charlotte, we’ll be in good shape.”
The top six drivers in The Chase standings remain within striking distance of Creed’s lead. Sixth-place Sam Mayer, who has gained four positions in the standings since The Chase presented by Mobil 1 began, is 52 points behind Creed.
Scoring 75 of a possible 76 points in a dominating victory two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway, Kaden Honeycutt seized control of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chase presented by Mobil 1, as top-seeded Layne Riggs suffered devastating issues for the second consecutive race.
Honeycutt will try to expand his lead in Friday’s Ecosave 200 (5 p.m. ET, FOX, NASCAR Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), as Riggs — now 37 points behind Honeycutt in second place — attempts to right his ship.
Riggs was running second behind Honeycutt at Kansas when he smacked the wall in the closing laps and dropped to 19th at the finish.
“I just went for it there at the end,” Riggs said. “I feel like we were kind of behind the eight ball all day long. Had rough stops on pit road, had issues. I was going for a win, had a shot at a win, and tried a little too hard. So definitely really disappointing. Really big blow to our points.
“Should have been just fine with chalking up a second-place finish instead of trying to go for the win. But at the same time, the team (Front Row Motorsports) pays me to go win races. And that’s what we did. I just have to be smarter in the long run if I’m going to get this thing. Keep my head about me a little bit better, instead of looking at just three or four laps. Got to look at the whole Chase.”
The good news for Riggs is that he and Honeycutt have created separation from the rest of the Chase field in just two races. Third-place Chandler Smith, Riggs’ teammate, trails Honeycutt by 71 points, with fourth-place Gio Ruggiero 72 points back.
Tatiana Calderón has travelled all around the world with one goal in mind: Find success in motorsports.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Calderón’s career has seen her tackle various forms of racing such as the IndyCar Series, Formula 2 and endurance events like the Rolex 24 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For 2026, Calderón is back in South America, this time as a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Brasil Series.
A strong rookie NASCAR Brasil season culminated on Sept. 20 with one of Calderón’s most significant accomplishments. After she finished fourth overall in the first race of a same-day doubleheader at Oval de Curvelo, Calderón scored a victory in the second feature, becoming the first woman to win in NASCAR Brasil history.
Calderón experienced a plethora of emotions on the podium post-race, as the journey to reach that milestone was equal parts arduous and rewarding. Now that she’s the first female NASCAR Brasil winner, Calderón hopes to serve as inspiration for other women seeking to excel in racing.
“It was a big moment,” Calderon said. “I started racing in NASCAR Brasil this year, so every track, the car and the language is all new for me. To be able to show a woman can be competitive at such a high level is incredible, and I’m extremely thankful to [my team] SG28 [Racing]. This project is about giving women opportunities to really shine.
“I hope this means we can open different doors to keep shining and proving that women deserve a chance in this sport.”
Calderón’s passion for sport and competition has been with her since childhood, but the idea of becoming a racer initially did not cross her mind.
That changed when Calderón’s older sister Paula brought her to a go-kart track for the first time when she was 9. Calderón became enamored with the intense and frenetic nature of go-kart racing, convincing her to find an avenue into motorsports.
Colombia is home to just one major circuit in Autódromo de Tocancipá. Yet the country is also home to Juan Pablo Montoya, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner, which made him a perfect role model.
When Montoya made the move to Formula 1 in 2001, Calderón was convinced to follow a similar path. This required a difficult decision to move, but Calderón was ready for the challenges ahead. She had Paula, who now serves as her manager, by her side.
Tatiana Calderón (25), joined the NASCAR Brasil Series for the 2026 season, earning seven top fives to go along with her victory at Oval de Curvelo (Photo: NASCAR Brasil)
The Star Mazda Championship in the early 2010a served as Calderón’s first steppingstone toward Formula 1. As the years progressed, she earned opportunities in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and the FIA GP3 Series. She even won her first open-wheel race at Sebring International Raceway in 2014 as part of the Florida Winter Series.
Everything Calderón did got her one step closer to Formula 1. In 2018, Sauber Motorsport, which was later rebranded to Alfa Romeo Racing, signed Calderón as its test driver, allowing her to become the first Latin American woman to pilot a Formula 1 car following a promotional drive that same year at Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Calderón departed Alfa Romeo in 2021 without making any official Formula 1 starts, but her reputation as a determined, consistent driver drew plenty of interest from teams around the world. Among them was another Indianapolis 500 winner in A.J. Foyt, who signed Calderón to drive for his IndyCar Series program in 2022 at all the road courses.
That opportunity lasted seven races; Calderón was let go from A.J. Foyt Racing following a sudden loss in funding. Not long after, Calderón obtained a lifeline from an unexpected source: international superstar and fellow Colombian Karol G.
“I found myself with no drive and no sponsors,” Calderón said. “[Karol G] found out, and she started following me on Instagram. I knew very well who she was, and was always a very big fan of her’s. I wrote her a direct message, and she replied that our paths were going to cross and that I should keep believing, dreaming and representing women in the sport.
“Two days later, her manager, who is her sister, reached out to my sister, and then she started supporting my career.”
Karol G primarily supports Calderón through her Con Cora Foundation, a non-profit organization established with the goal of empowering women in vulnerable conditions through methods that include sports. Their shared goals is one of many reasons Calderón has been proud to have Karol G’s branding on her car the past four years.
One of the first people to congratulate Calderón on her historic NASCAR Brasil victory was Karol G herself, which was an immense source of pride. Calderón considers Karol G to be one of the most influential figures of women empowerment around the world and is determined to use her own platform to leave a similar impact on racing.
The reactions Calderón received following her NASCAR Brasil triumph only reinforced how her actions and influence have led to positive change.
“There’s an increase in female fans in motorsports,” Calderón said. “You can see that on track; you can see that on social media. The love, the support, it’s been more than I could ever imagine. It’s the motivation to keep going to see that women start to believe they can be race drivers and they can do this amazing thing.
“I want to keep representing women, Latin American women around the world and show they can be whatever they want if they believe and have the passion.”
Tatiana Calderón had a four-year stint as an official test driver for Alfa Romeo Racing in Formula 1. (Photo: NASCAR Brasil)
No matter where her journey takes her next, Calderón is going to remain steadfast in her mission and influence on the next generation of women in motorsports. One stop could be a potential return to active competition in the United States.
Calderón recently tested a Late Model Stock Car for MCM Racing Development, which was started by Mexican-born competitor Max Calles with the goal of giving Latin and South American drivers more opportunities. The drivers who have competed under Calles’ banner include Eloy Falcón and Calderón’s fellow NASCAR Brasil competitor Gabriel Casagrande.
Given that Calles also has an ARCA Menards Series program, there is a potential route for Calderón to advance up NASCAR’s developmental ladder. She wants to take the process one step at a time so she can properly acclimate herself to the cars and the environment in the U.S.
Even with such a prestigious background, Calderón knows patience is key.
“We want to build a strong path to [the] NASCAR Cup [Series],” Calderón said. “We want to do it properly starting with late models. NASCAR is such a unique culture, and obviously the cars here are very different than the ones we drive in Brazil. It’s a start to hopefully a path toward NASCAR Cup, which is one of our goals.”
Thinking about a possible career in the U.S. is not at the forefront of Calderón’s focus. There are a handful of opportunities remaining this year for Calderón to take home another checkered flag in NASCAR Brasil, with the victory in September allowing her to claim the final spot in the playoffs.
Once the season concludes, Calderón will evaluate her options. NASCAR Brasil has given Calderón plenty to celebrate in 2026, but she also wants to continue exploring different avenues all while reaching as many people as possible.
Whether that involves another venture away from South America is to be determined, but she is ready for the next challenge. Calderón is no stranger to globetrotting and is willing to go to any series in any country.
Now a proven winner in the NASCAR Brasil Series, Tatiana Calderón is ready to tackle the next challenge and continue inspiring other women to embark on their own racing careers. (Photo: NASCAR Brasil)
The only stipulation is that Calderón wants to be competitive. A grueling career around the world molded Calderón into someone who could win in NASCAR Brasil, so she has every reason to believe she can replicate that feat anywhere.
“I’m fortunate enough to have been able to compete in some of the toughest championships,” Calderón said. “Every day, I love this sport and my job more. In racing, you’ve got to have the tools to be able to win. For this part of my career, I want to show that I can win, and I can perform at the highest level, not just participate.
“Of course a championship is very important, but I want to be where people want to give me a chance to perform at the highest level.”
Calderón knows the little girl who went to the go-kart track with her older sister so many years ago would be proud of the woman she’s become.
Not only has Calderón successfully blazed her own trail in motorsports, but she got to fulfill her dream of driving a Formula 1 car … all while building a professional relationship with one of the biggest musicians in the world.
Calderón is grateful for every chance she got to prove herself as a winning driver. By maintaining a presence in racing, Calderón knows she is laying the foundation for other women around the world to chase the same dreams.
Don’t look now, but with the conclusion of the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the halfway mark of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase presented by Mobil 1 has been reached. With plenty of action already in the books — and much more in store over the final five races of the season — key questions are emerging as the postseason field jockeys for the coveted Bill France Cup.
If you want to see what insiders think about these questions, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to “Last Call,” a new weekly article series in which a handful of NASCAR.com writers answer a hot topic from the most recent race weekend.
With Chase Briscoe’s thrilling victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing driver remains in the title hunt, but with plenty of work still to do. Then again, fellow Indiana native Tony Stewart had plenty of work to do, too, during the 2011 Chase, with the eventual NASCAR Hall of Famer winning five of 10 postseason contests to capture the championship crown. Whether Briscoe can replicate that same success en route to title glory is this week’s top question.
Can Chase Briscoe go on a Tony Stewart title run?
Pat DeCola: Can he? Sure — but “Tony Stewart run” is probably the right level of bar he’ll need to clear if he wants the title because Briscoe doesn’t have much room left for merely strong races. “Smoke” won five of the 10 Chase races in 2011; Briscoe has only one victory in the past three months, with only five weekends left this season. The Vegas winner is 84 points back at the Chase’s halfway point, so he’s actually lost ground from where he started before Darlington, despite his seemingly scalding stint since. Thus, to make this real, he probably needs to stack another two to three, maybe four wins to be in the same ballpark as Stewart’s epic run, but Charlotte and Homestead are exactly the kind of 1.5-mile tracks where the No. 19 has shown it can do that. He also has wins at two of the three remaining tracks between them, so it’s technically possible. The past few races proved Briscoe’s 2026 ceiling is certainly championship-level; it’s just that he and the No. 19 team will need to literally be flawless from here on out to make it happen.
Dustin Albino: Sitting 84 points behind the lead, Briscoe is likely the cutoff for drivers still in championship contention. The schedule sets up favorably for the No. 19 team: He has won two of the last three races at 1.5-mile tracks and was passed late at Kansas Speedway, narrowly missing a hat trick. To match his childhood hero, Briscoe would need to win four of the next five races, a streak no driver has produced in the Next Gen car. The speed is there, though, and even two wins in the final five would vault him way up the standings. If there’s one thing The Chase has made clear, it’s the value of winning. Briscoe remains championship-eligible, but even a late surge would make a Tony Stewart-esque comeback a long shot.
Zack Albert: To Dustin’s point, replicating the type of postseason pounding that Tony Stewart assembled 15 years ago would’ve required an earlier start. As it stands now, Briscoe and Co. also need two more things — 1) help and potentially 2) gamesmanship. The first part is dependent on Kyle Larson making a dramatic fade after his bulletproof start to The Chase, plus similar drops in performance from the otherwise steady Denny Hamlin, before the No. 19 team can go on a sustained tear. Sealing the deal in Stewart-like fashion, however, would require some old-fashioned head games, the kind that “Smoke” used to rattle Carl Edwards’ composure in their 2011 showdown at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Needling the opposition might be out of character for the amiable Briscoe, but he’s shown off some solid acting skills already this year.
Zach Sturniolo: Time just isn’t on Briscoe’s side to make this run happen. As everyone else has stated, there is absolutely a pathway to Briscoe overcoming the hurdles ahead of him both on the race track and in the standings. But consider the caliber of teams ahead of him currently: two-time and defending champion Kyle Larson; perennial championship contender Denny Hamlin; Christopher Bell, who hasn’t finished lower than fifth in points in five years; and two Team Penske champions in Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney. To rely upon all five of those teams suffering critical and sustained errors across the next five weeks is an extraordinarily tall task. The No. 19 team is unquestionably capable. The level of performance is there. Will the execution be there for the next five weeks? Maybe, but he’ll need a hand from others faltering.
Cameron Richardson: The big phrases in Briscoe pulling off the run are “can he do it?” and “has to do it.” Yes, Stewart started the 2011 Chase ninth, but after winning the first two races, he was already at the top of the standings. Briscoe hasn’t stacked the points early on to make anyone believe that he can rattle off 70-plus-point days for the next five weeks. The story would be different if he hadn’t crashed at Gateway and suffered the mechanical failure that parked the No. 19 Toyota in the garage late in the Bristol Night Race. The Las Vegas victory was simply a matter of staying on his feet in a 10-round fight with the five above him rather than being in a back-and-forth tilt. Briscoe will be in the mix Sunday at Charlotte and the following weekend at Phoenix, but then there is the looming Talladega, where title contenders will have their hopes dashed through no fault of their own, and Martinsville, a track that has not favored the Hoosier in his Cup tenure. Barring some miracles, there’s just no viable trend to say Briscoe is built to stop Penske’s strongholds (Phoenix, Talladega, Martinsville) or be the top dog among his teammates at Charlotte and Homestead.
Just about every season of Denny Hamlin’s 22-year Cup Series career, the question has always been: Is this finally the year when everything comes together, and the 11 car drives its way to the championship?
That was supposed to change in 2026. Going into The Chase presented by Mobil 1, everything seemed lined up for Hamlin to cast off the weight of history and claim the same crown that all of his legendary peers on the career wins list already have. Not only was Hamlin enjoying another of his best seasons — in total defiance of Father Time, at age 45 — while he ran down employee/rival Tyler Reddick for the regular-season title (and top seed in The Chase), but the stretch-run schedule was looking absolutely perfect for his strengths: Many more intermediates and short tracks than the typical mix, and fewer road courses and drafting tracks.
Truly, the only thing standing in the way of Denny’s first career title appeared to be his own ability to execute. And that, unfortunately, has been a big part of the problem.
As we now sit halfway through the 10-race Chase, Hamlin’s 25-point lead on the field to begin the championship push was whittled away completely within just three races — through Bristol — and after Sunday’s 16th-place finish at Las Vegas, he is now staring at a 40-point deficit in the standings to a suddenly dominant Kyle Larson. Certainly, Larson has driven at an impressive rate since The Chase began. His average Driver Rating in the past five races is 117.7 — the ninth-best start by a Chase/playoff driver through five races since 2005 — and his average finish of 2.2 is the best of any such driver in that sample, beating out Joey Logano’s average of 2.8 in the first five races of the 2014 Chase. When the competition is on a heater like that, your margin for error will suddenly get a lot smaller.
But Hamlin has also failed to take advantage of opportunities that were presented to him. At the start of The Chase at Darlington — one of his better career tracks, where he’s won five times and is the only active Cup driver with an average finish in single-digits — Hamlin stumbled to an 18th-place finish at the Southern 500 after taking damage at mid-race. We wrote at the time that this didn’t have to prove fatal to Hamlin’s title hopes if he rebounded to meet expectations over the rest of The Chase, particularly in the critical stretch of three straight 1.5-mile ovals — the likes of which Hamlin had dominated all season.
But Hamlin has continued to undershoot his performance predictions throughout The Chase so far. In four of five outings, he has produced a Driver Rating below what his recent history and similar track-type affinity suggested ahead of the race, while Larson has exceeded his own predictions in four of five races. And the only time Denny didn’t underperform, at Kansas, Larson literally rattled off a perfect 150.0 rating en route to victory, causing Hamlin’s deficit to grow from one point to 26.
Even on Sunday, Larson began the South Point 400 with major struggles, running well outside the top 20 as the end of Stage 1 approached. This would have been a prime opportunity for polesitter Hamlin to capitalize on one of his trademark 1.5-mile tracks and eat into Larson’s edge in the points … except that the 11 car lost the back-end in Turn 3 with nobody else around and just over a lap to go in the stage, damaging his splitter and destroying his favorable track position.
A persistent and adaptable Larson, meanwhile, ended up rallying to vie with eventual winner Chase Briscoe late before finishing second, and Hamlin was never as fast again, finishing 16th. Yet another unsatisfying run caused Hamlin’s championship odds to dwindle even further, to just under 17% in my latest forecast model projection. It’s the fifth consecutive week in which Hamlin’s odds either took a dip or stayed roughly level at best: All of which brings us to this weekend in Charlotte. It’s the back-leg of those three straight 1.5-mile races, and it represents the second-to-last intermediate on the calendar, ahead of only the season finale at Homestead-Miami on Nov. 8. Not coincidentally, those two tracks also happen to be his highest-rated remaining tracks in the projections, and you can easily make the case that Charlotte is more important to his title chances because it represents such a fork in the road from here, a point at which he still has some chance — however slim at the moment — to win the title.
If Denny wins this week, his title odds would leap by 23.5 percentage points to 40.3% — placing him squarely back in the fight with Larson. But if he finishes outside the top five, Hamlin’s odds would slide further into the abyss. And if Larson wins again? Then the No. 5 team would have an overwhelming 90% chance at locking down the championship. (It could easily happen, too: Larson owns the second-highest projection this week behind Briscoe, and he won here en route to the title in 2021, albeit in the spring.)
That’s just how much of a do-or-die week it is for Hamlin. Yes, four races will remain after Charlotte, including several that do still suit his strengths. But this might be his last chance to keep Larson’s points lead anywhere near manageable territory. Another missed opportunity here, especially if Larson keeps finishing at the front, and what once looked like the year for Denny’s drought to finally end will quickly become just another heartbreaking chapter in his career.
NASCAR’s “RISING” docuseries returns for a second season, offering an all-access look at three of the sport’s emerging stars as they navigate pivotal moments in their careers on and off the track.
Season 2 follows NASCAR Cup Series drivers Connor Zilisch and Carson Hocevar, along with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Brenden “Butterbean” Queen. The four-episode season will unfold monthly from August through November.
The series brings fans beyond the weekly results and inside the personalities, challenges and ambitions shaping the next generation of NASCAR talent.
New episodes will debut on Xumo Play on the first or second Thursday of each month. Each installment will also be released on NASCAR’s YouTube channel 14 days after its Xumo Play premiere.
Check back throughout the season for each new episode and additional coverage of Zilisch, Queen and Hocevar.
Episode 3
Episode 3 of ‘RISING’ follows Carson Hocevar, rising star and controversial figure in the NASCAR Cup Series. In this clip, Hocevar talks about his view on what other people consider are “distractions” to his career. Watch the clip here:
Carson Hocevar receives a special die-cast tribute made for him after his inaugural Cup Series win earlier this season at Talladega Superspeedway. Watch the clip here:
Episode 2
Episode 2 of ‘RISING’ follows Craftsman Truck Series rookie and Kaulig Racing driver Brenden Queen. Get to know this up-and-comer — with a unique personality. Watch the clip here:
Brenden “Butterbean” Queen gets his first dose of racing at his home track, Richmond Raceway; see how he handles the pressure. Watch the clip here:
Episode 1
Before Connor Zilisch’s rise into the NASCAR Cup Series, he grew up racing go-karts — and earned quite the nickname, as detailed by family members. Watch the clip here:
In the midst of a difficult rookie season, Zilisch is just hoping to have clean races. Ride along as he drives the track, breaking down his weekly thought process. Watch the clip here:
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR is making it easier for fans with mobility challenges to experience one of the most unique vantage points in motorsports by opening applications for the unique Mobility Pit Box experience to all mobility-impaired fans through a new application portal.
During Charlotte Motor Speedway’s fall race weekend, NASCAR will spotlight a new pathway for fans to learn more about the NASCAR Mobility Pit Box and directly request access to the experience through NASCAR.com/MobilityPitBox, creating a new opportunity for fans to discover and participate in the program. The NASCAR.com destination provides fans with an access request form that is shared with host-track ticket offices based on event availability.
In addition, NASCAR will expand availability of the Mobility Pit Box schedule to four new race weekends in 2027. The full 2027 Mobility Pit Box schedule will include:
Daytona International Speedway (Feb. 18-21)
Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 20-21)
Darlington Raceway (April 2-4)
Texas Motor Speedway (April 30-May 2)
Kansas Speedway (May 8-9)
Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 28-30)
Nashville Superspeedway (June 4-6)
Michigan International Speedway (June 19-20)
Chicagoland Speedway (June 26-27)
Sonoma Raceway (July 10-11)
EchoPark Speedway (July 17-18)*
Indianapolis Motor Speedway (July 24-25)
Naval Base Coronado (July 31-Aug. 1)
Richmond Raceway (Sept. 10-11)
New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 25-26)
Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Oct. 9-10)
Charlotte Motor Speedway (Oct. 15-17)
Phoenix Raceway (Oct. 22-24)
Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 12-14)
*Denotes new location for Mobility Pit Box
The Mobility Pit Box launched in February 2024 and was brought to life through Toyota’s commitment to “Mobility for All,” delivering a pit-road experience to hundreds of guests across the country.
The move to make the experience more directly accessible to fans comes after a successful 2025 season, when the Mobility Pit Box hosted 207 guests with mobility challenges and 546 total guests. Ninety-seven percent of surveyed guests rated their experience five stars, while 64% said they were not aware of the Mobility Pit Box until they were invited.
The NASCAR Mobility Pit Box is designed within NASCAR-regulated 15-by-15-by-15-foot pit-box dimensions and sits on pit road just feet from live pit stops. The experience includes modular seating for guests using wheelchairs and ECVs, an adjustable wheelchair ramp with powered lift, race-broadcast viewing monitors and climate assistance. NASCAR and host tracks also coordinate accessible transportation for participating guests.
“At NASCAR, we want every fan to have the opportunity to experience the sport in a meaningful way, and the Mobility Pit Box is a great example of what that commitment looks like in action,” said Eric Nyquist, Chief Impact Officer, NASCAR. “We’ve created an experience that helps remove barriers and brings fans with mobility challenges closer to the racing they love.”
The expanded fan-access approach follows a Las Vegas experience featuring former IndyCar driver, team owner and motorsports accessibility advocate Sam Schmidt. Schmidt’s firsthand experience provides a firsthand look at the Mobility Pit Box.
“I witnessed a timing stand for 25 years as a team owner, even I was impressed. I was excited, I was happy to put the earpiece on and I was sad to leave… it’s unbelievable,” Schmidt said. “I love the attention to detail. It’s over the top, so for anyone who has never experienced a race before, they’d be able to say, ‘Wow… this is accessibility.’ ”
Fans interested in experiencing the NASCAR Mobility Pit Box can learn more and submit a request at NASCAR.com/MobilityPitBox.
Certainly, Larson has driven at an impressive rate since The Chase began. His average 
Even on Sunday, Larson began the South Point 400 with major struggles, running well outside the top 20 as the end of Stage 1 approached. This would have been a prime opportunity for polesitter Hamlin to capitalize on one of his trademark 1.5-mile tracks and eat into Larson’s edge in the points … except that the 11 car lost the back-end in Turn 3 with nobody else around and just over a lap to go in the stage, 
All of which brings us to this weekend in Charlotte. It’s the back-leg of those three straight 1.5-mile races, and it represents the second-to-last intermediate on the calendar, ahead of only the season finale at Homestead-Miami on Nov. 8. Not coincidentally, those two tracks also happen to be his highest-rated remaining tracks in the projections, and you can easily make the case that Charlotte is more important to his title chances because it represents such a fork in the road from here, a point at which he still has some chance — however slim at the moment — to win the title.
