Denny Hamlin enters the 2026 NASCAR playoffs as the No. 1 seed, but the Joe Gibbs Racing driver does not believe his long Chase history will give him a major edge. Hamlin starts the 10-race Chase with 2,100 points, 25 ahead of Ryan Blaney, after winning the NASCAR regular season.
The 2026 NASCAR playoffs also bring back the Chase format, with all 16 drivers staying in championship contention across all 10 races. For Hamlin, however, past playoff experience is not the biggest factor.
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He believes his knowledge of the tracks on the NASCAR playoff schedule could matter more. The Chase begins with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on...
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