The race for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship is beginning to take shape, and three of the sport’s biggest stars have already locked up their spots in the Chase. Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Ryan Blaney have all mathematically clinched berths with five races still remaining in the regular season, cementing themselves as early championship contenders.
Hamlin and Reddick have been the class of the field throughout the season, consistently piling up points while battling at the top of the standings. Blaney joined them after another strong stretch of performances, giving Team Penske its first guaranteed Chase driver.
With their postseason spots secured, all three teams can now focus on building momentum for the 10-race Chase while continuing to battle for the regular-season title and valuable bonus points. As the Brickyard 400 approaches, Hamlin, Reddick, and Blaney have already accomplished the first major goal of the season—earning their chance to race for the NASCAR Cup Series championship.