“That’s Crazy Talk!” Denny Hamlin Exposes Major Issue with NASCAR Chase Points System

The NASCAR Cup garage is at Darlington this week for the first race of the 2026 chase, with Denny Hamlin leading the charge as the number on seed. The points were reset for all the drivers ahead of the 10-race final stretch in the championship and one aspect of it is really frustrating for Joe Gibbs Racing veteran.

Unlike how things have been in the playoffs system, the racers failing to make it to the last-16 won’t be able to better their final position better than P17. Hamlin wanted to see the points of everyone other than the champion reset after the finale, the driver ranked according to the points they accumulated the whole season.  

I believe that once the season is over, they re-rack the points to say, ‘Okay, if there wasn’t a Chase, where would you have ended up?’ Except for the champion of course. I thought that this was part of the changes. That just because you don’t make the Chase doesn’t mean 17th is the best you can finish in points. If not, that blows.

Denny Hamlin said on his podcast.

Further talking about the point that is going to hurt Shane van Gisbergen, the driver ranked at P17, Denny Hamlin recalled how the drivers who made it into the playoffs under the win and in-situation got ranked and how it’s unfair the racers don’t get rewarded for producing strong runs in the last ten races of the Cup season.

It used to be the win and you’re in, someone that was 30th in points wins, locks themselves into the top 16 because of one race? That’s crazy talk. The guy in 17th in points who just barely misses the Chase goes on a great run over the last 10, he deserves to be in the top 10 if that’s where it took him.

Denny Hamlin added via Actions Detrimental.

Denny Hamlin goes on a furious rant over the points system

The three times Daytona 500 winner went on a rant over the points format and admitted that how he is frustrated, as he thought the issue gotten the attention it deserved. But he is angry with the sport over the fact that the unfair system still stands.

That is bull. I’ve got notes saying they were changing that. That’s a killer. That’s a killer. We talked about that with NASCAR. Locking these guys out of being able to advance their position, that’s unfair.

Denny Hamlin said.

He asserted that it is unfair for the likes of Shane van Gisbergen, who couldn’t make it into the last-16 after Ryan Preece won the regular season finale at Daytona and secured a small points gap, enough to progress to the next round. For the final standing all 36 races of the season needs to be counted.

He missed it by a couple of points. You’re telling me the next 10 races he’s maxed out? If you take all 36 races into account he could be way higher.

Denny Hamlin added.

The comments from the JGR veteran are on point and the drivers outside the chase list deserves the opportunity to have the finish the earned credited to them at the end of the year. It would be interesting if NASCAR will change their mind and listen to Hamlin.

Also Read: Bubba Wallace Predicts “Generational Run” From No:23 Team in 2026 Chase