Sports · Motorsport · 5 hrs ago
Larson leads NASCAR title race as Hamlin trails by 49 points
Kyle Larson leads NASCAR’s Cup Series title Chase with four races remaining.
Denny Hamlin is 49 points behind Larson, while Christopher Bell trails by 51.
Larson has won twice in the six races since the Chase began and has been especially consistent.
Hamlin, who started the postseason as the regular-season champion, lost points after crashes in races at Las Vegas and Darlington.
He says his team must improve and start closing the gap at Phoenix Raceway, where the drivers spoke on Saturday.
Bell said race wins matter because first place earns 20 more points than second.
Larson is the betting favorite, while Hamlin and Bell are also among the leading contenders.
The Chase continues with four races left, but the sources do not say who will win the title.
Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series Chase standings, with Denny Hamlin 49 points behind and Christopher Bell 51 points back.
Four races remain in the Chase, and Larson has won twice during the first six races.
Hamlin entered the postseason as regular-season champion but now trails Larson.
At odds published October 16, Larson was the betting favorite to win the 2026 championship.
Hamlin said he needs to improve execution and speed, starting at Phoenix Raceway.
- Who
- Kyle Larson leads the standings, ahead of Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell.
- What
- The three drivers are competing for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
- When
- Four races remained as of October 17, 2026.
- Where
- The drivers discussed the Chase at Phoenix Raceway.
- Why
- Larson has built his lead with two wins and strong results; Hamlin said crashes and execution problems cost him points.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fox Sports reported that Larson led Hamlin by 49 points and was the favorite in the championship odds.
Larson, Hamlin and Bell discussed their championship prospects at Phoenix Raceway with four races remaining.
- Points gap
- Hamlin trailed Larson by 49 points
- Chase races remaining
- 4
- Larson wins
- 2 during the first 6 Chase races
- Bell points gap
- 51 points behind Larson
- Larson odds
- -135 at DraftKings Sportsbook as of October 16
3 sources
What people are saying
We have to start chipping away
I would say all of them equally
So far, Kyle has found himself in victory lane and Denny hasn't yet.