[REVISION HISTORY]

NASCAR Cup Series playoff qualification race

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-29 00:04 UTC → 2026-08-29 02:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series regular season is nearing its conclusion, with seven drivers—Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott, and Christopher Bell—having already clinched positions in the post-season Chase. As the series moved through New Hampshire and toward Daytona, the battle for the remaining spots intensified. Following the Richmond race, Kyle Larson and Joey Logano were positioned to secure their places, needing only 10 and 11 points respectively. In the fight for the final transfer position, Bubba Wallace held a slim 20-point lead over Shane van Gisbergen, who occupied 16th place. Heading into the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, only three positions remain to be decided. Shane van Gisbergen continues to hold the final playoff spot, while Ryan Preece trails by 31 points. During qualifying for the regular-season finale, Ross Chastain secured the pole position with a time of 48.808 seconds, ~~narrowly defeating~~ marking his first pole of the 2026 season. He will start alongside Chris ~~Buescher.~~ Buescher, who qualified second. Austin Hill secured third, followed by Ryan Preece ~~qualified fourth, maintaining his involvement~~ in ~~the high-stakes battle for the final transfer position.~~ fourth and Riley Herbst in fifth. The top ten also includes Shane van Gisbergen, Connor Zilisch, Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson. The session also marked the debut of a new NASCAR rules package involving aerodynamic changes and reduced power. Notably, Ty Gibbs was granted a second qualifying attempt following an official error by NASCAR, allowing him to improve his starting position.

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