The Chase is Here!

Sixteen drivers are about to battle for a Cup Series Championship over 10 weeks and 10 different tracks.

This is the first year of the reintroduced Chase playoff format. Denny Hamlin enters as the favorite after winning the regular-season championship. Many believe this could finally be Hamlin’s year after last year’s heartbreak in the championship race.

But you can’t count out Ryan Blaney or Tyler Reddick, who have both proven they can dominate over multi-race stretches. The more interesting storyline may be the drivers seeded toward the back of the Chase field, including Spire teammates Daniel Suarez and Carson Hocevar, as well as Bubba Wallace, who said, “I have a feeling we’re gonna make a generational run.”

With the extra 15 points awarded for a win, any driver has a legitimate shot at the championship.

Who is on a heater entering the Chase?

Denny Hamlin

Despite not winning since Pocono, the driver of the No. 11 JGR Toyota is oozing confidence and speed. He also has a playoff schedule that appears to favor him more than most of the field.

Team Penske

Ever since Ryan Blaney won the summer Atlanta race, the Penske organization has been on a roll. Blaney enters as the second seed, Joey Logano won two races to climb to the ninth playoff seed, and Austin Cindric put together multiple overachieving performances to claim one of the final Chase spots.

Ryan Preece

Say no more than winning at Daytona to make the Chase. The No. 60 RFK team saw its confidence skyrocket after a dominant Daytona night. The question now is whether that momentum can carry Preece and the team into a legitimate championship fight.

Who is entering the Chase struggling?

Tyler Reddick

The hot start and 100-plus-point lead have evaporated. The No. 45 team has cooled off significantly, dropping Reddick to the third seed. Hopefully, the point reset is exactly what this team needs to turn things around.

Carson Hocevar

It has been a rough four to five weeks for the No. 77 team. Hocevar appeared to be in position for a potential fifth seed, but a recent slump dropped him all the way to 12th.

The Chase begins this week with the Southern 500 at Darlington on September 6 at 5 p.m. ET.