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Hamlin Clinches Top Seed Amidst Tight Chase Battle
24 Aug
Summary
- Denny Hamlin secured the top seed with a 77-point lead.
- Bubba Wallace is nearly safe for a Chase spot with 75 points.
- Ryan Preece is closing the gap on Shane van Gisbergen for the bubble.
Denny Hamlin has effectively clinched the No. 1 seed in the Chase after the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, holding a substantial 77-point lead over recent winner Ryan Blaney. This strong performance means the top 13 drivers in the championship standings have all secured their places in the upcoming Chase.
Looking ahead to the Daytona race, Bubba Wallace is in a favorable position, enjoying a 75-point buffer over the cut-line, making his Chase spot highly probable. Austin Cindric remains 15th, 44 points above the cutoff. Shane van Gisbergen is currently on the bubble, with Ryan Preece gaining significant ground at New Hampshire, narrowing the gap to just 31 points. Preece is the only driver with a mathematical chance to break into the Chase from outside the current cutoff at Daytona, as Ross Chastain's chances have been eliminated.
