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By Ronald Young Myracenews
As ‘The Chase’ winds down with just five races remaining, Kyle Larson and his Hendrick Motorsports team have clearly set the pace. Reeling off a dominant stretch—including two wins, two runner-up finishes, and a strong fifth-place run at Darlington—Larson has vaulted to the top of the standings heading into Sunday’s Bank of America 400 at Charlotte.
Larson’s blistering start to The Chase has effectively narrowed the championship hunt to just six contenders. Barring an unforeseen setback or a string of near-flawless performances by the chasers, the title remains firmly in his grasp.
Should the reigning champion’s postseason dominance come as a surprise after a quiet regular season?
Hardly. When talent meets elite execution, top-tier teams inevitably rise to the occasion. Though winless until last month’s breakout at Gateway, the No. 5 team showed regular-season flashes of speed that have now coalesced into a complete package: sharp pit stops, mechanical reliability, and timely luck.
However, the pursuit is far from over. Here is an assessment of the remaining contenders.
Denny Hamlin (-40 heading into Charlotte) showed early-season dominance, but recent pit-road miscues have stalled his momentum. A turnaround is well within reach, provided his team sharpens its race pace on the track and pit road execution. Anything less than top 5 finishes and max stage points will not get that 1st title.
Christopher Bell (-55) has accumulated the most stage points over the last five races and displayed raw speed at Las Vegas before a power steering failure derailed his winning bid. Speed can help win races and perhaps a title but mechanical gremlins must stop.
Joey Logano (-71) has surged over the past three months with two victories, though intermediate tracks remain a concern that could derail a 2026 title. Luckily for Logano, upcoming stops at Phoenix, Talladega, and Martinsville play directly to his strengths.
Ryan Blaney (-80) remains a staple of the championship conversation each year. Although Blaney has consistently contended for top-five finishes and stockpiled valuable stage points during the last few weeks, DNFs at Bristol and Gateway have cost him dearly.
Chase Briscoe (-84) has directly challenged Larson in recent weeks—securing a victory at Vegas and going toe-to-toe at Kansas. His speed and drive is unquestioned after falling a few laps short of claiming the title last season in a different format, but time is running short to bridge the points gap.
As for the remaining ten Chase drivers—led by early-season standout Tyler Reddick—they sit more than 100 points adrift and will need major missteps from multiple leaders to re-enter contention.
Ultimately, while early adversity at Vegas briefly gave the field an opening, Larson’s fierce rally to contend for the victory makes it clear that the championship remains his to lose.
