For some Darlington was too tough to tame, but for others it was the perfect track to gain spots in The Chase.
The Chase Updates: Darlington
The Chase Updates tracks drivers and teams who have been mathematically eliminated from finishing 1st, Top 5, Top 10, or qualifying for The Chase. It also highlights those who have clinched spots in The Chase or specific points standings positions.
“Mathematically eliminated” means a driver cannot reach a position, even by earning the maximum 76 points in every remaining race.
Only drivers and teams who have attempted every race in their respective Series will be included, in accordance with NASCAR rules (unless exempted).
Finally, these updates also assume that no driver misses any remaining races and that every full-time driver earns at least one (1) point in each event.
Now that The Chase for all 3 series’ is set this article series will shift to updating how The Chase standings changes from week to week. Along with this there will be updates for whenever a driver/owner is eliminated from Championship contention, and when it comes time the scenarios for a driver/team to clinch the Championship.
Red indicates that the driver and/or team is new to the respective list
NASCAR Cup Series (9 races remaining)
Christopher Bell picked up his 1st win of 2026 at Darlington, and in doing so he picked up 4 spots in the point standings plus gained 38 points on points leader Denny Hamlin. Photo by Meg Oliphant — Getty Images
Drivers Points
| Rank | Positions gain/lost | Driver | Points | Behind | Points gained/lost on Points Leader |
| 1 | +0 | Denny Hamlin | 2135 | – | Gained 0 points |
| 2 | +4 | Christopher Bell | 2123 | -12 | Gained 38 points |
| 3 | -1 | Ryan Blaney | 2119 | -16 | Gained 9 points |
| 4 | -1 | Tyler Reddick | 2111 | -24 | Gained 11 points |
| 5 | +0 | Chase Briscoe | 2098 | -37 | Gained 8 points |
| 6 | -2 | Ty Gibbs | 2096 | -39 | Gained 1 point |
| 7 | +0 | Kyle Larson | 2086 | -49 | Gained 6 points |
| T8 | +0 | Chase Elliott | 2063 | -72 | Lost 12 points |
| T8 | +1 | Joey Logano | 2063 | -72 | Lost 7 points |
| 10 | +4 | Bubba Wallace | 2054 | -81 | Gained 9 points |
| 11 | -1 | Chris Buescher | 2047 | -88 | Lost 18 points |
| 12 | +0 | Carson Hocevar | 2046 | -89 | Lost 9 points |
| 13 | -2 | Daniel Suarez | 2041 | -94 | Lost 19 points |
| 14 | +1 | Austin Cindric | 2033 | -102 | Lost 7 points |
| 15 | +1 | Ryan Preece | 2031 | -104 | Lost 4 points |
| 16 | -3 | William Byron | 2021 | -114 | Lost 29 points |
Eliminated
Drivers eliminated from Championship contention
- None
The No.24 team picked a bad time to have an engine go sour as they lost 3 spots and 29 points in the Owner’s standings below. Photo by Jeffrey Vest — Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Owners Points
| Rank | Positions gain/lost | Driver | Points | Behind | Points gained/lost on Points Leader |
| 1 | +0 | Joe Gibbs Racing No.11 | 2135 | – | Gained 0 points |
| 2 | +4 | Joe Gibbs Racing No.20 | 2123 | -12 | Gained 38 points |
| 3 | -1 | Team Penske No.12 | 2119 | -16 | Gained 9 points |
| 4 | -1 | 23XI Racing No.45 | 2111 | -24 | Gained 11 points |
| 5 | +0 | Joe Gibbs Racing No.19 | 2098 | -37 | Gained 8 points |
| 6 | -2 | Joe Gibbs Racing No.54 | 2096 | -39 | Gained 1 point |
| 7 | +0 | Hendrick Motorsports No.5 | 2086 | -49 | Gained 6 points |
| T8 | +0 | Hendrick Motorsports No.9 | 2063 | -72 | Lost 12 points |
| T8 | +1 | Team Penske No.22 | 2063 | -72 | Lost 7 points |
| 10 | +4 | 23XI Racing No.23 | 2054 | -81 | Gained 9 points |
| 11 | -1 | RFK Racing No.17 | 2047 | -88 | Lost 18 points |
| 12 | +0 | Spire Motorsports No.77 | 2046 | -89 | Lost 9 points |
| 13 | -2 | Spire Motorsports No.7 | 2041 | -94 | Lost 19 points |
| 14 | +1 | RFK Racing No.60 | 2033 | -99 | Lost 4 points |
| 15 | +1 | Team Penske No.2 | 2031 | -107 | Lost 7 points |
| 16 | -3 | Hendrick Motorsports No.24 | 2021 | -114 | Lost 29 points |
Eliminated
Owners eliminated from Championship contention
- None
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (8 races remaining)
Sheldon Creed picked up his 2nd win of 2026 at Darlington and in the process gained 28 points on points leader Justin Allgaier. Photo by Meg Oliphant — Getty Images
Drivers Points
| Rank | Positions gain/lost | Driver | Points | Behind | Points gained/lost on Points Leader |
| 1 | +0 | Justin Allgaier | 2135 | – | Gained 0 points |
| 2 | +1 | Sheldon Creed | 2128 | -7 | Gained 28 points |
| 3 | -1 | Carson Kvapil | 2116 | -19 | Gained 6 points |
| 4 | +1 | Austin Hill | 2099 | -36 | Gained 9 points |
| 5 | +2 | Corey Day | 2089 | -46 | Gained 9 points |
| 6 | -2 | Jesse Love | 2087 | -48 | Lost 8 points |
| 7 | +1 | Sammy Smith | 2080 | -55 | Gained 5 points |
| 8 | -2 | Brandon Jones | 2077 | -58 | Lost 8 points |
| 9 | +1 | Sam Mayer | 2069 | -66 | Gained 4 points |
| 10 | -1 | Parker Retzlaff | 2057 | -78 | Lost 13 points |
| 11 | +0 | Taylor Gray | 2056 | -79 | Lost 4 points |
| 12 | +0 | Rajah Caruth | 2031 | -104 | Lost 24 points |
Eliminated
Drivers eliminated from Championship contention
- None
The No.88 team was the biggest loser in Darlington this weekend as they lost 24 points to the points leader and a total of 4 positions in the standings. Photo by James Gilbert — Getty Images
Owners Points
| Rank | Positions gain/lost | Driver | Points | Behind | Points gained/lost on Points Leader |
| 1 | +0 | JR Motorsports No.7 | 2135 | – | Gained 0 points |
| 2 | +2 | Haas Factory Team No.00 | 2123 | -12 | Gained 28 points |
| 3 | -1 | JR Motorsports No.1 | 2116 | -19 | Gained 6 points |
| 4 | +2 | Richard Childress Racing No.21 | 2094 | -41 | Gained 9 points |
| 5 | +3 | Hendrick Motorsports No.17 | 2084 | -51 | Gained 9 points |
| 6 | -1 | Richard Childress Racing No.2 | 2082 | -53 | Lost 8 points |
| 7 | -4 | JR Motorsports No.88 | 2076 | -59 | Lost 24 points |
| 8 | -1 | Joe Gibbs Racing No.20 | 2072 | -63 | Lost 8 points |
| 9 | +1 | JR Motorsports No.8 | 2070 | -65 | Gained 5 points |
| 10 | -1 | Joe Gibbs Racing No.19 | 2069 | -66 | Lost 1 point |
| 11 | +1 | Haas Factory Team No.41 | 2059 | -76 | Gained 4 points |
| 12 | -1 | Viking Motorsports No.99 | 2047 | -88 | Lost 13 points |
Eliminated
Owners eliminated from Championship contention
- None
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (7 races remaining)
Layne Riggs capped off his great regular season by winning at New Hampshire and winning the Regular Season Championship. Photo by Michael Bush — Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Drivers Points
| Rank | Positions gain/lost | Driver | Points | Behind | Points gained/lost on Points Leader |
| 1 | +0 | Layne Riggs | 2100 | – | Gained 0 points |
| 2 | +0 | Kaden Honeycutt | 2075 | -25 | Gained 0 points |
| 3 | +0 | Chandler Smith | 2065 | -35 | Gained 0 points |
| 4 | +0 | Christian Eckes | 2060 | -40 | Gained 0 points |
| 5 | +0 | Gio Ruggiero | 2055 | -45 | Gained 0 points |
| 6 | +0 | Ty Majeski | 2050 | -50 | Gained 0 points |
| 7 | +0 | Grant Enfinger | 2045 | -55 | Gained 0 points |
| 8 | +0 | Daniel Hemric | 2040 | -60 | Gained 0 points |
| 9 | +0 | Ben Rhodes | 2035 | -65 | Gained 0 points |
| 10 | +0 | Tyler Ankrum | 2030 | -70 | Gained 0 points |
Eliminated
Drivers eliminated from Championship contention
- None
The Number 62 team is not in the table below as after New Hampshire they were 4 points behind the 88 truck for the 10th and final spot in the Owner’s Chase. Image credit: @StewartFriesen X Page
Owners Points
| Rank | Positions gain/lost | Driver | Points | Behind | Points gained/lost on Points Leader |
| 1 | +0 | Front Row Motorsports No.34 | 2100 | – | Gained 0 points |
| 2 | +0 | TRICON Garage No.11 | 2075 | -25 | Gained 0 points |
| 3 | +0 | Front Row Motorsports No.38 | 2065 | -35 | Gained 0 points |
| 4 | +0 | Spire Motorsports No.7 | 2060 | -40 | Gained 0 points |
| 5 | +0 | TRICON Garage No.1 | 2055 | -45 | Gained 0 points |
| 6 | +0 | McAnally Hilgemann Racing No.91 | 2050 | -50 | Gained 0 points |
| 7 | +0 | TRICON Garage No.17 | 2045 | -55 | Gained 0 points |
| 8 | +0 | Spire Motorsports No.77 | 2040 | -60 | Gained 0 points |
| 9 | +0 | Niece Motorsports No.45 | 2035 | -65 | Gained 0 points |
| 10 | +0 | ThorSport Racing No.88 | 2030 | -70 | Gained 0 points |
Eliminated
Owners eliminated from Championship contention
- None