Denny Hamlin kept his NASCAR Cup Series championship hopes alive with an eighth-place finish in Sunday's YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver started ninth and survived an eventful afternoon that eliminated several of his closest championship rivals.
Hamlin was among the competitors involved in the 12-car accident on Lap 132, which caused damage to the front of his Toyota. However, his team was able to keep the car competitive, allowing him to remain on the lead lap.
As the race progressed, Hamlin found himself battling near the front while other Chase contenders continued experiencing difficulties. The late accident involving Chase Briscoe and Joey Logano further improved his potential position in the championship
standings.
Hamlin ultimately finished eighth after Kyle Larson's dramatic last-lap victory, earning 29 points. The result allowed Hamlin to climb two positions to second in the Chase standings with 2,368 points, although Larson's victory significantly increased the gap between them.
Hamlin now trails the championship leader by 73 points with only Martinsville and Homestead-Miami remaining. Although his Talladega result helped him climb the standings, Hamlin faces a difficult challenge in his pursuit of his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Denny Hamlin needs major run at Martinsville for chance at 2026 title
