Denny Hamlin’s Championship Hopes Are Slipping Away, but Could He Still Pull Off an Incredible Comeback?

Denny Hamlin entered the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase looking like one of the favorites to finally capture his first career championship. However, after a difficult stretch of races and a disappointing afternoon at Talladega, Hamlin suddenly finds himself in a position where he needs something special to keep his championship dreams alive. With only two races remaining, the question is whether the veteran driver can turn things around before it is too late. Talladega Put Hamlin in a Tough Position Hamlin managed an eighth-place finish at Talladega, but that was not nearly enough to keep pace with Kyle Larson.