Denny Hamlin blasts NASCAR after regular season title scrapped mid-2026 run

Denny Hamlin has ripped NASCAR’s decision to scrap the regular-season title midway through the 2026 Cup Series, calling the move ‘incredible’ and saying it came at the worst possible moment for his championship push.

What happened?

NASCAR announced on 18 Jun 2026 that the regular-season championship trophy will no longer be awarded, even though the points battle is still in progress. Denny Hamlin currently leads the standings by 68 points after four wins this season and is the strongest candidate to claim the honor. The change is part of a wider playoff-system overhaul that removes the elimination-style playoffs and replaces them with a 10-race shootout to Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Why it matters for Denny Hamlin

Hamlin aired his frustration on the Actions Detrimental podcast with co-host Jared, saying the timing was designed to stop him from winning the title. “They don’t want me to be a champion,” he told Jared. “The one time you win the regular season, they get rid of it.” Under the new rules, the regular-season points leader only gets a 25-point head start in the playoffs instead of a trophy and formal recognition.

The format also strips away playoff points for stage and race wins. Now a race victory earns 55 points, while winning both stages and the race can net a maximum of 76 points. Hamlin’s 68-point cushion will shrink to just 25 once the playoffs begin, tightening the margin for error.

What comes next?

Hamlin insists his Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 team remains in title contention. “If we can keep this momentum going and avoid bad luck, I think it’ll be hard for the field to catch us,” he said. His 2026 average finish of 3.64 on non-drafting ovals is the best since Richard Petty’s 1977 mark, underlining his car’s strength.

The changes have split opinion across the garage. Some drivers argue removing the regular-season title reduces incentive for early-season performance, while others back NASCAR’s push to reward race wins over playoff points. Hamlin, though, is focused on converting his points lead into a fourth Cup Series crown despite the rule shake-up.