USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Farah Ben Gamra Fri, October 30, 2026 at 1:54 PM UTC · 4 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyle Larson could wrap up the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship at Martinsville, but the reaction from fans has exposed a bigger problem than an early title clinch. Many are questioning how Denny Hamlin can have four wins, finish the regular season as the points leader and still be on the verge of losing the championship to a driver who has built his advantage during the Chase.
The format behind that possibility is already a source of division. NASCAR scrapped its elimination-style playoffs after the 2025 season, ending a system that had been in place since 2014. The Championship 4 and its winner-take-all finale were gone.
For 2026, NASCAR brought back the Chase but the final 10 races still decides the champion without eliminations. A full-season points system was among the options considered, but it was not adopted.
The new format has produced a compelling battle, but it has also brought the old argument back. Hamlin entered the Chase as the top seed after winning four races during the regular season. Larson, who went winless over those first 26 races, has caught fire in the postseason, winning three of the first eight Chase races, including Talladega. He now leads Hamlin by 73 points with two races left.
For many fans, the issue is not that Larson might clinch before the finale. It is that Hamlin's strong season could count for so little when the championship is decided.
Oct 25, 2026; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) celebrates after winning the YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images
That distinction appears to have been lost in some of the reactions from NASCAR media personalities.
Jeff Gluck of The Athletic urged fans to "embrace it" if Larson won the title a week early, writing a column about it.
Pete Pistone of SiriusXM NASCAR Radio also challenged the reaction, posting: "Huh — I was told emphatically last year around this time this year's format is what people wanted — now I'm hearing from fans that are pissed a guy could wrap it up before the season ends."
NASCAR host Danielle Trotta said she did not want to hear fans "b*tching" if Larson clinched early.
IKR !? I thought the same. I don't wanna hear any bitching bc this is what we were repeatedly told "everyone wanted" now they have it and are still unhappy 🤷♀️
— Danielle Trotta (@DanielleTrotta) October 29, 2026
Fans were quick to respond. One told Trotta: "We actually told you repeatedly for years we want full season points. Nobody really wants the playoffs."
Another fan made the point more bluntly: "No one is pissed KL can lock it up this weekend, they are pissed that Hamlin is actually the best driver this season and he's still getting screwed by a flawed gimmicky system."
The reaction from Gluck, Pistone and Trotta has only added to the frustration. Rather than addressing that argument, their comments have treated fan complaints as if people are simply upset about Larson winning early. It is another example of how misunderstood NASCAR fans feel. They spent years calling for changes to the championship format, NASCAR eventually made changes while saying fan feedback mattered, and yet fans are still having to explain what they actually wanted. The sport is still missing the point.
I agree almost completely with an asterisk. It's objectively true that Larson's only in this position because of the Chase reset. This is FAR less egregious than the illegitimate format we left behind. But it is a problem inherent to any Chase. So I understand the frustration https://t.co/t1uCRDKId1
— Alexander (@AlextheAdm1ral) October 29, 2026
Hamlin heads to Martinsville with a significant mountain to climb, but few drivers have a stronger record at the track . He has won there six times, compared with just one victory for Larson, and has led more than 3,000 laps at the historic short track, ranking fifth on its all-time list. He also dominated the spring race, leading 292 of 400 laps and winning both stages. Hamlin needs a strong result on Sunday to keep his championship hopes alive, but Martinsville gives him a real opportunity to fight back.
Still, Hamlin trails by 73 points. If Larson outscores him by three points or more on Sunday, Hamlin will be eliminated from the title fight.
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Source: Sports
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