Denny Hamlin captured his milestone 60th Cup Series victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, becoming the first driver to secure a spot in this year’s championship-deciding race. This emotional win keeps him at the forefront of the competition, laying out a strong path for the season’s final showdown.

Corey LaJoie’s seven-year NASCAR Cup Series run ended in 2024 when Spire Motorsports released him prematurely. With no clear path back to a major seat, he’s now weighing what the future holds beyond professional racing.

Ryan Blaney capped NASCAR’s regular season in style with a thrilling victory at Daytona International Speedway, vaulting him to fourth in the Cup Series standings. Now just a few points behind Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Kyle Larson, the 31-year-old driver is riding a streak of six consecutive top-10 finishes and appears poised for a strong playoff push.