NASCAR Contender Rankings: Which Driver Takes Top Spot Ahead Of The Chase?

Denny Hamlin is the favorite — he dominated the regular season and has wins at every Chase track, plus strong Darlington form.
Christopher Bell is a steady threat — 11 top-fives (seven runner-ups) this year despite no wins, so consistency could carry him far.
Kyle Larson has the speed — he’s led 659 laps this season and has won at most Chase tracks, but a 50-race winless drought means he needs luck to convert it into a title.