Winners and losers from a considerably predictable NASCAR Cup race at Pocono

The sixteenth spherical of the 2026 NASCAR Cup season at Pocono Raceway had a reasonably predictable ending, as Denny Hamlin collected his sixty fourth profession win and his eighth on the ‘Difficult Triangle’ over championship chief Tyler Reddick.

However there was nonetheless lots to debate after 400 miles and 160 laps of motion across the distinctive observe. NASCAR will now head west to California for a road race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, after which a conventional street course race at Sonoma Raceway.

However earlier than we glance westward, let’s check out the most important winners and losers from Pocono Raceway:

WINNER: Denny Hamlin closes in on championship lead with one other excellent race

Hamlin really appears infallible for the time being after profitable his third consecutive Cup Sequence race. Tyler Reddick’s 129-point lead has been lowered to simply 19pts in 4 quick races, whilst he completed second on Sunday. Hamlin has roared previous Kyle Busch on the all-time wins record, just lately joined the 50 poles/50 wins membership, and it looks as if he can do no unsuitable. Now, the following two weeks on road/street programs are prone to make him look extra human as Hamlin is at his weakest when proper turns are concerned, however Pocono was simply the most recent instance of how the 45-year-old is barely getting higher behind the wheel.

LOSER: Christopher Bell falls one lap wanting gasoline save gamble paying off

Watch: Christopher Bell displays on late gasoline gamble

Lots of people thought Bell would not even be racing this weekend after a 63G crash left him with a fractured left wrist at Michigan, however right here he was. It wasn’t an incredible race for Bell, however a daring fuel-save technique from crew chief Adam Stevens practically netted him a prime 5 or prime ten end, however he ran out of gasoline with one lap to go and needed to pit. That despatched him again to twenty sixth place, and now he faces a really tough problem on account of his harm with San Diego and Sonoma forward of him.

WINNER: Legacy Motor Membership continues spectacular upward climb

Watch: Nemechek pleased with P4 end: ‘We’re working in the fitting course’

The Toyotas are very quick this 12 months, and we imply JGR, 23XI, *and* Legacy Motor Membership. After Erik Jones’ runner-up end final weekend, he positioned sixth at Pocono. Much more spectacular than that’s the truth that he wasn’t even the highest LMC driver! Teammate John Hunter Nemechek completed fourth for his first prime 5 of the 12 months, main 42 laps — a career-high for Nemechek. In actual fact, he led extra laps on Sunday than his total 2025 season mixed. Jones was additionally the most important mover in factors, leaping three spots and transferring simply above the Chase cut-off line. Legacy is changing into a real risk suddenly, and is prone to attain Victory Lane within the near-future in the event that they stick with it.

LOSER: Brad Keselowski falls exterior the Chase

Whereas Jones moved up into the highest 16, he changed Keselowski who fell under the Chase cut-line. The RFK co-owner has three straight DNFs with finishes of thirty fourth, thirty fourth, and thirty eighth at Pocono — lifeless final. He was caught up in a wreck he did not trigger, and now he sits seventeenth in factors with little to indicate for his efforts. With the current misfortune that hit Ryan Preece as properly, RFK now has only one driver left within the Chase subject, whereas all three have been trying comfy nearly a month in the past.

WINNER: Chris Buescher leads the way in which for Ford 

Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford

Photograph by: David Jensen / Getty Photographs

Whereas it was a troublesome weekend for many of RFK Racing, Buescher continues to be the outlier. He completed seventh, which was first amongst all Ford drivers. Buescher has been the mannequin of consistency, and has bumped as much as seventh within the standings along with his eighth prime ten within the first 16 races of the 12 months.

LOSER: Zane Smith makes pricey error whereas battling at the entrance

Zane Smith, Entrance Row Motorsports

Photograph by: David Jensen / Getty Photographs

Smith has been very spectacular in current weeks, however Pocono was a misstep for the motive force of the No. 38 FRM Ford. Battling for third whereas on an alternate technique, Smith misplaced management and crashed into the within wall, ending his Pocono race after simply 66 laps. Nonetheless, there was a brilliant spot for Entrance Row Motorsports as Smith’s teammate Todd Gilliland earned his first-career stage win.

WINNER: Ross Chastain secures best-ever Pocono end

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photograph by: David Jensen / Getty Photographs

The No. 1 Trackhouse workforce has to take no matter positives they’ll discover proper now, and Sunday was a uncommon brilliant spot in an in any other case tough 2026 season. Chastain completed eighth, securing his best-ever end at Pocono and his first prime ten on a non-drafting observe this 12 months. Chastain continues to be 61pts exterior of the Chase, however Sunday’s outcome moved him eleven factors nearer to the cut-line.

LOSER: Defending Pocono winner Chase Briscoe fails to capitalize

Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing, John Hunter Nemechek, Legacy Motor Membership

Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs

Briscoe’s acknowledged aim is to be inside the highest 5 within the standings by the point the common season ends, giving him an incredible shot at difficult for the title following the reset. And whereas he had a high-quality race, the No. 19 workforce has to really feel Pocono was a missed alternative. He entered this race because the defending winner, however he solely completed twelfth, and stays nearly 100 factors away from reaching fifth within the standings.

BONUS WINNER: NASCAR and Prime Video for transferring up the beginning time

Nascar prime brand

Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs

NASCAR labored along with streaming associate Prime Video to proactively transfer up the beginning time of Sunday’s Cup race a full two hours because of the risk of inclement climate later within the day. It was nice to have an early afternoon Cup race, nevertheless it was even higher to see how versatile Prime Video was with adjusting begin instances, guaranteeing all 160 laps have been accomplished with no single delay.

We would like your opinion!

– The Motorsport.com Staff