Denny Hamlin Penalized, Shaking Up NASCAR Championship Standings

Hamlin and his team face severe penalties for engine rule violations, altering the playoff landscape.

Hamlin was docked 75 points and 10 playoff points due to an engine violation by Toyota Racing Development.
The penalty drops Hamlin from third to sixth in the standings, affecting his championship aspirations.
Crew chief Chris Gabehart was fined $100,000 as part of the sanctions.
Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. expressed sympathy, noting the punishment was a result of a mistake, not cheating.
Hamlin remains focused on winning upcoming races to mitigate the impact of the penalty.