Hamlin Aims for Bristol Win to Secure Spot in NASCAR Playoffs Round Two

At Watkins Glen, a dramatic twist occurred for Denny Hamlin as he found himself entangled in an early-race crash. This incident knocked fellow playoff contender Ryan Blaney out of the competition, leaving Hamlin with a challenging race ahead.

Despite recovering to earn a stage point, disaster struck again when Hamlin spun out, hitting the wall with the nose of his Toyota. This left him finishing in 23rd place, which dropped him to 13th in the NASCAR playoff standings, placing him six points behind Ty Gibbs, right on the postseason cutoff line.

Though Hamlin’s performance did not meet expectations, his trademark confidence remains intact as NASCAR approaches its next race at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I feel like we can go there and win,” he expressed. “We are going to an oval, back to a normal track. We can control our own destiny there.”

With 54 career victories under his belt, Hamlin has reason to believe in his abilities at Bristol. His track record includes winning the event for two consecutive years and achieving four wins on the 0.533-mile oval.

His presence on the track is sure to put pressure on drivers competing for the coveted 12 playoff spots.

Come Saturday night, four drivers will be eliminated from the playoff contention. Joey Logano secured his spot in the second round with a victory at the opener in Atlanta. Meanwhile, Chris Buescher surprised many by winning at Watkins Glen International, marking a notable finish that saw five non-playoff drivers take the lead to the finish line.

Currently, Hamlin, alongside NASCAR champions Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., and Harrison Burton, is among those positioned in serious danger of being cut from the playoffs. In contrast, Christopher Bell finished in 14th place at Watkins Glen and enjoys a comfortable 46-point buffer in the standings.

“It wasn’t pretty how we got there, but we got there and now we can go to Bristol and relax a little bit more,” Bell remarked, indicating his relief after a challenging race.

The chaos at Watkins Glen was not limited to Hamlin’s misfortunes. Many playoff drivers faced their own hurdles throughout the race. Chase Briscoe emerged as the highest finisher among the 16 playoff contenders, claiming sixth place after starting in a precarious position. This strong finish elevated him to 11th in the standings, now six points above the cutline.

Briscoe, who clinched his playoff spot with a win at Darlington, is determined to push forward despite his mixed results at Bristol in the past. “I don’t consider ourselves to be an underdog,” he said. “Some people might’ve already written us off, but for myself and our entire race team, we all feel like we can win it all.”

His upcoming transition to Joe Gibbs Racing next season seems to motivate him further, as he embraces the challenges posed by the final days of the Stewart-Haas Racing program, a team with a rich legacy.

On the other hand, Truex, the 2017 champion, is grappling with a season he likely wishes to forget as he approaches retirement without a victory. He finished 20th at Watkins Glen and currently sits 15th overall, 14 points behind the cutoff line. Despite his significant experience, he hasn’t won at Bristol in 37 attempts.

Keselowski, who is the 2012 champion, remains in a critical position following a tough race at Watkins Glen. His involvement in a late-race crash left him in 26th, causing him to fall behind the cutline, now 12 points behind Ty Gibbs. Although Keselowski has managed one win this season, he will need to leverage his past successes at Bristol—where he has three victories—to advance.

Blaney, meanwhile, is advocating for changes in how pit repairs are handled after he was forced to retire due to damage from the opening lap crash. As last season’s Cup champion, he is still secure in eighth place with a significant 29-point cushion, even though he has yet to secure a win at Bristol.

In summary, the playoff picture is growing more intense as the drivers prepare for Bristol. Logano’s victory at Atlanta ensures him a place in the next round, while Bell, Austin Cindric, Alex Bowman, Daniel Suarez, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, Blaney, Kyle Larson, Byron, Briscoe, and Gibbs make up the rest of the competitive field.

Source: AP