Denny Hamlin’s path to advancing in the NASCAR playoffs is looking uncertain after a tough race at Watkins Glen, where he finished 23rd. This race marked the second event of the playoffs, and Hamlin now finds himself in 13th place overall. Bristol Motor Speedway will be his final opportunity to move forward into the Round of 12, as he faces potential elimination alongside three other drivers: Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., and Harrison Burton.
Hamlin started the playoffs ranked sixth in the standings but quickly encountered trouble. After a crash at Atlanta, he managed to gather only 13 points, which dropped him to 11th place. His poor finish at Watkins Glen further impacted his position, pushing him down to 13th, now among the bottom four drivers who risk elimination.
The upcoming race at Bristol will be crucial for Hamlin’s playoff chances. Fortunately for him, Bristol has been a good track in the past. He boasts an average finish of 13.6 over 34 starts, including wins in his last two appearances. Despite his recent setbacks, Hamlin’s history at Bristol gives him hope of keeping his championship dreams alive.
One of the standout points of Hamlin’s season is that he is the only driver with multiple wins who sits below the pivotal 10th-place cutoff. At 43 years old, Hamlin is just six points away from advancing to the Round of 12. Meanwhile, William Byron, who also has three wins this season, currently holds the 10th position.
Watkins Glen was a rough day for Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs Racing team. During the race, Hamlin was involved in two major incidents. The first occurred in a multi-car collision with Corey Lajoie and Kyle Busch at the bus stop section of the track. The crash sent Hamlin’s #11 Toyota Camry into the Armco barrier before turn 5, resulting in heavy damage. His team managed to repair the car quickly, but Hamlin lost a lap. He did regain his position by the end of Stage 1 through a free pass, rejoining the competition.
However, his troubles didn’t end there. In Stage 3, while attempting a bold three-wide pass involving Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson through the narrow esses section of the track, Hamlin was squeezed and ended up hitting the wall alongside Keselowski. This incident caused him to lose another lap on the 2.45-mile road course. Despite these difficulties, a series of yellow flags allowed him to work his way back into the top 20, although he spent much of the race in the 30s.
Despite these significant setbacks, Hamlin remains optimistic. In post-race interviews, he expressed confidence in his ability to perform at Bristol, a track where he’s had previous success. He acknowledged that the playoffs didn’t start as he had hoped but remained focused on the upcoming challenge.
In an interview after the race, Hamlin said, “It’s not over yet. It’s not over until Bristol, and obviously, we’re going to a track where we know how to perform. I’m really proud of the effort. We ran mid-30s all day long and then finished 23rd due to some attrition and a good late restart.” His determination to keep pushing forward was clear, and his positive attitude underscored his belief in turning things around at Bristol.
Reflecting on his performance at Watkins Glen, Hamlin noted, “Great effort to keep us in it. Obviously, the car is just destroyed. To finish 23rd, I guess, is a positive. We were in a worse place most of the day, and luckily, we had some attrition at the end that helped us out.” His perspective on the race highlighted his ability to find silver linings even after a challenging day on the track.
Given Hamlin’s strong performance on short tracks like Bristol and Richmond, where he’s already claimed victories this season, many NASCAR fans still believe in his potential to advance. If he can capitalize on his experience and success at Bristol, there’s a good chance Hamlin will overcome his current playoff struggles and secure a spot in the next round.
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