Denny Hamlin solidified his position in the Round of 12 with a strong top-5 finish at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race held at the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway. Following the race, he took a moment to commend Kyle Larson’s exceptional performance and shared insights about his strategy and expectations for the upcoming race.
Starting from the eighth spot after achieving a qualifying speed of 125.666 mph in just 15.269 seconds, Hamlin’s #11 car demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the night. He finished Stage 1 in sixth place, improved to third by the end of Stage 2, and ultimately wrapped up the race in fourth position. His 23XI Racing teammate, Bubba Wallace, outperformed him slightly, finishing third at Bristol.
In a post-race interview, Hamlin reflected on his race experience and overall performance, saying, “My goal was to win, you know, but it seemed like the #5 car was just better than all of us. It was a solid car. I thought we had a really strong performance during the middle stages, but towards the end, it got too loose, and I couldn’t maintain what we had going. Overall, it was a top-five day, and I’m pleased with the stage points we earned; we were in the mix.”
When discussing his upcoming race at Kansas, Hamlin was optimistic about the potential for improvement, especially after less-than-ideal finishes in previous races at Atlanta and Watkins Glen, where he placed 24th and 23rd, respectively. “Certainly, this is a turning point,” he remarked. “From this point forward, it’s all about offense, so we’re heading to Kansas, a track where we’ve historically been really strong. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Despite facing challenges related to charter negotiations, which included concerns about potentially losing charters if NASCAR does not engage further, Hamlin approached the Bristol race six points below the playoff cutoff line. However, his performance allowed him to accumulate 46 points during the event, securing his place in the Round of 12, where he currently sits in sixth place with a seven-point buffer above the cutline. Unfortunately, his teammates Ty Gibbs and Martin Truex Jr., as well as Brad Keselowski and Harrison Burton, did not make it into the Round of 12.
Additionally, Hamlin had important messages for his teammate Bubba Wallace regarding the future of 23XI Racing. Following the renewal of Wallace’s contract, Hamlin stressed the necessity for consistent playoff appearances and high finishes, stating, “The 23 team needs to make the playoffs every year. That’s our expectation, and we aim for a deep run, finishing in the top ten in points. Just getting in isn’t enough; it’s hard for me to say that would be the only expectation, but it is definitely a standard we’re setting for ourselves.”
While Hamlin’s other driver, Tyler Reddick, concluded the elimination race in 20th place, Reddick’s victory in the regular season championship has elevated the ambitions and morale within the 23XI Racing team as they move forward in the playoff series.
