Denny Hamlin’s bid for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 in 2024 took a devastating turn during practice for the Martinsville race. A throttle malfunction led to his car accelerating uncontrollably as he approached Turn 3, resulting in a hard crash into the outside wall. The impact caused significant damage, forcing Hamlin to switch to a backup car and start the race from the rear of the field. Although his driving was breathtaking and he finished 5th from the back of the grid, he didn’t cut to compete in the finals.

Hamlin’s misfortunes didn’t end there; ongoing mechanical issues further complicated his efforts to claw back into contention. Given his impressive history at Martinsville, this unexpected turn of events was particularly tough for both him and the Joe Gibbs Racing team. As the dust settles on this challenging season, the question lingers: is the playoff format fair? While this can be a topic of never-ending debate, Kevin Harvick proposed something to make the format more interesting, and Denny Hamlin agreed to it.

Denny Hamlin sides with Kevin Harvick’s playoff idea

On a recent episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Harvick shared his thoughts about the current NASCAR playoff format, and let’s just say he didn’t hold back. He kicked things off by acknowledging that the format brings excitement, but he wasn’t shy about pointing out a flaw: “Let’s face it, we do not have the best four cars in the championship four now.”He referenced Tyler Reddick, who’s the regular season champion, and added a twist by suggesting that just because someone topped the regular season should have a guaranteed spot in the finals.

Kevin Harvick proposed an interesting idea—what if the regular season champ got an automatic bid into the final four? He argued that rewarding consistent performance throughout the season could add an extra layer of incentive for drivers. “If Kyle Larson showed up to Charlotte,” instead of missing out on the race because of his double attempt, the HMS No. 5 would have made it into the finals.

Harvick spoke of a scenario where the second-place driver would go to the “championship eight” and the third-place driver to the “championship 12.” This way, the points system would not only encourage drivers to race for the win but also to aim for those top spots. Denny Hamlin was recently eliminated from the playoffs after Martinsville and is no longer in the top four, couldn’t help but agree with Harvick’s insights. He retweeted Harvick’s comments with a simple but effective caption: “Not terrible.”

Although Denny Hamlin is out of the playoffs, he still has his 23XI Racing star competing for the title. With that said, it was a bittersweet round 3 for Denny Hamlin as he gets to see his driver compete in the top 4. However, he will not be fighting for the title himself. Now that Denny Hamlin’s driver is in the finals, it’s only fair that the boss gives Tyler Reddick some tips.

Denny Hamlin’s advice to Tyler Reddick for his first finals

As Tyler Reddick gears up for the Championship 4 race at

Phoenix Raceway, his team owner, Denny Hamlin, has been thinking about the best way to guide him through this crucial moment. Even though Hamlin isn’t racing for the title himself, he’s eager to see his driver succeed. On his latest episode of the “Actions Detrimental” podcast, he encouraged Reddick to reach out to Christopher Bell, who clinched victory at Phoenix earlier this year. “He should; if he’s smart, he does,” Hamlin said about Reddick seeking advice from Bell.

Hamlin, a seasoned veteran in the Championship 4 arena, wants to pass on some wisdom to Reddick as he prepares for this high-stakes showdown. He advised Reddick to savor the moment and enjoy the process, as making it to the Championship 4 is a significant achievement in itself. “So much of it is about just having fun and enjoying this process and this week,” he explained. “What happens in a one-race, winner-take-all? You know, some things are going to be out of your control there.”

With this, Hamlin leaves his star driver to take on the championship, as there is just 1 more race left for the season. Considering the surprise victories that Reddick pulled off this year, do you think that he will be the regular and Cup Series Champion in 2024? Share your thoughts in the comments below.