Denny Hamlin Feels JGR Ace’s Approach Opposite to Bubba Wallace Is Chase Elliott’s Only Way Out

Denny Hamlin finds himself in a promising position going into the restart of the Michigan race. At the end of Sunday, Hamlin was in 10th place, which is where he will start on Monday. He might have already qualified for the playoffs but the 42-year-old will be looking to add another win to his tally this season and earn some valuable playoff points. Hamlin is of the belief that Joe Gibbs Racing has fielded a good car in Michigan and that he would rather go for the win than aim for points. Hamlin also spoke about Chase Elliott’s comment about aiming for the win rather than points as a ‘very very true statement.’

Elliott already had a steep hill to climb if he was to make it to the playoffs. After his DNF in Michigan, that hill got a lot steeper. Chase’s qualification to the last 16 depends on how Bubba Wallace does in the season. Unlike the Hendrick Motorsports driver, Wallace does not need to win to get through to the playoffs thanks to the points he has already amassed this season. Denny Hamlin believes in Chase Elliott’s approach for the rest of the regular season over Bubba Wallace’s.

Denny Hamlin Echoes Chase Elliott’s Philosophy

In a recent episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin was asked by co-host Jared Allen if Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace were racing for the points or the win.

Hamlin answered, “Oh these guys are points racing. No question, they are points racing. They are trying to get every stage point they can, which is why you saw #54 [Ty Gibbs] in the first stage staying out at every caution. Like every screw that, he ain’t going to give up his track position.”

According to the JGR racer, it is better to race for the win rather than the points. Hamlin echoed Chase Elliott’s sentiments, who has been saying that winning a race is the only objective for him in order to get into the playoffs.

“You can chase points all you want and I think Chase Elliott brought up great points in the media center this week. You don’t need to chase points. Chase the win and the points will be there. I think it’s a very very true statement,” he added.

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We Definitely Gave up Some Track Position, Says Hamlin on Michigan First Stage

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Speaking further about his and his team’s performance in the race, Hamlin said that they could have won stage one but gave away track position. He also spoke about the advantages of having a quick car at a track like Michigan.

“I don’t know that others call it that way but we definitely gave up some track position. We could’ve made the first stage on fuel. The guys that chose to make it on fuel, they did, everyone could make it, but others were just trying to set themselves up for later in the race,” he said.

“Now, Truex made back up for it, so it’s not like, I think this race track, if your car’s really fast, which we’re looking at a lot of times Truex is here below everyone but he’s leading. If you’re as fast as him, you probably are going to get a lot of stage points and you’re gonna contend for a win,” Hamlin added.

Going into the restart on Monday, Hamlin has made it clear that he will compete for the win. If the track conditions don’t improve much by then, fans can hope for as eventful an evening as Sunday, especially with some drivers still trying to make the playoffs.

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