Denny Hamlin defied all odds (and the weather!) to win the 2024 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum. A day ahead of schedule, the Clash roared to life, opening the NASCAR Cup Series campaign unofficially. After a late caution, Denny Hamlin took advantage of the opportunity to win his fourth Clash, beating Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney in a two-lap shootout. Although Hamlin led 59 of the 151 laps, Ty Gibbs, his JGR teammate, held a lot of the lead until a late caution signaled a restart with 10 laps to go.

All in all, Ty Gibbs delivered a commendable performance, leading the most laps and demonstrating expertise behind the wheel. But his night ended up in regret. After losing control in the final laps, the late spin-out resulted in him dropping to P18. If that wasn’t enough, a post-race altercation with Joey Logano added further flare to the 2022 Xfinity Champion’s dismal weekend. Arguably, his moment eventually came late in the post-race presser when his veteran teammate vouched for him.

Denny Hamlin’s Playoff Prophecy for Ty Gibbs

Denny Hamlin discussed the dramatic late-race drama and his JGR teammate’s 2024 chances in the post-race press conference. “I certainly knew Ty battling for his first win, I certainly wasn’t going to do anything to try to compromise that..” Hamlin declared honorably in response to a question from Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, regarding the difficulty of beginning behind a less experienced teammate.

He went on to add, “My goal was certainly to not have contact with Ty… Simply because it’s a kid’s first opportunity… Real opportunity to go win..”

Additionally, Hamlin answered another question with a quick note of confidence regarding the young driver’s future. He predicted with an air of familiarity, “He’s just gotten better. He’s very young. He’s green. He is definitely green. I have a lot of interactions with Ty… he asks a lot of questions. I think he’s going to have tremendous success this year… He’s going to be part of the playoffs.”

Watch This Story: Ty Gibbs: A Reluctant Rising Star?

A 2023 Review and Potential 2024 Plans for #54

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A quick look back at Gibbs’ 2023 season makes it evident that the young driver showcased remarkable adaptability in his first full-time campaign. Gibbs won the Rookie of the Year, and navigated diverse tracks, accumulating 10 top-10 finishes. Notably, his performance at the Bristol Night Race hinted at his potential to dominate in the Cup Series in the eventual future.

For 2024, Gibbs will be looking forward to multiple victories and a playoff appearance. Despite being only 21 years old and having 51 Cup Series starts over 2 years, Gibbs’ undeniable talent fuels optimism for a potentially groundbreaking sophomore season.

In the races to come, a lot of eyes will be on Gibbs as he seeks to fulfill his destiny and carve out his place among NASCAR’s elite drivers list. With each lap, he inches closer to his first championship while being driven by the pursuit of excellence and the desire to etch his name in racing history as part of the illustrious Gibbs family legacy. Would he soon find himself in the elite list of NASCAR Cup drivers?

Read More: “I’ll Remember” – Tempers Flare at the Busch Light Clash as Joey Logano Warns Ty Gibbs in Post Race Altercation