The battle for the championship is heating up, and fans are placing their bets on their favorite drivers. Adding to the thrill, drivers themselves are also making their predictions. At the epicenter of the intense competition is Denny Hamlin, known for speaking his mind and making bold declarations. Continuing with that, Hamlin recently revealed his top 4 picks to contend for the coveted Championship trophy.

Hamlin says it’s the best 8 on tracks this time

The Las Vegas Speedway will be witnessing the top 8 drivers battling to make their way to the finals. While Kyle Larson tops the chart currently, the competition is intense with the presence of all-time favorite drivers. Discussing the intense battle on the field, Hamlin was candid in an interview. 

Hamlin mentioned in an episode of Actions Detrimental, that the NASCAR Cup Series 2024 has the best Top 8 of all time. He mentioned, “But I am saying, this is maybe the best 8 ever assembled as far as how even it is. You could put Larson on an island and tell him. You could say that okay, they’re a step above the other seven. But two through 8 is on fire and it’s going to be close”.

Hamlin has been a popular NASCAR figure. However, he has not been able to make it as a championship winner. When asked what his vision is about the likely top 4 battling for the battle, he mentioned 4 names – “ Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott”. There is certainly no doubt that each of these names has had a stellar run this season. Larson rightfully is at the top with 6 wins throughout the season. Christopher Bell has also been phenomenal with his NASCAR Cup Series 2024 season. He has had three wins till now at Shriners Children’s 500 – Phoenix Raceway, Coca-Cola 600 –  Charlotte Motor Speedway, and USA Today 301 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Chase Elliott remains a top contender as well with 19 Cup Series wins throughout his career. Reaffirming his four choices, Denny mentioned, “That’s my final four in and I know that’s wrong, but that’s what I got.“

However, this statement essentially leaves out two championship winners: Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney. As a two-time Cup Series winner (2018 and 2022), Joey Logano’s omission is notable. Similarly, Ryan Blaney’s epic 2023 win makes his exclusion surprising. This snub has shocked many fans, especially coming from someone who has yet to win a championship. Joey Logano initially failed to make the Top 8, but after Alex Bowman’s disqualification following a post-race car inspection, Logano secured a direct entry. Despite unimpressive 2024 statistics, Logano exuded confidence when he said, “We’ve done it before; we can do it again.”

While with his prediction, Hamlin has somewhat made clear which drivers might prove dangerous for his run to the championship, the leading Kyle Larson too has his pick.

Larson potentially sees Hamlin as a competition 

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Although Denny Hamlin has not won any  NASCAR Cup Series Championship, it does not put him off the radar. If he manages to achieve a win on the Vegas Speedway and makes his way to the Top 4 at Phoenix, he is a potential threat that drivers should be aware of. Citing his prowess on the field, Larson mentioned in a recent interview, “I still view Denny as probably being the guy that has the speed that we do. He’s just had a run of some crappy luck really for a while. Especially when you look at the next four tracks, Denny could win at any of them”.  

Kyle Larson’s statement is entirely reasonable. After all, we vividly remember Denny Hamlin’s 2021 Vegas win, where he clinched victory right from under Chase Elliott’s nose. Although it took Hamlin 20 starts to secure the win, it came in a dominating fashion, with the #11 leading 137 of the 267 laps. Despite Elliott’s desperate attempts to catch up to the veteran, Hamlin surged ahead, edging him by 0.442 seconds. If Hamlin’s luck on the Vegas track proves to be as good as it was in 2021, Kyle Larson’s fears might indeed come true.