Who would have thought Harrison Burton would stand in the way of Denny Hamlin’s playoff hopes? While the Wood Brothers Racing driver may be the most unlikely contender for a result at Bristol Motor Speedway, nobody would have predicted he would enter Victory Lane at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona either. Denny Hamlin is struggling in the playoffs at the moment, and while his record at Bristol’s short track is impressive, nothing is guaranteed in a sport where the finest of margins can make all the difference.

With stakes higher than ever at the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race, NASCAR insider Jeff Hammond has highlighted the potential challenges that Denny Hamlin could face in the final Round of 16 playoff fixture.

Denny Hamlin faces an uphill task to overcome playoff slump

Harrison Burton has plenty to fight for, going into the playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The North Carolina native lost his seat at Wood Brothers Racing earlier this year, which means that his only shot at securing a future in the Cup Series is by performing well in the postseason. He is no stranger to the 0.533-mile concrete oval either, having won a race on the track at the K&N Series in 2017. While he is currently 16th in the driver standings, 20 points behind the cutline, he will be inspired by Bubba Wallace, who overcame a nineteen-point deficit to make it into the Round of 12 in 2023.

While Denny Hamlin remains the favorite to progress into the next playoff round, NASCAR insider Jeff Hammond believes that the other three drivers outside the postseason bubble shouldn’t be underestimated. Speaking on the GoPRNLive podcast, the former crew chief said, “You got Martin Truex Jr, Brad Keselowski, I think he knows something about Victory Lane at Bristol, and then, even though it’s not where you would expect him to be good at, Harrison Burton, the Wood Brothers, they’ve won at Bristol before.

“They know how to play the game, just like anybody else, and run a Penske car there is not a bad thing. You got four guys that know that the best way they can get locked into the next round is win. So they can caution to the wind to a certain degree, so you’re getting a lot of different mindsets and what you see in the first stage will indicate, I think, what kind of game plan we’re going to be anticipating.”

Hammond’s opinion seems to have merit, as the focus seems to be entirely on Denny Hamlin going into the final Round of 16 playoff race. However, the likes of Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski will be equally eager to get a result at Bristol Motor Speedway to remain in the championship race. Both drivers have tremendous experience when it comes to performing when it matters in the postseason, and with so much at stake, it won’t be surprising if either of them go all in and try to secure a victory.

Qualifying will be key for any driver hoping to get a good result at the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race. Starting the race in a good track position could make all the difference when it comes to securing stage points, and will significantly improve their chances of finishing above the cutline when the race ends. The 500-lap event will have very little margin for error, especially for the four drivers beyond the playoff bubble, which means they will need a combination of a cautious approach with calculated risk-taking skills to finish in the top 12.

Harrison Burton bullish about his chances at Bristol

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With his future in NASCAR at stake, the time is now or never for Harrison Burton to get a shocking result at Bristol Motor Speedway. The short track is one of his favorites, which is why the 23-year-old racing driver is optimistic about his chances at the ‘Last Great Colosseum.’ Wood Brothers Racing has a technical alliance with Team Penske, which means Burton’s crew has the experience to guide him through this crucial race, and the No. 21 Ford Mustang driver believes his experiences on the track give him a competitive edge.

Speaking about his chances and expectations, Harrison Burton said, “If I could pick a place to win or advance, it would be Bristol. It’s such a fun race track, somewhere I feel I’ve been good at in the past. We were fast earlier in the year until we found out we were going to have tire issues. We were first in our practice and had speed there. A walk-off win is hard, no matter where you are, but it would be a good place to do it.”

They say desperate times lead to desperate measures and with Bristol being the last race before Round of 12 begins, drivers could make bad decisions to secure a result. Burton has very little to lose going into the race, as nobody expected him to be in the playoffs to begin with. The youngster is fighting for more than just a Cup Series title, as his future in NASCAR is at stake, and if that isn’t enough to motivate him to give it everything he has got, what is?

Will Harrison Burton finish ahead of Denny Hamlin at Bristol Motor Speedway? Let us know in the comments!