Denny Hamlin has always made his stance clear that his role as a NASCAR team owner would not hamper his ambitions as a competitor at JGR. Well, he just might have to give a second thought about getting his priorities straight after a dismal outing in Atlanta last weekend.

Coming into the playoffs, the #11 team was considered a title contender on the back of a strong regular season outing. However, the dynamics have changed for Hamlin as he’s gotten himself deep into the charter agreement saga. And it seems like this off-track chaos and drama has now affected his on-track performances. Especially now that 23XI Racing is standing alone in a tussle to get a fair proposal from NASCAR.

Kevin Harvick, reflecting on this situation, urged Hamlin to address and resolve the concern quickly before it becomes detrimental to his championship dream.

Denny Hamlin needs to get his focus back to racing

The charter deal saga has been raging on for quite some time now. It has been a constant tussle between NASCAR and the Team owners to get a better piece of the pie for themselves. Although the teams were believed to have formed a united front against the governing council. The recent developments have left 23XI Racing high and dry. Apart from Hamlin’s 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, everyone has signed a deal with NASCAR to extend the charter agreement.

And, Harvick feels that Hamlin has brought this pressure onto himself in how he’s handled the situation this past week. “He has brought it to himself. I think at the media day he wore the sign on his back and had everything you know pointing towards answering all those questions and just totally flipped on him. Totally flipped on him when all those teams signed that charter deal and everything that he had going on, and now here he sits, and he’s not done answering all those questions,” Harvick said on Happy Hour podcast no. 55.

While there would be questions about Hamlin’s approach to this current situation, there’s a bigger concern that he will have to deal with regularly. His drivers, Bubba Wallace’s and Tyler Reddick’s future in the Cup Series. Although the owners and NASCAR are going at loggerheads to get a better deal for themselves. It’s the two drivers who are now left thinking about their future role in the Cup Series, in case these negotiations talks crumble.

“So it’s all kind of flipped on Denny; he’s kind of been that voice for everything that has been happening with the charters, and now he’s in a position where he’s racing for his life to stay in the playoffs, where we all thought he was a championship team. Unless they address those problems week after week because those questions aren’t going away,” Harvick added.

Denny Hamlin is winless in his last 16 races; moreover, he has registered a single top 5 result since the mid-season break. So is the veteran driver losing his grip and the early momentum he mustered so far? Or is he bidding his time to play to his strengths in the playoffs?

Bristol could be Hamlin’s saving grace in the playoffs

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Unlike the regular season, the playoffs are gruesome and demand the very best from the driver. With only three races in the picture, pressure is on the drivers from the get-go. And unfortunately, Denny Hamlin and the #11 have missed their markers in the first playoff race in Atlanta. However, as long as there’s a short-oval race in the mix, Hamlin will be feeling pretty confident about his chances. Even if it comes to a must-win situation for him at Bristol Motor Speedway in the third and final race of the first round.

Out of the three wins the veteran drivers snagged this year, two of them came on the short ovals at Bristol and Richmond. The #11 crew nailed the art of tire conservation in a brutal night race at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile, last time around. Moreover, out of his last five starts in his recent slump, the only joy he’s been able to find came at the short track. A P2 finish at Richmond in the fall race is the only time he came close to winning again this year.

While Hamlin might feel cornered right now, he isn’t out of the championship race just yet. Thanks to his bonus points from the regular season, he is still above the cutline. And should be able to help him advance to the Round of 12.