USA Today via Reuters
Feb 16, 2022; Daytona, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 16, 2022; Daytona, FL, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Before the race in Nashville, pole-sitter Denny Hamlin had suggested that considering the state of the season in general and his own, he’s gonna have to take the “Hail Mary” route to the playoffs. However, what he said and what he did a day later in the race didn’t quite match up.
This was something Freddie Kraft, the spotter of Bubba Wallace, also mentioned.
“I saw an interview in which Denny said…from here on out, we’re throwing hail marys to the playoffs, trying to for wins because you’re just going for those playoffs bonus points now for the wins,” Kraft said in a recent episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast.
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.@dennyhamlin says his team is going to throw Hail Mary passes every race from now until Playoffs begin.
Stage points don't matter for Hamlin or No. 11 JGR team unless it's a stage win.
Winning, whether it is a stage or the race win is all that DH and team are after. #NASCAR
— Chris Knight (@Knighter01) June 25, 2022
“I understand that, but I think the more realistic ‘Hail Mary’ is restarting the front row with Chase (Elliott) and trying to outrun him,” he continued. “Because like I said, if you’re damn eighth, you’re not gonna be able to get there, I don’t think.”
Kraft added that with 26 cars out, a driver should’ve known that most of them would stay out, that the whole of the back half of the field was betting on that one caution, hoping for a miracle.
And they got it.
Watch This Story: Daniel Suarez’s NASCAR Win Completes the Class of 2012
Denny Hamlin has a wild prediction for the playoffs this season
In the same interview in which he suggested the Hail Mary route to the playoffs, Denny Hamlin also gave his thoughts on the shape of the season as the playoffs come closer and closer.
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The Joe Gibbs Racing driver suggested that at this point, the way things have been, nobody has an advantage over anyone.
via Getty
LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE – JULY 18: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, talks to crew on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 18, 2021 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
“I think this will be without a doubt the most unpredictable playoffs, simply because one bad race by a good team, they will not have the playoff points to give them a buffer for the next round,” Hamlin said.
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“There’s liable to be very big teams, even favorites in this championship that will be taken out in the first or second round.”
Also Read: WATCH: Kyle Busch & His Crew Chief Show Their Strategic Brilliance as They Communicate in “M&M” Code
