Ross Chastain Could Become Denny Hamlin’s Biggest Threat as He Lurks in the Shadows

As we zoom past the short-track action at Richmond for an exhilarating speedway action at Michigan, NASCAR nation is all in for the epic high-speed action about to unfold. With a handful of races to the playoffs, the situation is critical, promising the gathering fans an epic showdown at the 2-mile moderately banked Speedway.

With the sport returning to Michigan International Speedway, this indeed is one of the biggest draws for the organization as fans have reportedly been camping at the track for days. While fans are anticipating a dramatic race, the track is almost set for another Toyota vs Chevrolet dogfight to the end with NASCAR’s new villain Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing squad on the prowl with their consistent Toyotas against their Chevy counterparts, hoping to best their rivals with brute speed.

While the JGR cars are known for their consistency both in short packages and high-flowing speedways, the track’s nature undoubtedly favors the eccentric drivers you’ll risk it all to make it, like the ever-polarising Ross Chastain. So, will this be another tug-of-war between the strategist, Denny Hamlin, and the daredevil, Ross Chastain? Let us dive deeper.

Consistent Toyotas vs the fast Chevys: Will MIS witness another all-out war between the two?

Now, when we talk about Michigan International Speedway, there’s another name that needs to be addressed and that is Stewart-Haas Racing veteran, Kevin Harvick. The 2014 Cup series champion holds the record for the most number of wins by an active driver at the 2-mile international speedway. However, inconsistency being SHR‘s vice, things don’t look for the #4 Ford but you certainly cannot count out the veteran.

With that being said, there’s more to it than just outright speed to make it big at the moderately banked speedway. Fuel and pit strategy and balance all come into play here at Irish Hills. Especially when the situation is critical with the playoffs within reach. Simply put, it’s going to high speeds, balance, and the drivers’ ability that will determine the winner.

And who else is more of a risk-taker than Trackhouse Racing‘s Ross Chastain? While the driver has mellowed down after his stint with HMS driver Kyle Larson, the #1 driver’s aggressive mentality along with his Chevy’s blistering speed is certain to make things all the more unpredictable. And none could phrase it more accurately than Parker Kligerman when he said, “I look at also at these Next Gen cars that, when you look at places like this, this is a car that’s very on edge, right?

“This is a car that really really  puts you in a position to have to balance on the fine edge of that tire and  whatever and high speeds that’s a tough thing to do and so I just think this is a place that really rewards drivers who are willing to put it on the edge there and be able to balance it be comfortable with that.” 

READ MORE: NASCAR Insider Claims Ross Chastain’s Single Win Has Hindered His Teammate’s Playoff Qualification

While NBC’s pit reporter suggested that the one who’s willing to take the risk will win it all at the Speedway, JGR veteran, Denny Hamlin could once again snatch off a win at the last minute, given the #11 Toyota’s ability to consistently hang in at the top.

Or will Denny Hamlin make it his third win this season at Michigan?

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One thing that keeps us fans on the edge is the sport’s true unpredictable nature. While the numbers and statistics can be useful at times, giving us a better picture, they can also be insignificant like we saw last week with the Ford’s domination. However, considering the technicalities of the track and its unique moderately banked D-shaped geometry, the experienced driver might be able to pull off a shocking upset.

Talking about experienced and clever drivers, JGR’s #11 driver, Denny Hamlin ranks at the top. Adding this to his cutthroat mentality to seize the moment, makes the 42-year-old a force to be reckoned with especially given the JGR Toyota’s consistent track record.

WATCH THIS STORY: Bubba Wallace exposes boss Denny Hamlin’s black lie in Pocono feud  

Another aspect that Kligerman emphasized is the gray areas of the track, the intricacies that a cunning veteran can capitalize on. “I look at this race track, that means also trying to find the little areas on the race track that might not look large in terms of moving your car a little bit lower, and sort of using the different banking angle to turn it at times, and sort of maybe finding a little higher lane than the competitors around you, because you want to get clean air to the nose because you’re going fast.

“So there’s little things as drivers that I look for at this place that might not look big, but they’re big because of how fast you’re going and it’s a very tough place in that sense.” 

In the closing laps of the race, things may trickle down to that, and who manipulates air better than Hamlin, who made it his stand-out move?

It certainly looks like an all-out battle with the #1 driver looking to return to his winning ways with the veteran DH waiting to prance at any moment. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.