With History on His Side, Denny Hamlin Prepares to Dominate His Favorite Round in the Playoffs

Denny Hamlin is making a strong case for himself in the playoffs this season. And as we enter the Round of 8 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his performance on mile-and-a-half tracks is a key highlight. Hamlin’s remarkable statistics on these tracks, combined with his historical success at places like Martinsville, paint a picture of a driver poised to make his appearance in the Championship 4 race in Phoenix.

Denny Hamlin’s performance on mile-and-a-half tracks this year speaks volumes about his capabilities. And the statistics are there to back it up. His average finish on these tracks this year stands at a respectable 10.8. But here’s the kicker. If we exclude the incident with Chase Elliott at Charlotte in the 600, his average finish improves significantly to a remarkable 4.75, rivaling that of William Byron.

Denny Hamlin’s impressive form can propel him to the Championship 4 race at Phoenix with a win

Denny Hamlin secured his fifth consecutive Round of 8 berth. It was thanks to his standout performances at the Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. His ability to score crucial stage points allowed him to clinch his spot in the playoffs early on. As one of the strongest drivers in this year’s playoffs, he’s already proved his mettle with a win in Bristol to enter the Round of 12 and an effortless advance to the Round of 8.

With intermediate tracks making up the majority of the Round of 8 schedule. If he doesn’t secure wins in these races, it’s highly likely that he will accumulate enough points to secure a spot in the final race at Phoenix, making him a strong championship contender. With a stellar track record, this playoff round sets up perfectly for Denny Hamlin’s pursuit of the elusive NASCAR glory.

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While Denny Hamlin may have a strong track record backing him up, Kyle Petty has now changed his stance on Hamlin’s championship hopes.

Kyle Petty takes away the Championship favorite tag from Denny Hamlin and hands it to Rick Hendrick’s star

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Just a few weeks ago, Kyle Petty touted Denny Hamlin as the favorite for the championship. He saw something special in Hamlin’s performance, something that hinted at a championship run. But as we approach the Round of 8, Petty’s perspective has taken a turn.

After the race at Talladega, Kyle Petty was singing praises of the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran. He said earlier, “When it’s your year, it’s your year, and this appears to be Denny’s year because of these little things we’re watching right now.” However, the situation has evolved.

This week, on Motorsports on NBC, Petty voiced concern over Hamlin’s recent performance, questioning where the fiery momentum had disappeared to. He stated, “The guy whose momentum has slowed for me is Denny Hamlin. I don’t know where he’s been the last couple of races because he was the hottest guy at the face of the earth. He was playing on the sun, that’s how hot he was.”

Instead, Kyle Petty now looks to a Hendrick Motorsports star, William Byron, as the driver with the most momentum heading into the Round of 8. He admires Byron’s consistency and ability to make the best out of challenging situations. Petty stated, “He’s just there, there, there, there… Wins a race, does everything he needs to do at the right time. Seems to make good days out of bad days when he doesn’t get the stage points or run up front. Doesn’t make a difference at the end of the race and that’s what it comes to at Phoenix.”

READ MORE: Seemingly Losing Playoff Momentum, Can NASCAR’s Favorite Villain Denny Hamlin Overshadow Kyle Larson at Vegas?

Denny Hamlin is all set to make his mark on the mile-and-a-half tracks that have been his forte this season. So, do you think Hamin can make his way into the Championship 4 race with a win in the Round of 8? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.