NASCAR: The ‘what-if’ scenario Denny Hamlin needs to avoid

NASCAR: The 'what-if' scenario Denny Hamlin needs to avoid

As a seasoned NASCAR enthusiast with over two decades of racing under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Denny Hamlin. The penalty he received for an oversight at Bristol Motor Speedway has left a significant impact on his playoff run, potentially costing him valuable points that could make or break his championship dreams.

Back in March, who’d have thought we’d still be talking about the NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway? But here I am, five months later, and there’s been an unexpected announcement regarding penalties linked to that very event.

As a devoted fan, I must share that due to a reported violation involving his Toyota, Denny Hamlin from Joe Gibbs Racing found himself facing several hefty penalties prior to the playoff season.

In the race at Bristol, Hamlin’s winning engine in car No. 11 Toyota was unintentionally rebuilt by Toyota before NASCAR had a chance to disassemble it for inspection, which goes against rules specified in Sections 14.7.1.E&F and 14.7.1.1.B&E of the NASCAR Rule Book regarding unauthorized modifications.

Hamlin lost a total of 10 playoff points and 75 regular season points. This deduction in regular season points moved him down from fourth to seventh position in the standings, which means he essentially lost 13 additional playoff points because he began the playoffs with 15 instead of the 28 points he would have had without the penalty.

Through three victories in the regular season races, six stage wins, and finishing fourth in the regular season points, he could have amassed 28 playoff points. However, his seventh place finish in the regular season only earned him four points. This tally was then reduced to 15 due to a penalty of 10 points being deducted.

In the upcoming 12-round series, Hamlin currently ranks sixth, with only a slim margin of seven points separating him from the cutoff for the round of 8. Without the penalty, he’d be knotted in third place, boasting a more comfortable lead of 20 points over the cutline.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but highlight an interesting detail: The three racers who overtook Hamlin due to his points penalty also earned a playoff point by advancing in the race. These drivers include my teammate, Christopher Bell, William Byron from Hendrick Motorsports, and Ryan Blaney of Team Penske.

So they all effectively got a 14-point boost over Hamlin due to the penalty, not just a 13-point boost.

If Hamlin was tied for third place in points at the start of the round, he would have been leading both Byron and Blaney. However, it turns out that he is behind not only them but also Bell who is in second place.

Given that past driver advancement has been influenced by relatively slim margins, including instances where the difference was just a few points and sometimes even decided by tiebreakers, it’s possible that despite winning a race, Hamlin might be eliminated due to these tight competition dynamics.

Actually, Hamlin was just under the cutoff for the round of 12 in the recent tournament at Bristol over the weekend. However, a significant penalty he received helped him avoid this predicament and compete in the finale instead.

However, Hamlin progressed further, and he could secure his position by claiming another victory, which would put an end to any debates regarding points and playoff points. As he persists in chasing his first title, this move would be beneficial for him.

He won’t want to have any regrets about the 2024 season, especially if his penalty at Bristol turns out to be decisive in whether he advances or not – or even in determining whether he wins the championship or not.

Listen in on USA Network this coming Sunday, September 29th. That’s where you can catch the live telecast of the Hollywood Casino 400, presented by ESPN BET. The first race of the round of 12 kicks off at Kansas Speedway, and live coverage starts at 3:00 p.m. ET. Why not start a free trial with FuboTV now so you won’t miss out on all the action?

2024-09-29 14:32

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