For the second time in the four NASCAR playoff races so far, a non-playoff driver took victory in the Cup Series.
Ross Chastain took the win in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway for Trackhouse Racing in what was his first victory of the season.
While he did not make the cut for the NASCAR playoffs, Chastain has enjoyed a solid season, finishing inside the top 10 on 12 occasions and regularly showing great pace through his work ethic.
The No. 1 car beat William Byron who ‘woke back up’ at Kansas to finish second and leads the NASCAR drivers’ standings heading into the next race at Talladega over Ryan Blaney and Christopher Bell.
But several playoff drivers suffered a difficult race at Kansas and have it all to do if they want to qualify for the final eight.
Kevin Harvick was left in disbelief by Denny Hamlin’s comments towards his team at Kansas
One of those drivers who faced struggles was the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, who had multiple issues on pit road after several restarts that left him finishing down in eighth.
READ MORE: Ross Chastain admits he thought two-win NASCAR driver ‘was better’ before Kansas Speedway race
After the race, Hamlin gave a tense interview to the media and he claimed he was ‘not mentally in it’ and scolded the day as one of his worst ever.
It did not take long for Kevin Harvick to give his thoughts on the JGR driver’s actions, and the 2014 Cup Series champion did not hold back on his Happy Hour Podcast.
After rewatching Hamlin’s interview, Harvick tossed his reading card across the studio before saying: “I give up! Why in the world would you say that?
Why in the world would you get out of the car and say that? A part of what you do as a race car driver is you have to be a poker player. When you have that driver suit on, you have to play the game and you can’t open your mouth to push yourself in positions to be in a worse spot than you already are.
“Even if you think it, don’t say that, because that is, do you think he realises that he said that?
“Denny Hamlin said he had the best car. Now listen to what you are saying buddy! You’ve got the fastest car, your team had trouble but you’re going to go to the next week and you’re probably going to have a fast car again. But you can’t p— the whole team off.”
The NASCAR playoffs heads to Talladega with William Byron leading the standings
Hamlin finds himself in fifth place in the standings heading into the unpredictable and chaotic race at Talladega, 23 points behind Byron at the top.
READ MORE: Damon Hill shares the one thing Daniel Ricciardo has ‘got to’ have to succeed in NASCAR
Regular season champion Tyler Reddick, as well as Daniel Suarez, Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric are currently in the bottom four and are at risk of elimination from the playoffs after all but Saurez finished outside the top 20 at Kansas.
Kyle Larson and Joey Logano have already secured their place in the final eight automatically with their wins at Bristol and Atlanta respectively. Larson had a torrid time at Kansas as a puncture ruined his afternoon and left him 26th.
Chris Buescher secured his first win of the season at Watkins Glen as he marks the second non-playoff driver alongside Chastain to win a playoff race in 2024.