Denny Hamlin sits fourth in the drivers’ standings heading into the final race of the Round of 12 of the NASCAR playoffs.
The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver has claimed three wins this year at Bristol, Richmond and Dover and grabbed 15 top 10 finishes on his way to the playoffs in 2024.
However, those top 10’s has also come with inconsistency from Hamlin as he has suffered four retirements and had a miserable start to the playoffs as he finished outside the top 20 at Atlanta and Watkins Glen. A fourth place finish at Bristol secured his spot in the Round of 12.
Several issues on pit road left Hamlin in eighth at Kansas, and the 43-year-old came under fire for his comments after the race.
Kevin Harvick stands by his criticism given to Denny Hamlin after his comments at Kansas
Hamlin gave a tense interview at Kansas as he stated he ‘wasn’t mentality in it’ and scolded the day as one of his worst ever, despite saying he had the fastest car. Kevin Harvick blasted Hamlin’s comments as he felt JGR would be upset with the remarks after the work they had put into the car.
READ MORE: The ‘bizarre’ thing Daniel Suarez did at Talladega that put his NASCAR playoff place in jeopardy
Hamlin responded to Harvick’s criticism on social media with an article depicting comments from the 2014 Cup Series champion scolding his pit crew during the Chase in 2016, labelling them as ‘cheerleaders’ and that they should do their job.
Speaking on his Happy Hour Podcast, Harvick thinks Hamlin took his criticism the wrong way and reaffirmed his stance on the JGR driver’s comments at Kansas.
“Hey, whatever it was, the dunk hit the rim and the ball’s at half court, because listen here bud. It had nothing to do with your pit crew or anything like that,” he said.
“We were talking about your comments and being mentally focused. I love you man, I love the way you drive the race car. I don’t like the things you said after the race and that’s my job, I’m sorry!
“I don’t like the comments about the mental weakness. [It] had nothing to do with your pit crew, I appreciate the attempt to divert the comment in a different direction but you said it! I didn’t!”
Where does Denny Hamlin sit in the playoff picture heading into the Roval?
At the last round at Talladega, Hamlin managed to finish in 10th following the biggest wreck in the track’s history five laps from the end.
28 cars piled up and took out several playoff drivers as Ricky Stenhouse Jr avoided the chaos to win his first NASCAR race of the season.
READ MORE: Ricky Stenhouse Jr pinpoints ‘winning move’ after securing NASCAR victory at Talladega
Hamlin is 30 points ahead of the cut-off point for the Round of 8, with Joey Logano, Daniel Saurez, Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe all under pressure to stay in the playoffs after the ‘big one’ at Talladega.
William Byron has secured his spot in the next round after finishing third in the YellaWood 500, giving him a 74-point advantage over Logano heading into the next race at the Charlotte Roval.