The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with unexpected twists, underdog triumphs, and seasoned veterans faltering under pressure. With the season nearing its climax, Denny Hamlin, who currently sits sixth in the playoff standings, has suggested that predicting the final four drivers heading into Phoenix could be more difficult than ever.
This year’s competition has been a wild mix of dominance and inconsistency. While some, like Hamlin and Tyler Reddick, started the season strong, maintaining a foothold at the top of the standings has been challenging. Meanwhile, younger talents like William Byron have burst out of the midfield to challenge the veterans.
Despite winning the Regular Season championship, Hamlin knows the race for the Cup Series title is far from over. The remaining eight drivers in the playoffs are now laser-focused on securing their spot in the final four, a feat that Hamlin believes will be hard-fought and unpredictable.
“It will mean I got through the carnage,” Hamlin said when discussing what it would take to make the final four. “Especially this season with the schedule, I think it will be a more unpredictable final four than ever.”
Hamlin’s candid take comes after a challenging second half of the season, with his last win dating all the way back to April in Dover. The 23XI Racing co-owner has relied on consistency to stay in the hunt, but with the playoff pressure mounting, he may need a more aggressive approach to secure his first-ever Cup Series championship against the likes of Kyle Larson and Reddick.
On the other end of the spectrum, defending champion Joey Logano has been flying under the radar. Though he hasn’t been a dominant force in recent months, the 30-year-old Penske driver remains optimistic about a resurgence as the season heads into the Round of 8.
“We turned it on last year in the Round of 8, and those tracks were great for us,” Logano remarked, expressing confidence that his team could recreate last season’s late surge. “If we can have the same speed as last year, I definitely think we can get back to Phoenix. But we’ll see.”
However, the road to Phoenix is fraught with peril. Recent weeks have seen post-race disqualifications shake up the playoff standings, meaning any slip-up could end a driver’s title hopes. With every team going the extra mile to stay within the technical regulations, one small mistake could be the difference between a championship run and elimination.
As NASCAR’s biggest stars prepare for the final stretch, the 2024 season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory, with Hamlin and his fellow playoff contenders facing a minefield of challenges on the way to Phoenix.
