Denny Hamlin Sounds Alarm: 23XI Racing Faces High-Stakes Showdown in Playoffs
In a gripping episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, NASCAR stalwart Denny Hamlin laid bare the pressures mounting on his co-owned team, 23XI Racing, as they grapple with the unforgiving terrain of the playoffs’ Round of 12. With the Kansas race looming, Hamlin dissected the dire “must-win” situation facing his drivers, particularly after a disappointing performance in the previous Mobil 1 301.
Bubba Wallace, once a frontrunner, found himself battling back from a dismal 14th place qualification, while teammate Tyler Reddick managed to snag a coveted top-five starting position at P4. However, hopes for a turnaround quickly evaporated as both drivers languished outside the top 20 by the race’s end. Their disappointing finishes have left them in a precarious position in the playoff standings, with Wallace trailing the cutoff line by 23 points and Reddick by 27.
But don’t count out Hamlin just yet. The veteran driver and team co-owner expressed a steadfast belief that overcoming this challenge is entirely possible. He emphasized that “must-win” scenarios only emerge when a driver is more than 30 points adrift, stating, “No must-win is you’re below 30 points going into the last race; like, that’s must-win with two races to go.” Hamlin is adamant that the dynamic of the playoffs can shift dramatically, hinting that a stellar performance at Kansas could see his drivers claw back into contention.
Both Wallace and Reddick come armed with prior victories at Kansas Speedway, a glimmer of hope in their playoff battle. Reddick clinched his win at the 1.500-mile tri-oval earlier this season, while Wallace celebrated success in the 2022 race, igniting a flicker of optimism for the 23XI team.
In a separate but equally compelling development, Hamlin recently faced penalties during the Bass Pro Shops Night race at Bristol Motor Speedway. While his teammate Christopher Bell soared to victory, Hamlin’s night took a turn for the worse after a collision with AJ Allmendinger led to a two-lap penalty and the suspension of two crew members. In a moment of introspection, the seasoned driver remarked, “I have no idea who’s sitting on the bench or who’s ready, and it’s not even my concern… My concern needs to be on the things that I can control.”
As it stands, Denny Hamlin finds himself in a precarious fifth place in the Cup Series points standings, a position he has worked hard to achieve with five wins, 15 top-10 finishes, 12 top-five finishes, and three pole positions in just 29 starts this season. The pressure is on as 23XI Racing looks to rise from the ashes and reclaim their place among the playoff elite. Will Kansas be the turning point they desperately need? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain: the stakes have never been higher.
