Denny Hamlin predicts Ross Chastain could be eliminated in first round of NASCAR playoffs

Denny Hamlin is prepared for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, but there are some drivers who he believes have their work cut out for them.

While Hamlin has been among the most consistent throughout this season’s circuit, there’s a myriad of other drivers who haven’t reached that level. During this week’s Actions Detrimental, Hamlin touched on which drivers among the top eight in points he believes are in danger of being eliminated after the first stage of the playoffs.

“Who would be the most likely in the top eight to not make it out of the first round? We have Darlington, Kansas, Bristol. … The first round is execution based,” explained Hamlin. “Like don’t have any major blowups. Wrecks, failures and mistakes.”

Hamlin’s co-host Jared Allen threw an interesting name out in Hamlin’s former teammate Kyle Busch, and that piqued his interest, along with the prospects of another Joe Gibbs Racing car in Christopher Bell.

“I would not disagree with that, because he has been hot and cold. The guy could win all three races, and nobody would be surprised. Or he could have mistakes, or trouble. I think the tracks lay out too good for him to be the guy who misses in the first round,” explained Hamlin, regarding Busch. “… Man, Christopher Bell lived on nine lives last year, right? He was struggling to make it in like the Round of 8, and ended up making the Final Four because he won. He was so far in the standings.”

However, Hamlin believes it’ll boil down to a former rival if anyone in the top eight is to miss the next round of the playoffs, and his name is Ross Chastain.

“I’m not hating on him, but I’m just going to say Ross. They just haven’t been strong,” Hamlin said. “They don’t make — he doesn’t make a whole lot of mistakes though. He doesn’t get caught up in a lot of wrecks, that probably counters that argument. But I would say he’s been the weakest of this Top 8 that I’m looking at. … I’m thinking about the tracks. Either [Kyle] Larson or Ross.

“Only just because I don’t think any of these guys don’t make it, but it’d be Larson or Ross, simply from the performance perspective of Ross. Eh. It’s just been eh. His win at Nashville was dominating.”

Perhaps Denny Hamlin’s comments will backfire, and motivate Ross Chastain. But he’s certainly not wrong in saying Chastain has been slacking as of late. He’ll definitely need to put some better finishes together if the Trackhouse star is to advance in the playoffs.