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Kevin Harvick reacts to NASCAR playoff drivers below cut line, puts pressure on Denny Hamlin for Kansas

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones22 hours agobrianjones_93
Denny Hamlin (68)
Sep 21, 2025; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) is introduced before the start of the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Kevin Harvick is interested in seeing how Denny Hamlin and the drivers below the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff cut line perform at Kansas this weekend. On Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, Harvick reacted to the drivers on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs and explained why Hamlin needs to have a strong race.

“When you look at this race, and you look at Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick, they have to have the race of the year in order to get themselves back in position to get to the next round,” Kevin Harvick said. I think that Denny Hamlin has to have one of his best races of the year, because if he puts himself in a position to be close to the bubble at the Roval, he could find himself in big trouble really quick.”

Harvick then discussed Chase Elliott, who is just 14 points above the cut line. “Chase Elliott’s qualifying puts him in a position they’ve got to figure out how to qualify better,” Harvick said. “I know that they know that’s a problem, but it keeps them from scoring points. I think that he could put himself in a position, because he doesn’t qualify well, especially if those guys from 23XI show up this weekend and score stage points, and all those things that go with that.”

Kevin Harvick shares more on Denny Hamlin at Kansas

The four drivers below the cut line are Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Reddick, and Wallace. Hamlin is 27 points above the cut line, and Harvick said he’s not sure what to expect from him.

“You never know, he could go out there and dominate the race,” Harvick stated. “You never know how this week is going to go. I’m kind of leaving myself an out here because it is Denny Hamlin.”

Hamlin has had success at Kansas Speedway, earning four victories at the track, with the last win happening in 2023. Earlier this year, the drivers competed at Kansas, and Hamlin finished 36th because of an issue he had with his clutch. For Sunday’s race, Hamlin will not have his top pit crew, as two members, front tire changer Austin Maloney and jackman Joel-Alexandre Bouagnon, are suspended for the next two races for a wheel coming off Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota during the Bristol race earlier this month.