Denny Hamlin faced an unfortunate start at Watkins Glen due to a wreck on the opening lap that also impacted Ryan Blaney. Despite recovering to gain a stage point, Hamlin later spun out and finished 23rd, dropping to 13th in the NASCAR playoff standings behind Ty Gibbs. However, as NASCAR heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the final first-round playoff race, Hamlin remains optimistic about his chances of winning, expressing confidence in his ability to control his destiny at the upcoming oval track.
With 54 career wins, Hamlin has a strong track record at Bristol, winning in back-to-back years and clinching four victories on the 0.533-mile oval. This puts pressure on other drivers vying for a spot in the field of 12 as four drivers will be eliminated on Saturday night. Meanwhile, Joey Logano secured a spot in the second round by winning at Atlanta Motor Speedway, while Chris Buescher surprised by winning at Watkins Glen International, disrupting the playoff scenario.
Following the Watkins Glen race, many playoff drivers encountered issues, with Chase Briscoe emerging as the highest finisher among the playoff contenders in sixth place. His performance significantly improved his standing, moving him to 11th and six points above the cutline. Briscoe, who is set to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing next season, has embraced the pressure of performing well in the final days of the Stewart-Haas Racing program.
Former champions like Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski are currently struggling in the standings, with Truex in 15th place without a win this season and Keselowski involved in a late-race crash at Watkins Glen. Despite the challenges, drivers like Ryan Blaney are holding on to solid positions in the standings, remaining in contention for the next round of the playoffs.
The current playoff field includes Logano, Bell, Cindric, Bowman, Suarez, Reddick, Elliott, Blaney, Larson, Byron, Briscoe, and Gibbs. As the competition heats up heading into the next round, drivers are gearing up for intense battles at Bristol and beyond.
