Denny Hamlin predicts NASCAR Championship 4 drivers after conclusion of Round of 12

After making the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs, Denny Hamlin has a path to the championship in Phoenix, but will he make it? Hamlin is more than impressed by the field left in the championship hunt.

So far this playoff season has not been great for Denny Hamlin. While he has done enough to advance in each round, there hasn’t been a standout performance to point to yet.

However, the Round of 8 gives him a chance to advance. Las Vegas, Homestead-Miami, and Martinsville are all very winnable tracks for Hamlin.

But who else would join him in the Championship 4? Well, it isn’t that simple.

“Larson… Bell’s, God dang it… There’s been, he [Bell] was in trouble Homestead last year all of a sudden a very, very timely caution when I think daggone Larson hit the barriers or something like that,” Hamlin explained on his Actions Detrimental podcast. “Larson – I don’t know, I’m going to hurt some feelings here. Damn, this field is stacked. This is the way it should be, this is the way it should be. In my mind, these are the best eight drivers that we’ve got.”

Denny Hamlin isn’t the only one who thinks these are the best eight drivers in the Cup Series. There are four champions in the Round of 8 with five championships between them (Larson, Blaney, Elliott, Logano). Hamlin has more than 50 career wins. Byron, Bell, and Reddick are all young and championship-worthy as well.

Denny Hamlin picks his Championship 4

So, Denny Hamlin had to take a while to get his picks in. He went on about underdogs, and how fans would rather see the best four drivers compete for the championship in Phoenix. Hamlin made a strong argument.

“You know, the whole, what do you feel about rooting for underdogs? Does anyone really want to see an underdog win?” Hamlin said. “I mean you tune into the Chiefs and the Ravens, like you’re not tuning in for the Chiefs and the Jaguars and you’re rooting for the Jaguars to beat the Chiefs.

“Like, that’s not a big – you want your superstars and these eight, I’m looking at them like, damn it, I can’t pick four out. Because I’m going to be wrong because somebody’s going to stub their toe, somebody is going to win that you don’t – I mean, they’re all good, they’re all really, really good.”

Finally, Denny revealed his picks. He was torn, and doesn’t think he will be correct in the end, but these are his Championship 4 selections.

“Me, Larson, Bell, and Elliott.”

Do you agree with Hamlin? Or is he off?