Denny Hamlin still believes Chase Elliott can make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs: 'Going to die on this hill'

Denny Hamlin isn’t ready to jump off the cliff just yet on the prospects of Chase Elliott qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Though the two have had their issues this season on the track, Hamlin believes there’s still time for the 2020 Cup Series champion to race his way into the postseason via a win.

“I’m gonna die on this hill,” Hamlin said on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast Tuesday. “Chase Elliott is still gonna make it but I think it’s gonna be because he wins. Chase Elliott fans, let’s hold hands.”

Elliott currently sits 23rd in the points standings, 60 points behind the playoff cut-line. He is coming off a 12th place finish in Monday’s Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He remains off the pace of a playoff berth after missing six races recovering from a broken leg. Elliott later missed a seventh race after being suspended for intentionally dumping Hamlin during the Coca-Cola 600.

With just six races remaining until the playoffs begin in September, Hamlin said the schedule down the stretch favors Elliott.

“The reason I was so adamant about Chase Elliott being able to make it on points is because he is a guy who can get 50 in a race,” Hamlin said, via Essentially Sports. “And we have two road courses coming up. He has won there, Watkins Glen many times he could put a 50 spot up easily. So he can — in races do what the 16th place guy does in four races.” 

Should Elliott fail to qualify, it will be the first time he’s missed out on the postseason in his eight seasons with Hendrick Motorsports.

Denny Hamlin reacts to how Next Gen cars handled the New Hampshire Motor Speedway track

Hamlin took to his podcast to sum up how NASCAR’s Next Gen car handled the Crayon 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Monday.

Hamlin, who raced his way to a P7 finish, said that while his car was sideways for much of the beginning portion of the race, it got better as the race went on.

“I was thinking when we went there that oh, man. Goodyear said they brought a tire that’s got more grip,” Hamlin said. “So we’re going to be faster on the short run. We’re going to be slower on the long run. And it was like oh, man, I can’t touch the gas from Lap 1. Like it’s just sideways and really, the more laps I ran, the better it got.”

Hamlin’s consistent 2023 campaign continued Monday, and saw him catapult to fourth in the points standings.