NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings: Denny Hamlin against the world

After the first elimination race of the postseason, the NASCAR Playoff standings have once again reset. Denny Hamlin walked away with the win and the Bristol sword. He completed what might have been the most impressive Round of 16 performance this year.

Looking at the championship favorites as we turn to the Round of 12, I think there are three drivers that have shown they are ready, two especially.

Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Tyler Reddick impressed me the most in the Round of 16. Hamlin was P25 at Darlington, but that was due to a loose wheel toward the end of the race. He followed it up by going P2 at Kansas and P1 at Bristol. Reddick has finishes of P2, P1, and P15 in those three races.

Kyle Larson has finished P1, P4, and P2 in the Round of 16. Based on how the rest of the season has gone, I would say we are likely headed for a Hamlin-Larson battle.

For now, let’s get into the NASCAR Playoff standings as the points now reset to 3000. This puts Martin Truex Jr. back at the top after scraping by to the Round of 12.

NASCAR Playoff standings – Round of 12:
William Byron 3036
Martin Truex Jr. 3036
Denny Hamlin 3032
Kyle Larson 3023
Chris Buescher 3021
Kyle Busch 3019
Christopher Bell 3016
Tyler Reddick 3014
Ross Chastain 3011
Brad Keselowski 3011
Ryan Blaney 3008
Bubba Wallace 3000

A lot is being said about Denny Hamlin’s performance and rightfully so. However, Kyle Larson has been just as good, if not better. They are so close to one another in the NASCAR Playoff standings. One thing that doesn’t look good for Larson, he has six DNFs on the season. That is more than any other playoff driver.

Denny Hamlin wins, NASCAR Playoff standings reset

Not only did Denny win at Bristol, he fired a lot of shots. He went at the fans, booing him as soon as he crossed the finish line. Hamlin also took a little bit of a shot at the field of drivers.

“I beat your favorite driver,” Hamlin said on the front stretch. When asked who he was talking about? “All of ’em.”

So, the NASCAR Playoff standings are one thing, but momentum is major. Denny Hamlin has all of the momentum. I still feel like Larson is being overlooked, which is wild considering his championship pedigree and talent.

After mistakes at Darlington and a bad beat at Kansas – it was a relief for the 11 team to come away with the win on Saturday night. They just have to keep it up. If Martin Truex Jr. is any lesson, your playoff experience can go from great to scary in the blink of an eye.

“Certainly nights like tonight are certainly pleasing after having a couple weeks of, like, ‘Darn, we should have got ’em.’ Keep knocking on the door, keep showing up, keep making the final four, eventually your number will be called. Hopefully, this is the year for it to be called.”

Is Denny Hamlin on his way to his first-ever Cup Series championship?