Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Denny Hamlin breaks down why he 'don’t love' current NASCAR championship format

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Justin P Joy | Last updated 4/28/24

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin is one of the most talented racers of generation. He has won over 5o Cup races in his career and is the winningest racer without a championship win to his name. Since his full-time debut in 2007, Hamlin raced in the playoff era in his whole career and he isn’t fond of what it has evolved into in two decades.

The current championship format is rewarding drivers who are able to produce clutch runs in the last ten races of the season over racers whole has been dominating the whole year. The whole championship is decided just a signal race, the season finale, and it isn’t the best way to do. Denny Hamlin has recently explained why he hate the current format.

The 23XI Racing co-owner pointed out that the championship now is often going to the luckiest driver in the last race. Last season was the biggest example of clutch form and luck getting a driver the championship, as Ryan Blaney peaked on the last four races to help Team Penske continue their domination in the Next-Gen era.

I don’t love it… The reason I don’t love it coming down to one race is that racing is a sport where luck is involved. And it’s not… luck is a very loose term that people use. Denny Hamlin told Frank the Tanks Fleming.

Denny Hamlin explains why it shouldn’t one race title decider

The JGR driver further pointed out that unlike playoff format of team games, racing shouldn’t be decided on one race. He highlighted the fact that unlike team sports, NASCAR has 33 racers in the fight for race who could ruin the day for championship contenders.

But when you’re competing in a championship in any other sport, it’s one on one your team versus the other team. The difference in NASCAR’s it’s one against three. But there’s 33 other guys out there that can completely screw up your day. Denny Hamlin said.

NASCAR has long seen demands coming from the fans as well the drivers to change the playoff format. Denny Hamlin has asked many time to at least make the season finale three race round instead of a single race event. But it seems changing the current format isn’t one of the priorities the sport has right now.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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