Denny Hamlin shares his thoughts on the current playoff structure in the world of racing. Hamlin, a highly skilled driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, has achieved an impressive record of over 50 Cup victories throughout his career. Despite his success, he has yet to secure a championship win. Having participated in the playoff era since his debut in 2007, Hamlin is not a fan of how the format has evolved over the past two decades.
The current championship format heavily favors drivers who excel in the final ten races of the season, rather than those who have consistently dominated throughout the year. Hamlin believes that deciding the entire championship based on a single race, the season finale, is not the most ideal approach. He recently expressed his discontent with the current format.
Hamlin highlights that the championship often ends up in the hands of the luckiest driver in the last race. He points to the previous season as a prime example, where clutch performances and fortunate circumstances propelled a driver to the championship. This outcome ultimately contributed to Team Penske’s continued dominance in the Next-Gen era.
Moreover, Hamlin emphasizes that unlike team sports, racing should not be determined by a solitary event. With 33 racers competing for victory, any one of them has the potential to disrupt the day for championship contenders. Hamlin believes that the playoff format should be reconsidered in light of these factors.
Both fans and drivers have long called for changes to the playoff format in NASCAR. Hamlin has repeatedly advocated for the season finale to consist of a three-race round, rather than a single race event. However, it appears that altering the current format is not currently a top priority for the sport.
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