NASCAR: We can finally stop asking this Denny Hamlin question
By Asher Fair
No, Denny Hamlin is not going to fail to qualify for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, and now that statement is finally official.
A few months ago, it didn’t appear to be much of a question whether or not Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin would qualify for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs — even without a win.
He led the point standings by triple digits, and the regular season champion is guaranteed a playoff spot whether he wins a race or not.
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However, Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson chipped away at Hamlin’s lead, and the pair were tied following the race at Watkins Glen International two Sundays ago.
But it was Larson who was classified as the official leader because of his five wins compared to Hamlin’s zero.
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At this point, there had been 13 different winners through 23 races, leaving the door open for three more in the regular season’s final three events. With 16 different winners and Hamlin not leading the point standings, the driver of the #11 Toyota would not be in the playoffs.
Sunday’s race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course saw the season’s 14th different winner. But because of who it was, we can finally stop asking whether or not Hamlin will be in the playoffs.
Hamlin has clinched a berth in the 2021 playoffs since this winner was Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger, who competes full-time in the Xfinity Series and does not compete for Cup Series points.
So playoff-wise, Allmendinger’s win did nothing.
Sitting 198 points of the next highest winless driver in the point standings, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick, Hamlin can finish the regular season no lower than as the highest non-winner.
There are a maximum of 55 points on the table for non-winners in each race, leaving 110 on the table throughout the remainder of the regular season.
There can now be a maximum of only 15 different playoff eligible winners before the regular season ends, meaning that, at worst, Hamlin will finish the regular season in 16th (last) place in the playoff picture.
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And while it’s not ideal, that’s good enough to get into the four-round, 10-race postseason.