NASCAR: 3 drivers with the most momentum entering the playoffs

Now that the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series regular season has come to a close, here are three drivers with momentum heading into the playoffs.

With the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series regular season in the books, 16 drivers will now turn their attention to the playoffs. It’s anyone’s guess as to who will hoist the Bill France Cup this November at Phoenix Raceway, but there are several drivers who have picked up steam heading into the playoffs.

Drivers such as Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell will find himself in a “back against the wall” situation. McDowell shocked the world in the first race of the season, breaking a 357-race losing streak to pick up his first career win in the Daytona 500.

However, he ended his hot streak after two top 10 finishes following his first career victory. He will also face an uphill battle with the first two playoff tracks being Darlington Raceway and Richmond Raceway, where he finished in 27th place in the spring races.

Stewart Haas Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola will face uphill battles as well with low seeds in the playoffs standings. Harvick is potentially facing his first winless season since 2009, and while Almirola picked up his first career non-superspeedway win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July, he has had a season plagued with DNFs.

However, there are some drivers who have gained momentum heading into the playoffs. Here is a look at three who have progressed the most in the recent weeks.

Drivers who have momentum: No. 1 – Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin’s season might seem like a fall from grace compared to last year. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver scored seven wins last year, and like Harvick, potentially faces a winless season this year.

But despite being winless, Hamlin actually has shown some progression this year. While he sits in seventh place in the opening playoff standings, his average finish is slightly better than it was last year (9.1 vs. 9.3).

The 40-year-old Chesterfield, Virginia native didn’t seem like a championship contender at first, but he has consistently racked up solid finishes. And in the playoffs, sometimes that’s all a driver needs. He could very well show shades of Matt Crafton from the 2019 Truck Series season and continue to rack up solid finishes in pursuit of his first Cup Series trophy.