NASCAR: Is everybody suddenly chasing Toyota?

With two different Toyota drivers winning the first two races of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, their dominance with the 750-horsepower package makes them the favorite to win it all come November.

The two races which kicked off the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have shown Toyota as a serious threat to win it all this November at Phoenix Raceway with Joe Gibbs Racing.

To open up the postseason, Denny Hamlin picked up his first win of the year at Darlington Raceway. Hamlin showed consistency heading into the playoffs with an average finish of 9.1. Capitalizing on his momentum coming into the playoffs, his win automatically advanced him to the round of 12.

Hamlin then finished in second place in this past weekend’s race at Richmond Raceway, behind only teammate Martin Truex Jr.

The win was Truex’s fourth of the season and first since he won at Darlington Raceway himself back in May.

In fact, all five of the wins by these two drivers have come at tracks where the 750-horsepower package is utilized.

Given where some of the key playoff races are contested, including the round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway and the Championship 4 season finale at Phoenix Raceway, this should make Toyota a serious threat to secure the 2021 championship.

Truex won at both of these tracks back in March. He had this to say after winning at the latter.

"“To come here and win this, I wish it was November. Hopefully, we can come back in November and have a shot at the championship.”"

Additionally, Christopher Bell, who finished in third place behind Truex and Hamlin at Richmond Raceway, picked up his first career win back in February at the Daytona International Speedway road course, another track where the 750-horsepower package is used.

The other driver out of the Joe Gibbs Racing stable, Kyle Busch, picked up his two wins at tracks where the 550-horsepower package is utilized: Kansas Speedway and Pocono Raceway.

Earlier this season, Chevrolet’s top team, Hendrick Motorsports, racked up some wins at tracks where the 750-horsepower package is used as well, and they won the championship with Chase Elliott last year after Elliott won the season’s final two events at those tracks.

But given the strength shown by Joe Gibbs Racing at those tracks this year, especially as of late, the rules package is definitely in their favor, and TRD and their drivers have to be considered among the favorites to win the 2021 title.