“The Guy Is Just Amazing”: Denny Hamlin Warns Against Writing Off Kevin Harvick From Next Round of Playoffs

In a recent episode of his podcast show, Denny Hamlin made a big prediction regarding the first round of the NASCAR Playoffs. “We’re gonna have a big name miss the first cut,” he said. Now, the drivers who are in the ‘danger zone’ are Martin Truex Jr. (-7), Kevin Harvick (+7), Joey Logano (+12), Christopher Bell (+13), Chris Buescher (+13), and Ross Chastain (+18).

Hamlin claimed that if any of those drivers missed out, it’d be an upset in the first round. His co-host, Jared Allen, agreed to that statement, claiming that regular season champion, Martin Truex Jr. missing out would be a big upset.

However, Hamlin’s co-host felt Harvick getting eliminated wouldn’t be an upset, something Hamlin didn’t agree with.

Denny Hamlin argues why Kevin Harvick missing the playoffs would be an upset

Reacting to his co-host’s statement about Harvick getting eliminated by not being a big upset, Hamlin said, “I get it, but he’s still Kevin Harvick.” So far this season, Harvick has outperformed all of his teammates at Stewart-Haas Racing almost every week along with other Fords.

Even though he hasn’t been to the victory lane this season, Harvick has come close many times. In fact, if not for the unfortunate caution-pit stop-penalty situation at Darlington, he could’ve won that race. This was a point that Hamlin also made.

Hamlin explained, “The guy is just amazing as far as getting the best results his car is capable of. His team’s cars are just not running well at all. Besides the RFK cars, the Fords just aren’t doing well.”

“But Kevin Harvick is and RFK is.”

Hamlin on the silver lining at Bristol for Harvick and the Fords

Furthering his point about Harvick’s chances at Bristol, Hamlin claimed that the #4 driver and his crew chief, Rodney Childers, would find a way to get the best out of the situation. However, they’re still in “the danger zone.” But with that said, Hamlin turned to the good news for not just Harvick heading into Bristol, but for all Fords.

“The good news is we’re going to a short track where aerodynamics won’t mean quite as much. The Fords have been good on these Bristol-shorter-type racetracks,” he described.

Now, it remains to be seen which of the drivers the big names would miss out on the next round of the playoffs. Would it be last year’s Cup champion Joey Logano? Would it be this year’s regular season champion Martin Truex Jr.?

Or would it be Kevin Harvick, the undisputed legend in his final season?

About the author

Shaharyar

Shaharyar is a NASCAR journalist at the SportsRush. Along with two years of experience covering the sport, he is also a filmmaker and a big fan of soccer. His favorite NASCAR drivers in the modern era of the sport are Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch but when it comes to the GOAT debate, he believes no one is or will ever be as great as Dale Earnhardt.

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