"Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney": Denny Hamlin nominates NASCAR's famous pals as candidates for must-win scenario

Denny Hamlin recently shared his thoughts on the playoff drivers who are in must-win situations and those who can make their way in on points. Hamlin, who is currently sitting in the 5th spot on the playoff standings, has a -27 deficit following an 8th-place finish at Las Vegas.

23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick (-30) is below Hamlin in the standings, and below the #45 driver are former champions Ryan Blaney (-47) and Chase Elliott (-53).

Recently speaking on Actions Detrimental, Denny Hamlin claimed that it is the Blaney-Elliott duo who face a must-win situation in Homestead or Martinsville to make it to the final 4. On the other hand, he and Reddick could point their way in under some very specific circumstances.

"If you want to talk about must wins, it’s probably going to be Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney. And if you’re going to talk about must run top three in every stage and the race for the next two weeks, it’s me and Tyler Reddick. No exceptions. If you don’t run in the top three every stage, that’s four stages and the race, there’s no way we make up that kind of ground on William Byron, Kyle Larson, or Christopher Bell," Hamlin said.

This prompted his co-host Jared Allen to wonder if Hamlin is aiming for a win considering it would be easier than to run top 3s in every stage for two races.

Denny Hamlin remarked that racing at Homestead is a little different considering it is not 'an alternate strategy type of race.' The #11 driver said that while coming in for a pit stop, a driver had to take four tires at every stop.

"So that is a track where you could, if you’re up front and dominating, you could stay there all day long. So it’s possible there. Martinsville, you definitely get some varying strategy there because, well, I was going to say because there was no tire wear but we have a new tire there, that’s going to change everything," he added.

Hamlin said that these two races would be exciting because his winning and booking his spot in Championship 4 can happen at Homestead, as well as at Martinsville.

Denny Hamlin opened up on his ambitious but pragmatic mindset heading into the playoffs

Heading into the playoffs, Denny Hamlin opened up on his chances of winning his first-ever Cup championship. The JGR veteran mentioned that his chances of winning are 'as good as anyone', but acknowledged that drivers like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell have a better chance because of their playoff points.

And yet, Hamlin suggested he's one of the few drivers who can emerge as a winner on any given week.

"So, no matter what points position we might find ourselves in, and we will be in a precarious points position at some point of the Playoffs. We always feel like we can go to the next track and win, so that’s on something that only a few cars can do," Hamlin said.

Hamlin claimed that if he makes it to the Championship 4 this season, something he has missed out on in the last two seasons, he'd consider it one of 'the more rewarding accomplishments' of his career.

Hamlin claimed it would be so because of all the variables he has got throughout this season, most notable of which was a penalty that changed his playoff picture in a drastic way.