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As the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series heads to Bristol Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick shared his insights and predicted the winner for the final playoff race of Round of 16. On his eponymous “Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour” podcast, the former NASCAR driver-turned-commentator shared a detailed analysis of the driver he believes would be a strong contender to win the third race of the playoffs on Saturday, September 21.
Harvick picked Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin to win Sunday’s (September 22) Bass Pro Shops Night Race at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Hamlin is fighting for his playoff chances after outside top-20 finishes in the first two playoff races. However, Hamlin is the defending winner of the event.
Picking the winner for the third playoff race of the season at Bristol, Kevin Harvick said:
“I don't know. I'm almost getting tired of guessing because my guesses have been so wrong. I think if you go off of the first race, it's going to be a Gibbs car with the way that they ran. But gosh, do I just think I have to go off the Denny Hamlin thing because he's just been so wrong for me. I can't do it. I'm going with Denny.” [49:51]
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Harvick’s co-host, Kaitlyn Vincie, picked Martin Truex Jr. to win his first race of the season before retirement.
“I'm staying in the Gibbs camp as well. I'm going with Martin, because I really would like to see him win a race in his final season.”
Meanwhile, co-host Mamba Smith picked last weekend's polesitter Ross Chastain to win this week, saying:
“I am going to go with the guy who sat on the pole at Watkins Glenn, Ross Chastain; they have had some speed. A non-playoff guy to win the race.”
How has Kevin Harvick’s top pick performed at Bristol Motor Speedway?
The #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver has had outstanding numbers at Bristol Motor Speedway. He has four wins, 11 top-five, and 18 top-10 finishes, with an average finish of 13.6 in 34 starts at this track.
Hamlin’s most recent win at Bristol came in this year’s Food City 500 in March. He will look to replicate the Bristol fall race performance on Sunday to make the second round of playoffs. He is 13th in the Cup Series playoffs points table, six points behind the cutline.
Watch the NASCAR playoff race at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday (September 21) at 7:30 p.m. ET.
