Denny Hamlin Analyzes Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman’s Playoff Entry Surviving ‘Unimaginable Stress’

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin shared his thoughts on Alex Bowman and Tyler Reddick’s stressful Daytona race.

Denny Hamlin Analyzes Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman’s Playoff Entry Surviving ‘Unimaginable Stress’

Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman (Via IMAGO)

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The NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona last weekend, the Coke Zero Sugar 400, witnessed Ryan Blaney breaking the heart of racers in bubble, securing the win in a four wide photo finish. This helped Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman the most, as both made it into the last-16 on points. JGR veteran Denny Hamlin analyzed the situation on his podcast.  

23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick caused the first caution of the race, after making contact with the No:34 car of Todd Gilliland, after getting tight on turn four. He suffered significant damage to his Toyota, that ended his chance of getting any stage points. This put pressure on him and gave Alex Bowman an advantage, according to Denny Hamlin.

First of all, he caused the first caution. 23XI was 2-for-2 on causing the first couple of cautions. It just, off of Turn 4 there looks like he got tight, got into the 34. Just not holding the lane and it looked like they were in big, big trouble.

Denny Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental.

But he secured last-16 spot, after the HMS driver got DNF-ed due to a wreck soon after the No:45 car incident. It ironically was caused by 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace. Denny Hamlin explained how the whole pressure then shifted to the No:48 Chevy driver, as he wanted a repeat winner to help him make post-season, and no-winners leading predominately of the event.

At that point they know they’ve got so much damage they’re not going to score any stage points. The 48 is still up toward the front and it’s like, ‘Oh boy, here we go.’ This is how you cough it up, right here. Luckily for them the 48 got in it.

Denny Hamlin added.

The three times Daytona 500 winner pointed out that Rick Hendrick’s driver would have been going through unimaginable pressure watching the race played out, especially the last laps were almost all of the racer upfront were bubble drivers. If not for the Ryan Blaney charge from P13 to P1 in the last two laps, he would have been eliminated.

I can’t imagine the stress that Alex was going through sitting there knowing that like you control zero of your destiny right now. You’re essentially a fan watching on TV, hoping somebody that has won before wins again.

Denny Hamlin explained.

NASCAR missed out on a big Alex Bowman content according to Denny Hamlin

In the same podcast, Denny Hamlin explained how NASCAR missed out on some huge Alex Bowman content by not having a camera on the HMS driver during the last laps. He pointed out that many racing fans would have love to see the roller coaster of emotions the Chevy driver would have gone through in the last two laps of the race.

Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman
Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman (Via IMAGO)

That would have been awesome. Maybe they have something internally. No, they probably wouldn’t have anything internally because like I’m thinking about it, if I was sitting in the hauler, right, and I see that the odds are that I’m going to be knocked out, I probably, would I want a camera on me? Probably not. But man that would be great content, right?

Denny Hamlin said.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is right to make that assumption, as the broadcasters could have had some good content to use during or after the race. It would have made the coverage more special at the end for the fans. Now that Bowman has got a second chance to prove himself, it would be interesting to see how the No:48 team perform in the next ten race weeks.

Also Read: Alex Bowman Owes Ryan Blaney “Seven Million Beers” over Daytona win