Denny Hamlin Boldly Predicts Shane van Gisbergen’s Playoff Elimination in R-16

Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has shared his thoughts on the drivers that are not going to survive the R-16 of playoffs.

Denny Hamlin Boldly Predicts Shane van Gisbergen’s Playoff Elimination in R-16

Shane van Gisbergen and Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)

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Following Ryan Blaney’s win at Daytona, the 2025 playoff field is set, which features 14 drivers that has won at least a race, making it a deep field. Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has shared his prediction for the first round that will feature Darlington, Gateway and Bristol. He believes Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen won’t survive round one.

It’s a bold prediction, considering the No:88 Chevy driver has won four races and accumulated a significant 22 bonus points. The major issue is the fact that all of those wins came at road courses and though he has improved on ovals, he isn’t close to the rest of grid based on pure speed. There are three more driver Denny Hamlin named, that will fail to make a mark in the next three races.

The most obvious choice is Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry, who made it on the sole Las Vegas win and hasn’t been on the best of form since, with the cars lack of speed playing a pretty big role. Then there is Austin Dillon, who dominated Richmond, but has been below average in the rest of the races. There is also Austin Cindric, who has been having a performance slum since the sole win.

Darlington, Gateway, Bristol. I’ll say [Austin] Dillon, [Josh] Berry, Austin [Cindric] and SVG…Versus guys like Bowman, Reddick, Logano, Chastain, Bubba — I think they all overtake (SVG). Just on speed, you know. I don’t know if that’s a wild prediction or not, but my first four out — SVG, Cindric, Berry, Dillon.

Denny Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental podcast.

The JGR veteran then went onto explain his reason for predicting a Shane van Gisbergen exit   despite bonus point advantage, asserting that he need luck on his side and bad luck on his rival’s side to make it. He needs to finish P20 or better in all three oval races, which the Supercars champion hasn’t done yet this year.

It’ll definitely be a challenge. But I mean, he earned, you know, he’s got 22 — something like that, actual bonus points. So, he’s not in a bad spot. All he needs is a few of these guys to have lackluster days and he just somehow, you know — he goes in there, finishes top 20 and he’ll find himself in a decent spot going into that last cutoff race.

Denny Hamlin added.

Denny Hamlin shared his 2026 playoffs goals

In the same podcast, the JGR veteran shared his thoughts the goals he has set for himself coming into the playoffs with four wins to his name. He has 29 bonus points, making him the third bets rank driver in the playoff table ahead of Daytona.  

Denny Hamlin
Denny Hamlin (Via IMAGO)

The veteran’s goal is not just winning the maiden championship of his career, it also securing at least two more wins this season. That would help him to get to the magical 60 career wins stat, all of which came for Joe Gibbs Racing.

My goals remain the same. I like to win a couple more races before the end of the season. Whenever they are, they are. If they advance me, they advance me. I’d like to win a couple more races. That’s the goal. Let’s get to 60 this year.

Denny Hamlin said.

The veteran has the potential the become the last driver to have more than 60 Cup race wins to his name, considering the evolution of the cars has made it much harder to win races, unlike in the past. It will also be hard to remain as consistent as the veteran has been with a big team like JGR.

Also Read: Denny Hamlin Confesses He Has Been “Horrible” at Daytona