Denny Hamlin Brands Playoffs Sympathizers as “Mediocre People”
Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has shared his thoughts on the one-race finale format still having big name supporters in NASCAR.
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One of the biggest topics of debate in the 2025 NASCAR Cup season was the playoffs format and credibility of the champion under the one race finale system. Majority of the community wants to see a full-season format or at least a bigger sample size to crown the champion. There are still some supporters of the format and JGR veteran Denny Hamlin is beyond disappointed with them.
Denny Hamlin experienced the cruel nature of the format this year as he lost the championship to Kyle Larson in the final despite having the best car owing to circumstances. Talking about the need to scrap the current system, Hamlin pointed out that the big names the sport like William Byron, Ryan Blaney and more wants a bigger sample size not a system that rewards mediocrity.
For people like myself, William Byron, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick… I think we’re all for bigger sample sizes. If I didn’t list your name, of course you love a 1-race format. It rewards mediocrity for a bulk of the season.
Denny Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental podcast.
He then shifted his focus to the drivers like three times champion Joey Logano, who is actively advocating against the change. Hamlin asserted that the drivers who lost title due to bad luck in one race understands the pain, unlike the racers that won the title or stole it from others taking advantage of the system.
You’ve never had one ripped out of your hands. You’ve taken out of people’s hands but you don’t know what it’s like to dominate a season when all of a sudden, the format resets the score on you and you lose in overtime. Those are the people who were able to steal from others.
Denny Hamlin added.
The three times Daytona 500 champion declared that those who are calling for small sample size are nothing more than mediocre people and the great of the sport wants a more credible format. He also name-dropped Chase Elliott as one of the elite drivers who are getting betrayed by a format that doesn’t reward consistency.
Mediocre people want as small sample size as possible. The greats want a larger size…There might be others, I want to be careful… Can’t forget Chase Elliott, he is one of the best grinding out throughout the season.
Denny Hamlin asserted.
Denny Hamlin explains how taxing the 2025 season was for him
The frustration from Denny Hamlin is not only the byproduct of him loosing the 2025 championship, but it is also because his understanding about the unfairness of the system. The challenging year he has also played a significant role in it.
The JGR veteran had one of the busiest schedules he has ever had this season, on and off the track. His dad fell ill, he had a new baby and he is having a tough time in the court with the charter lawsuit his team 23XI Racing has filed against NASCAR.
This has been quite the year. I mean, I’m so looking forward to January 1st. Just because, I mean, obviously this year, I’m on track, off track, ownership, new baby, dad, race for championship, lawsuit. It just was, it was taxing for sure. I don’t think I could redo 2025 again. No way.
Denny Hamlin said.
Considering all this, the veteran deserves more credit than anyone on the grid for pulling of such an almost perfect season. It would be interesting to see how everything is going to playout for the star racer in the coming days over the lawsuit as well as the new system NASCAR going to adopt.
Also Read: Denny Hamlin “Would’ve Begged Joe Gibbs” to Let Him Retire if He Had Won 2025 Championship
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