Hamlin says he can win at Bristol and earn automatic berth in 2nd round of NASCAR playoffs
The NASCAR playoffs head to Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee this weekend for the final race of the first round
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — Denny Hamlin never had a chance to race for the win at Watkins Glen after he was caught up in an opening-lap wreck that knocked fellow playoff driver Ryan Blaney out of the race.
Hamlin recovered to later gain a stage point, but he eventually spun and the nose of his Toyota tagged the wall. He finished 23rd and was dumped to 13th in the NASCAR playoff standings, six points behind Ty Gibbs on the postseason cutoff line.
Not ideal for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, though his familiar bravado hasn’t waned as NASCAR heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for the final first-round playoff race.
“I feel like we can go there and win,” Hamlin said. “We are going to an oval, back to a normal track. We can control our own destiny there.”
