Denny Hamlin has indicated a substantial shift could be on the way for the NASCAR postseason, following Team Penske’s dominant showing at New Hampshire. The conversation about a Denny Hamlin playoff format change has intensified, as questions grow over how teams can catch up with Penske’s performance edge.
Penske Sets the Pace as Playoff Concerns Mount
The recent NASCAR Cup Series event in Loudon saw Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney secure his first victory at the track, snapping Joe Gibbs Racing’s winning streak in playoff races. This win underlined not only Roger Penske’s influence but also the superiority of his drivers, with Penske having captured all three Next-Gen Cup championships—Joey Logano twice, and Blaney most recently in 2024. Their consistent ability to deliver under pressure, particularly at Phoenix Raceway where the series finale is hosted, has left competitors searching for answers.
Denny Hamlin, reflecting on the implications of Penske’s continued playoffs prowess, shared his thoughts after watching the New Hampshire race—widely considered similar to the Phoenix track in layout and race style. He pointed out that Penske’s advantage is rooted both in a robust aerodynamic package and detailed race notes, giving their drivers a crucial upper hand as the playoffs progress.
“I think this is our Phoenix tire. I do know that this is the Phoenix aero package… So yeah, I think this could be deja vu.” – Denny Hamlin, via Actions Detrimental
Hamlin acknowledged that unless other teams, like his own Joe Gibbs Racing, undergo a fundamental shift in their technical approach, they are unlikely to close the gap Penske currently enjoys. He expressed concern that, should Penske field all three of their drivers in the playoff final four, it will be nearly impossible to outmatch them without drastic changes in car setup philosophies.
“If you’re not a Penske fan, that’s probably what you should hope. … If we re-racked and ran tomorrow, we would have the same result. It’ll take an extensive overhauling of philosophy to get another two percent of grip out of our cars.” – Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Chris Gabehart has also warned of the risk that the pace shown by Penske at New Hampshire could be replicated at Phoenix, further raising stakes for teams seeking to mount a challenge. Hamlin pointed out that merely adjusting the cars won’t be enough to catch up if Team Penske continues its current form.
“We’re not going to be able to tweak our way to the speed that the Penske cars had. If they carry that moving forward, we’re not going to be able to — we will not overcome that, if it correlates to Phoenix.” – Denny Hamlin
Hamlin Pushes for a New Playoff System
During his podcast discussion, Hamlin went beyond technical talk to address the underlying structure of the NASCAR playoffs. He emphasized his desire for a format that genuinely rewards drivers who demonstrate consistent excellence throughout the season. Hamlin criticized the current system, which gradually resets points every three weeks, erasing accrued advantages and making it harder for the most consistent drivers to benefit.
“Whatever it is, I just want guys who show excellence every week to be rewarded for that and not have to fight every three weeks for the reset to take away their advantage that they have built.” – Denny Hamlin
Hamlin highlighted the importance of rewarding week-to-week performance, rather than allowing resets to diminish drivers’ achievements. He pointed to ongoing discussions within the sport and expressed optimism about the proposals under consideration, suggesting that the community as a whole is moving in a positive direction.
“Surely there is a format out there that can give a little bit to everyone, and I think it’s possible. From what I’ve seen, what I’ve seen proposed, we’re on the right track, and it’s certainly going to be better than what we have.” – Denny Hamlin
Hamlin’s comments reflect an emerging consensus among drivers, fans, and officials that a major revision to the playoff format is both needed and on the horizon. Many in the NASCAR community, like Hamlin, believe that evolving the format could lead to more competitive racing and better reflect season-long performance.
Looking Ahead: The Impact of Change
As the debate over the Denny Hamlin playoff format change gathers momentum, the rest of the NASCAR grid faces a steep challenge in matching the level achieved by teams like Team Penske at pivotal tracks like Phoenix. Joe Gibbs Racing, led by figures such as Hamlin and Gabehart, must now decide whether to overhaul their methods or continue pursuing incremental improvements that may not suffice.
The outcome of these discussions could reshape not only how championships are decided but also influence race strategy and competition intensity throughout the season. With Hamlin’s influential voice and support from other drivers, there is heightened anticipation that any forthcoming reform will address concerns of fairness and reward consistency—potentially shaking up the future of Cup Series racing for drivers, teams, and fans alike.
