Denny Hamlin, a leading figure from Joe Gibbs Racing, has stirred significant discussion with a confident Denny Hamlin championship claim regarding Tyler Reddick’s chances in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series. Following Reddick’s record-breaking start to the season, Hamlin expressed his views during an episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, forecasting Reddick as a top championship contender this year.
Reddick’s Historic Season Opener Sets the Stage
Tyler Reddick, driving the #45 Toyota Camry XSE, has started the 2026 Cup Series season in unprecedented fashion, claiming victories at Daytona, Atlanta, and Circuit of the Americas (COTA). This achievement marks the first time in stock car racing history that a driver has won the opening three races of the season. As a result, Reddick has amassed 186 points, catapulting him to the top of the Cup Series standings and granting him a 100-point buffer over eighth place. In contrast, Denny Hamlin currently holds the 23rd spot in the standings with 60 points.
Hamlin, reflecting on this historic run by 23XI Racing and Reddick’s team, acknowledged the momentum but cautioned against premature conclusions. He shared his thoughts on Reddick’s prospects, emphasizing his belief in their strong season start:
“I hate creating narratives so early in the season. Typically, the knee jerk reaction on Mondays is always to overreact overreact and I’m not trying to jinx anything either. But like, I don’t see a world where they finish outside the top three in the regular season; the contenders in which you think that will challenge them are buried. This is just a dream start this season. Obviously, if you wanted to bet the other way, I’d give you plus 150 on it.”
– Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Hamlin Critiques NASCAR’s Upcoming All-Star Race Format
Beyond championship predictions, Hamlin has also commented on changes to the 2026 NASCAR All-Star race. When NASCAR revealed a new race structure for May’s event at Dover Motor Speedway—detailed by analyst Bob Pockrass—Hamlin was vocal with his skepticism. The revamped format divides the 350-lap race into three distinct stages: the first and second segments both containing 75 laps, followed by a final 200-lap shootout. Qualifying will take place the previous day and set the field for segment one.
The format update allows all drivers to start in the first segment. The top 26 from that round advance to a second segment with the grid order inverted. The ultimate 200-lap portion is reserved for recent race winners, Cup Series champions, fan vote winners, and those with the best combined finishes from earlier stages. Hamlin offered a pointed, humorous critique about the inclusivity of the format:
“Drivers who fail to qualify will also be presented participation metals on the front stretch after the conclusion of stage 2.”
– Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
Anticipation Builds for Dover’s High-Stakes Showdown
The 2026 NASCAR All-Star event is set for May 17 at Dover Motor Speedway, known for its challenging one-mile oval track. The race will be broadcast live on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM, and HBO Max at 1 p.m. ET. All eyes in the stock car racing world are on Reddick as he leads the field, while Hamlin’s remarks have fueled debate about both the competitiveness of 23XI Racing and NASCAR’s evolving event formats.
With Tyler Reddick’s dominant start, Hamlin’s championship claim puts extra attention on each upcoming race, both for Reddick’s pursuit of history and the evolving storyline for favorites and challengers across the Cup Series. As the season progresses, the motorsport community—including contenders, drivers, and fans—will be watching to see if Hamlin’s prediction holds true or if other names emerge to shake up the standings.
Not trying to jinx anything, BUT @dennyhamlin has some thoughts on Reddick's point standings… 🤫
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