Denny Hamlin has been through enough regular-season battles to understand just how fragile the margin for error can be in NASCAR’s playoff system. As the Cup Series left Daytona to close out the 2024 regular season, Hamlin once again found himself at the center of the points shuffle that so often defines the championship race before the postseason even begins. The late-race chaos triggered by Chase Elliott’s wreck didn’t just change finishing positions; it reshaped the larger playoff picture altogether.

William Byron emerged from the night with the regular-season title in hand, along with the highly coveted 15 playoff points that accompany it. For Hamlin, who has long built his reputation on consistency and playoff savvy, the shift underscored both the cruelty and precision of the format

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