NASCAR embarks on Spherical of 8: Is that this Denny Hamlin’s generation?

Nearest any other wacky, unpredictable 3 races, the NASCAR Playoff ground is ill to 8, with any other 3 showdowns difference to resolve the 4 who will contend for the Cup Sequence identify at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 5. To kind out what has took place and what may nonetheless occur, it’s date to run a flight lap with Marty & McGee, who speak about rising worn, dwindling identify photographs, NASCAR’s early life motion and fancy kicks.

Ryan McGee: K, Marty, it’s date for the then spherical of the NASCAR Playoffs, the Spherical of 8. Is there the rest that surprises you whilst you take a look at the 8 that we’ve got?

Marty Smith: Disagree. I’m tremendous inspired with a few the groups however I wouldn’t say that I’m essentially shocked. Tyler Reddick, I believe has been simply actually, actually speedy and actually noteceable for 23XI Racing. And together with his skill to govern and carry out on those racetracks bobbing up, I think like he has an actual alternative.

McGee: It’s a captivating combine. Again-to-back intermediate tracks at Vegas and Miami-Domicile — which, to me, remains to be bizarre that isn’t the finale — and upcoming the bullring of Martinsville.

Marty: I nonetheless really feel adore it’s Denny Hamlin‘s generation. I do just. You’re ready to get via Talladega, you’re ready to get throughout the Roval and now you’re nonetheless in a actually excellent place. So, I’ve simply felt for a life, McGee, that this could be a generation of future for Denny and there’s not anything, even sinister success at Charlotte, which has modified my opinion of that.

– Watch Marty & McGee on SEC Network, Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET

McGee: I take a look at Martinsville in 3 weekends and I believe a accumulation of crowd reserve their breath once they see that because the then cutoff race, the one who will resolve the Championship 4. However I find it irresistible.

And I do know I’m chatting with a fellow Virginian right here in you, however Denny Hamlin is a Richmond local, and the primary date I noticed him power a race automobile was once at Martinsville and he was once using an Allison Legacy automobile and he would possibly had been 13 years worn. So, it strikes a chord in my memory of once they first began doing the Chase postseason layout and the autumn agenda was once shuffled and I in an instant concept, “Oh man, this schedule right here, with the tracks where they are, Jimmie Johnson is going to crush everybody.” And he did. After I see Martinsville sitting there for Denny, if there’s a park that he may power with a degree of reassurance the place perhaps others don’t have it, to me it’s there.

Marty: He’s simply more or less the cut monitor king within the recreation at this time. And if he can get to Phoenix, Denny could also be in a singular headspace at this time. I believe that his emotional solution to this worn to be, “All right, I’m going to say what I think, but I might not really like how people respond to it.” Now there was an emotional shift for him, the place it’s, “I’m going to say exactly what I think. Y’all be damned.” I believe that he sees that he has a championship-caliber group, a group that’s succesful in all places, and also you simply don’t understand how frequently that’s committing to occur.

McGee: Particularly at 42 years worn with such a lot of trophies however 0 championships.

Marty: Precisely. I believe we each agree he’s a primary poll NASCAR Corridor of Famer it doesn’t matter what, whether or not he wins a championship or now not. In the event you win as many races as he has, as many Daytona 500s as he has, been aggressive for nearly two decades, however I do know that he’ll really feel incomplete if he doesn’t get a hoop. And I consider in my center that is his very best prospect but. You spot that emotional residue I’m speaking about?

McGee: Completely. I all the time walk again to the primary date that he was once within the utmost workforce at Domicile. It was once 2006, his 2nd season, and he was once scared to demise. I would possibly had been sitting with you on the pre-championship information convention and how it was once arrange, he was once sitting on the entrance desk in between Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth …

Marty: And Jimmie Johnson.

McGee: Yep. The veterans. And I take into account lets see Denny was once like a literal duck at the puddle. From the desk up, he appeared high quality, however there was once an opening within the apron across the desk and lets see his ft bouncing up and ill. And upcoming he had a complete vapor lock in the midst of that race and mainly spun himself out of competition.

Marty: Now he’s the veteran in that ultimate 8.

McGee: Kyle Larson has a championship. Martin Truex Jr. has one. I believe we each agree that William Byron, Christopher Bell, Reddick, Ryan Blaney, all of them have extra identify bouts forward of their careers. So, there’s some desperation for Denny, however I don’t assume he’ll race determined. Does that create sense?

Marty: Oh, yeah. I believe he’s smarter than that. He’ll best race determined if he will get to Martinsville and has to. And I believe that he has that during him at this level.

You discussed Truex, he’s made pace. He was once so speedy at the start of the generation, and now he’s simply creeping, and those then two tracks are his peanut butter and jelly, guy. When the Playoffs began, I stated I felt just like the 11 and the nineteen we’re committing to fight for this identify. I brazenly admit that I didn’t give plethora credit score to Byron and Larson.

McGee: All they do is win, particularly Byron.

Marty: Simply speedy as hell in all places. Rick Hendrick noticed that ability when a accumulation folks kind of questioned about that, and he has completely validated Rick’s determination to position him within the 24.

McGee: This 8 is stuffed with the ones guys. That 2nd 4, there’s Chris Buescher, Bell, Reddick, Blaney. We’ve each been doing this a life and we’ve each been listening to about the ones guys endlessly …

Marty: Like, a few of them since they have been in center faculty …

McGee: And now right here they take a seat with the prospect to contend for a championship. Does that ruthless we’re worn?

Marty: Sure, it approach we’re worn. As Methuselah. But it surely’s so superior to look them come of while. I ruthless, Buescher, if in February you can have given me an over/underneath that he would win more than one instances this season, I wouldn’t have taken the guess.

McGee: Particularly now not on the reclamation challenge this is RFK Racing, proper?

Marty: And all he did was once walk out and win 3 races.

McGee: And bossman Brad Keselowski just about made this 8, too.

Marty: Bell could be very calm, however all the time speedy. And once more, I’ve been so inspired with Reddick. That younger guy is as proficient a shoe as there’s within the recreation. You walk all of the as far back as when he was once using Vehicles for Kyle Busch and Kyle was once like, “Y’all just trust me here. This dude is an absolute shoe.”

McGee: Talking of him being a shoe, howdy Mr. Sneakerhead, have you ever detectable the Jordan paint scheme Reddick is operating this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway? I’ve been demise to invite you about it, perceptible as how you may have a whole wing of your own home constructed simply to pack your whole J’s.

8️⃣ for 8.⁰⁰Inspired via the Unfashionable Jordan 8, @TylerReddick begins the #NASCARPlayoffs Spherical of 8 within the Jordan Logo Disagree. 45 Toyota Camry TRD Professional. pic.twitter.com/lRTV3xWQLe

— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) October 10, 2023

Marty: Sure, I’ve and I want that diecast for my place of job.

McGee: Once I noticed it pop up on social media this age I stated, “Marty might try to put shoelaces on a couple of the diecasts and wear them on ‘Marty & McGee’ as roller skates.”

Marty: I’m jealous of Tyler in a accumulation of how. I’ve an excellent courting with that logo, however mine’s now not relatively as excellent as Tyler’s.

McGee: Again within the date, I take into account you can put on Jordans and crowd would inquire from me, “Why is Marty wearing Jordans at the racetrack?” And now Michael Jordan is on the racetrack.

Marty: I used to be forward of my date.

McGee: And now we’re out date. Till then date.