Denny Hamlin gives mid-race breakdown of Michigan on ’emergency podcast’

Last week’s winner, Chris Buescher, is showing early speed. Denny Hamlin named him as one of the drivers he has his eyes on as far as winners are concerned.

“Chris Buescher was really fast,” Hamlin said on his Actions Detrimental podcast. “He’s getting really strong runs off the corner. And he’s really strong into turn 3. So like I’ve noticed many times on restarts I’m not hedging far enough left I’m trying to set myself up for a really good exit and Chris Buescher’s driving in there and getting up beside me and slowing my momentum because he’s getting way up further – he’s getting beside me when I’m not planning on him to be.”

Buescher might have it in him to win back-to-back races this weekend. However, there are other drivers that have shown speed in the early going.

Drivers that ‘jump off the page’ for Denny Hamlin

As Denny Hamlin looked over the data and the race replay, playing those 74 laps back in his head, he noted a few different drivers. Martin Truex Jr. and Buescher were in that group. Other drivers that Hamlin mentioned included Ty Gibbs and Bubba Wallace. As well as himself, of course.

With a handful of teams in contention, in the mind of Hamlin at least, this race is going to be very interesting. No surprise that Hamlin noted the Toyotas and a Ford. Both manufacturers have been great at this track in recent years.

“What I’m saying is, when I look at the 19, the 17, and those guys – their cars are handling really well,” Hamlin explained. “That’s what jumps off of the page. Everyone is fast down the straightaway when they get a run or they get a draft. It’s which ones are fast in the corners, those are the ones that have stuck out to me.”

And just so you know, Denny Hamlin is officially off the Chase Elliott points train, it’s a must-win with no backdoor option for Elliott and his team. There are a lot of great nuggets in the podcast, give it a listen before the race.

The FireKeepers Casino 400 continues at Noon today on USA.