The first round of the NASCAR In-Season Tournament at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta brought unexpected turmoil, eliminating numerous top contenders and sparking criticism from key drivers. Denny Hamlin NASCAR tournament controversy deepened as the No. 1 seed Hamlin himself was upset by No. 32 seed Ty Dillon, while only race winner Chase Elliott remained among the victors from this season. Hamlin spoke out Monday on the Actions Detrimental podcast, expressing concerns over the decision to kick off the tournament at a superspeedway, warning it could diminish fan engagement and disrupt the tournament’s momentum.
Denny Hamlin Critiques NASCAR’s Superspeedway Choice
Hamlin acknowledged Ty Dillon’s impressive performance but questioned the strategy behind starting the bracket at a venue prone to unpredictable racing. He highlighted how seven of the top eight drivers in points standings were ousted early, leaving only Chase Elliott, the lone race winner, advancing in the tournament. Hamlin compared the situation to NCAA basketball brackets, noting that destroying the top-ranked contenders after one round could lessen enthusiasm for subsequent rounds.
This is the unpredictability of putting us on a speedway race. It’s why I’m so against it being in the playoffs, it’s why I’m so against it being the start of our bracket,
Hamlin said.
They knocked out seven of the top eight guys in points. How about this — there are no winners except for Chase Elliott left in the bracket. Zero winners. … I think it’s probably not a good strategy to knock out all your top guys because not only that — think about NCAA — when your bracket is absolutely smashed after Round 1, do you really care about Round 2, 3, 4, 5? No. So, you’re going to be less interested in the second round, third round because your bracket is already trashed.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
… This isn’t WWE, so, you can’t just write a script. But, I’m saying, like, it’s probably not a good idea next year to start this thing at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Favorite Drivers Eliminated Early in the Tournament
Before the race, drivers like Hamlin, William Byron, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell were among the most popular picks to secure the $1 million prize alongside Chase Elliott. These competitors had demonstrated consistent performances throughout the season. However, the start at Atlanta wiped out all of these top contenders except Elliott, adding to the shock felt by fans and competitors alike.
The infamous “Big One” wreck on lap 69, which involved a record-breaking 23 cars, played a crucial role in dismantling many brackets and disrupting anticipated outcomes. NASCAR confirmed on Monday that no brackets remain perfect following this chaos.
The Tournament’s Upcoming Challenges and Uncertainty
With Round 2 set to take place at the Chicago Street Course, followed by Round 3 at Sonoma Raceway, unpredictability is expected to continue. The mix of different track types adds complexity for drivers and fans trying to follow or predict tournament outcomes. The early eliminations have cast doubt on whether interest will sustain through the remaining weeks, particularly given Hamlin’s warnings about the impact of such early upsets.
The NASCAR In-Season Tournament remains an experimental concept aimed at increasing excitement during the season, but the outcome at Atlanta has raised questions about the format and scheduling. Moving forward, NASCAR and its competitors may reconsider the choice of venues and structure to better balance unpredictability with maintaining fan engagement.
