Despite missing the NASCAR Playoffs this year, Bubba Wallace signed a contract extension with 23XI Racing. Denny Hamlin explained why. But Hamlin also laid down expectations moving forward for his driver.

Tyler Reddick winning the regular season championship raises expectations. Bubba Wallace finishing 10th overall last year, raised expectations.

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Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan believe in Wallace. 23XI Racing benefits from having him around and he has anchored this team since it was created. But now it is time to put up or shut up.

Going into another contract extension, Wallace has to keep improving. Hamlin explained during media availability at Bristol.

“Yeah I mean the 23 team needs to make the playoffs every year,” Hamlin said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “I think that that’s our expectation and then make a deep run and finish in the top ten in points. That’s kind of our expectation of kind of where we’re at right now. Just getting in, it’s hard for me to say that that’d be the only expectation but it is an expectation given the standards that we’re giving ourselves.

“He knows he needs to get better, I think he has gotten better, so as long as he continues that. Last year when he made it in on driver points he was 14th, this year 12th. While it won’t look great in the final box score because once you get in who knows where you go, you know your floor is only 16th. Certainly this year the end results going to look worse than last year but we know given the stats he’s had, laps led, all that, everything has improved over what he had last year. Just got to take that next step.”

Denny Hamlin in critical situation

Entering the Bristol Night Race tonight, Denny Hamlin is six points below the cutline. He is planning on doing what he does at Bristol and run a great race. There is always a possibility of an early issue sinking his chances.

Hamlin played it conservatively at Atlanta and it bit him. He scored very few points and wrecked on the last lap, the one thing he wanted to avoid. Then he was involved in a Lap 1 wreck at Watkins Glen and had to salvage his day the best he could.

Tonight, Hamlin starts P8. He is in a good position to earn stage points in Stage 1. Hamlin has won the last two Cup Series races at Bristol dating back to this race last year. He had two P9 finishes prior to that. The thing I’m worried about is his lack of stage points in the last two races.

The position Denny Hamlin is in could force him to race for points over a win. That could also put him in a position where he gets into a wreck or other trouble depending on how pit cycles play out. Is Hamlin going to advance to the Round of 12?

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