<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0kGFYO_0wPc7hy700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0kGFYO_0wPc7hy700" width="1200" height="712" ><figcaption>Denny Hamlin tipped Tyler Reddick to miss out on the Championship 4 (Image: Getty)</figcaption></figure>Denny Hamlin's Championship 4 prediction has gone miserably wrong thus far as Joey Logano and 23XI Racing star Tyler Reddick snatched two spots with victories at Las Vegas and Homestead-Miami. The 54-time Cup Series race winner predicted that by the end of the Round of 8, he would be joined by Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott, while the likes of Logano and 2024 Regular Season champion Reddick would see the end of their competitive seasons."Me, Larson, Bell, and Elliott," Hamlin confidently said before Round 3 of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs started. Earlier on in the season, Hamlin also confidently declared that he'd be crowned Cup Series champion at Nov. 10's finale in Phoenix, Arizona."This is it. This is the year. This is the year it’s going to happen," Hamlin told Fox Sports. However, up until Miami, Hamlin has struggled in the playoffs. Third behind defending champion Ryan Blaney and race winner Reddick was Hamlin's best finish since the Cup Series playoffs began on Sept. 8 in Atlanta.<ul><li>'I'm a NASCAR racing legend and this is not the Denny Hamlin we know'</li></ul>Hamlin actually looked likely to storm into the Championship 4 with an automatic bye into the final round after running up front in the Sunshine State. The Joe Gibbs Racing star came up short again where it mattered and he was unable to hold his lead.A third-place finish in Miami means Hamlin is still 18 points off a Championship 4 spot heading into next weekend's final race of Round 3 at Martinsville in Virginia. "I wasn't really great on the short run all day but they (the No. 11 crew) gave me everything I needed there to get the lead and I just wasn't able to hold it," Hamlin said.Even if Hamlin doesn't make the Championship 4 as a driver, as he has done on four prior occasions, he'll be there as an owner. Hamlin is the co-owner of 23XI Racing alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan, who joined in with celebrations over the weekend as Reddick took the chequered flag.“Little kid drove his --- off," Jordan told NBC Sports after crashing Reddick's post-race interview. "I'm proud of him. Oh, man, he just let go. He just went for it and I'm glad. We needed it. We needed it.”Reddick raced from third to first in the final lap. “We were backed in a corner, man, and we had no other choice,” Reddick said. “We did what it took to win this race. We’re fighting for a championship. I couldn’t believe (the winning pass).DON'T MISS...<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0phVSs_0wPc7hy700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0phVSs_0wPc7hy700" width="1200" height="650" ><figcaption>Regular Season Cup Series champion Reddick joins Joey Logano in the Championship 4 (Image: Getty)</figcaption></figure>Don't miss... NASCAR at Miami winner, results in full as updated playoff cut line emerges [LATEST] Kyle Larson interrupts reporter after being questioned about 'aggression' [LATEST] Ryan Blaney provides health update after headaches caused by Las Vegas crash [LATEST] "I just knew I needed to get on his right-side door. (Blaney) raced me clean, I appreciate it. Just really, really excited that we’re going to get to have a shot at this championship.”Jordan is no stranger to winning. He won six NBA Championships, six NBA Finals MVPs, and five NBA MVPs. Reddick is pleased to give the basketball icon a shot at another sporting achievement. “To be able to reward him with the days like we had today, it's a true honor,” Reddick said. “It was really cool to see how happy he was. We're all very happy about it."Reddick also thanked Hamlin: "He believed in me. He believes in this team. The people, him, Denny, everybody else, has put together to create what 23XI is. He's put a lot towards it. It's really cool in these critical moments to be able to deliver for him and for everybody else that's a part of the team.”</div></body>

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Denny Hamlin proved wrong by Tyler Reddick as NASCAR legend's Championship 4 hopes narrow

Denny Hamlin's Championship 4 prediction has gone miserably wrong thus far as Joey Logano and 23XI Racing star Tyler Reddick snatched two spots with victories at Las Vegas and Homestead-Miami. The 54-time Cup Series race winner predicted that by the end of the Round of 8, he would be joined by Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Chase Elliott, while the likes of Logano and 2024 Regular Season champion Reddick would see the end of their competitive seasons.