Daytona, once again proving its prowess, set the stage for a gripping 2023 regular season climax.

The sprawling 2.5-mile superspeedway lived up to its storied name, delivering a breathtaking spectacle. The 2.5-mile superspeedway showcased a high-stakes battle to the checkered flag, a thrilling contest for the final playoff spot, and an unexpected victor. Daytona marked RFK Racing‘s impressive 1-2 finish, their first since 2014.

Reflecting on the eventful Daytona day, NASCAR insiders Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi unveiled their Championship 4 predictions on ‘The Teardown’ podcast. Although they share parallel views, citing better chances and a superior performance record, Jordan’s bold predictions seemed to relegate Denny Hamlin below his fellow JGR teammate in the pecking order.

Bold Predictions: Denny Hamlin was pushed down the ranks by JGR teammate

In the latest installment of ‘The Teardown’ podcast, Bianchi confidently positioned Christopher Bell above Denny Hamlin. “My fourth pick is Bell,” Jordan Bianchi declared. Noting the divergence in their predictions, Gluck responded, “So you’re putting Bell over Hamlin?”

For Jeff Gluck, Denny Hamlin was a fixture in the championship; however, in a contrasting perspective, Bianchi placed Bell ahead of Hamlin.

Bianchi held his ground, exuding faith in the driver’s remarkable adaptability and the team’s underlying prowess. “I think Bell’s gonna get hot. I said this before, like this team, he is so good, and I had him as my champion going into the year, so I don’t feel like I can go off of that. If they have to stop making mistakes, they have the speed, they haven’t executed well.

When things go wrong, things kind of snowball for them a little bit, but I look at last year and I just think that this team and Adam Stevens is such a good crew chief and Bell is showing that he can win anywhere.”

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Bianchi supported his predictions by citing Bell’s P4 finish in the regular season, underscoring the team’s capacity to pose a formidable challenge.

“But I just want to put on what Bell finished, regular season fourth. I mean, like this, they’re a red flag.” He clarified that it wasn’t a guaranteed victory but emphasized, “I just feel like it’s just going to tried and true. I think this is a little bit outside, but I think that this team is dangerous.”

Joe Gibbs’ wild ride leading to the Daytona finale

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With the post-regular season predictions running wide, all in all, Daytona was an eventful affair for the JGR team. While the Bell-over-Hamlin debate persists, another teammate’s prowess shines through as the JGR #19 driver, Martin Truex Jr., clinches the 2023 regular season championship.

The road to the regular season finale brought about another layer of drama for Joe Gibbs and his team. With three cars already locked into the playoffs, Gibbs’ satisfaction was slightly tarnished. As the Daytona event approached, Denny Hamlin’s unequivocal support for another contender threw a spotlight on the situation. Hamlin found himself torn between backing his own driver, Bubba Wallace, and his boss’s grandson, Ty Gibbs.

As the co-owner of the 23XI Racing team’s priorities seemed clear-cut, he readily threw his weight behind Wallace. And his decision proved fruitful, as Bubba Wallace successfully clinched the coveted playoff berth.

Reflecting on the incident, Gibbs commented, “Just got hit in a bad spot there and didn’t make it in. I’m OK, just a hard hit. I felt like all of our JGR cars worked well together tonight, just got in a bad spot trying to go for a Stage win.”

WATCH THIS STORY: Bubba Wallace Exposes Boss Denny Hamlin’s Black Lie In Pocono Feud

As the dust settles on the Daytona race, the NASCAR flock is primed for the playoffs. With engines revving and hearts racing, let the Hunger Games begin!