Denny Hamlin encountered a significant setback in his quest to secure a spot in the Championship 4 following a crash during practice at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. Despite ranking third in the 45-minute practice session, Hamlin's car sustained damage that will prevent him from participating in the qualifying attempts. His team has decided to repair the vehicle rather than switch to a backup car.

The crash means that Hamlin will have to start from the back of the grid in Sunday’s race, scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on NBC. This will also result in him having the final pick of pit stalls for the race. Entering the weekend, Hamlin is 18 points below the cutline, making his challenge to reach the Championship 4 even more daunting.

Martin Truex Jr., who topped the practice session, and Corey LaJoie, who came in second, achieved notable performances. For Hamlin, the race at Martinsville represents a critical opportunity to advance to his fifth Championship 4 appearance, a milestone he has not reached since 2021. Despite the setback, Hamlin remains focused on the formidable task ahead.