Denny Hamlin Persistent Over Achilles’ Heel Fix Despite Dover Surge Fueling NASCAR Momentum Push
Denny Hamlin simply received the All-Star Race at Dover in a dominant style, so why is he nonetheless dropping sleep over one very particular downside? Because that downside has already value him not less than two wins this yr, and, extra painfully, a championship final yr. So chatting with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio after Dover, it is clear why Hamlin did not find yourself having fun with the hype practice.
“Speed-wise, if we’re turning left and we are on an oval. We are there and we’re really fast. So, no weaknesses other than my restarts. I’ve got to work on that,” Hamlin admitted. “That’s something I have got to get better at because these races definitely come down to the shootouts at times. Getting better in the short run, continuing to get better on the road courses.”
commercial
Denny Hamlin and his flus with race restarts are well-known.
At Kansas, racing within the CreationHealth 400, Hamlin appeared set to have fun, as he paced the sphere for 131 of 274 laps. When there have been simply three laps left, he had simply retaken the lead and was half a lap from the white flag. But then Cody Ware blew a tire and spun on Lap 266, sending the race to extra time. Kyle Larson shot to the within and took the lead, Tyler Reddick swept round each of them, and Hamlin, caught within the center lane with no good choices, fell to fourth.
After the race, a pissed off Hamlin did not mince phrases: “Cody Ware, six laps down, wrecking… I don’t know. Just add it up.”
He was equally self-critical as he’s now: “I fell for the same move that the 5 got me a couple years ago when I was on the inside. I gotta learn from those mistakes.”
Texas got here subsequent as Hamlin started fourth, however took the lead from polesitter Carson Hocevar inside 20 laps. But a late warning arrange a four-lap dash that Elliott received by 0.407 seconds.
commercial
Hamlin was dejected once more: “Props to the 9 team… I felt it was going to be close if it went green. But I didn’t have great restarts today.”
So, he may need received the Monster Mile to take house a million-dollar examine, however he was on the verge of dropping all of it. He additional revealed that he was dealing with hassle on the race restarts and was unable to get the specified velocity out of turns 1 and a pair of.
“I wasn’t great on restarts when I was up front. My restarts in the back were really good, but up front I just couldn’t quite get through Turns 1 and 2 with the speed that I needed.”
Still, main from pole, he navigated a caution-heavy afternoon, absorbed a late problem from JGR teammate Chase Briscoe, who took the lead away from Hamlin on the ultimate restart of the afternoon, made the decisive move on Lap 322, and pulled away cleanly. He now has three consecutive wins on the identical venue within the NextGen period.
commercial
But the identical subject nonetheless cropped up, and it has to sting regardless as a result of Hamlin remembers what occurred at Phoenix final yr, whilst he entered because the title favourite, positioned to win the Cup he has chased his whole profession. An extra time restart erased it.
But that does not imply that he has solely criticism to supply about his run this yr to this point.
The silver lining for Denny Hamlin
The restart subject apart, Hamlin is as assured about his general trajectory as he has been in years.
“If we go back to kind of like the last six or seven races of last year. Now, to the first 12 or so this year. It’s, like, competitively my best 20-race stretch in my history of racing.
advertisement
“…Getting higher within the quick run, persevering with to get higher on the highway programs. I felt like I’ve had a stable COTA and a stable Watkins Glen. You know, we’re placing all of it collectively proper now, and positively we’re blissful about the place issues are at,” Hamlin said.
The fact that Hamlin still remains confident must be welcome news among his fans. It was not long ago that they were afraid he’d drop out of the sport. After his loss to Kyle Larson in 2025, Hamlin was heartbroken and doubtful about his NASCAR career.
The situation only worsened as he lost his father before the end of the year. Even though he returned to the Cup Series, Hamlin warned that he would need a considerable amount of time to get back up to his dominant pace from 2025. Fortunately for Hamlin and his fans, he is faring far better than he did last year at this point.
Denny Hamlin has 438 points after 12 races this season, whereas he only had 346 points at this time last year. The significance of his regular-season points matters more this year because of the new Chase format. And the way things stand currently, Hamlin will have a competitive advantage over other contenders if he stays in P2 or wins the Regular Season title.
advertisement
Trending Articles
The put up Denny Hamlin Persistent Over Achilles’ Heel Fix Despite Dover Surge Fueling NASCAR Momentum Push appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
