Denny Hamlin's Rollercoaster Ride at Phoenix: A Top-Five Finish but a Call for Improvement!
In a thrilling showdown at the Straight Talk Wireless 500 held at the Phoenix Raceway, Denny Hamlin secured his first top-five finish of the NASCAR Cup Series season. However, the veteran driver had some fiery sentiments post-race, emphasizing that while the performance was solid, it left much to be desired.
As the dust settled on a gripping race, it was Team Penske's Ryan Blaney who emerged victorious, followed closely by Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, and Chase Briscoe—marking a remarkable sweep for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in the top five. But for Hamlin, who finished within the top ranks, something felt amiss. After the race, he candidly remarked, “Yeah, it's just a fringe top three to four car all day. That's kind of all we had in the 20th and the 12th. We're obviously little standouts there. But yeah, a great, great job by our Bob's furniture Camry. Just need to be a little better.”
Reflecting on his previous performance at the same venue during the 2025 Championship race, where he secured a commendable second place after leading for a staggering 208 out of 319 laps, Hamlin's frustration was palpable. Entering Phoenix ranked 23rd in the standings, he admitted, “I'm still angry at the track a little bit. But the track doesn't have a soul, so it can't feel the things I feel.” With minimal races since his last championship appearance, he’s eager to rediscover the magic that once propelled him to the front.
Hamlin currently juggles dual roles in the NASCAR Cup Series: not only is he a fierce competitor with dreams of clinching his first championship, but he also co-owns the rising star team, 23XI Racing, alongside basketball legend Michael Jordan. This season, 23XI Racing tasted victory at the Daytona 500 thanks to Tyler Reddick, who went on to dominate the next two races, marking an unprecedented three-race winning streak—an achievement that will be etched in NASCAR history.
Hamlin lauded Reddick's extraordinary performance, particularly his ability to conquer both the iconic oval at Daytona and the challenging road course at COTA. “He's complete,” Hamlin stated, acknowledging Reddick’s prowess while also pinpointing short tracks as the one area needing refinement. “The one area that we continue to work on with him is the short tracks. I think that's where he can still improve a little bit, but we're working pretty hard on improving him at those types of tracks.”
As the NASCAR circuit heads next to the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 15, fans can expect a thrilling race. Tune in live on FS1 at 4 pm ET, and for those craving live radio updates, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio have you covered.
Denny Hamlin may have secured a top-five finish, but his drive for excellence is clear. The question remains—can he and his team find that missing edge in the upcoming races? Stay tuned!
