HAMLIN’S LEGACY: GREATNESS WITHOUT A TITLE?
Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR Cup Series career has been defined by a rare mix of consistent excellence and heart-wrenching near misses. With 50+ wins, a Daytona 500 hat trick, and countless other accolades, Hamlin is a surefire Hall of Famer. Yet, despite all his achievements, there remains one glaring omission on his resume: a Cup Series championship. For critics and trolls, it’s the go-to jab, but for Hamlin, the reasons for his championship “curse” are far more complex.
Hamlin has never been shy about his frustrations. Reflecting on his career, he admits that the lack of a championship is something he’s had to reconcile with, calling himself “cursed” at times. And looking back, it’s easy to see why. Time and again, Hamlin has been on the cusp of claiming the sport’s most coveted title, only to be undone by bad luck, strategy missteps, or sheer misfortune.
“SNAKEBITTEN SEASONS: SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR”
In 2010, Hamlin was on the verge of breaking through. Leading the standings heading into the final two races, his team made a fateful decision to pit for fuel in Phoenix, handing Jimmie Johnson the advantage. A week later, at the season finale, Hamlin’s championship hopes unraveled when a spin and damaged car kept him out of contention. Johnson went on to win his fifth consecutive title.
Hamlin’s run-ins with disaster didn’t end there. In 2014, under the newly implemented elimination format, he finished third in the standings. A year later, in 2015, a freak incident at Talladega—when his roof hatch came loose—forced an untimely pit stop, ending his title bid.
One of the most infamous moments in Hamlin’s title pursuits came in 2019. Entering the final race at Homestead-Miami, he was a genuine threat to win it all. But during a pit stop, a piece of tape meant to boost speed instead caused his car to overheat, forcing another pit stop and ruining his chances.
Then there’s the Hail Melon moment of 2022. In an all-or-nothing move, Ross Chastain performed a video-game-like wall ride at Martinsville, passing enough cars to knock Hamlin out of the playoffs. It was a gut-wrenching moment that became an instant viral sensation, but for Hamlin, it was just another bitter twist of fate.
Even in 2023, when Hamlin once again reached the Round of 8, a power steering failure at Homestead-Miami derailed his championship hopes. That year, he finished fifth in the final standings—yet another close call in a career full of them.
“THE 2024 PLAYOFFS: CAN HAMLIN BREAK THE CURSE?”
Hamlin’s 2024 playoff run has been as unpredictable as ever. A series of ups and downs have kept fans on the edge of their seats, from an ill-handling car in the opener at Atlanta to a first-lap crash at Watkins Glen, and pit crew struggles at Kansas. But through it all, Hamlin has survived—and he’s still alive in the playoff hunt.
His most recent race at Talladega nearly turned disastrous after a two-tire call put him at the back of the field, but a stroke of luck saw him avoid a massive 27-car wreck and gain valuable points.
With confidence in his current form and the upcoming tracks favoring his strengths, Hamlin believes the championship dream is still alive. “Over time, I’ve made peace with doing the best that I can,” Hamlin said. “I’ve had so many setbacks that, eventually, you just toughen up. You don’t feel the pain anymore.”
“WALKING ON BURNING COALS”
Hamlin likens his career to walking on burning coals—painful at first, but over time, you become numb to the scars. “There are just too many crazy things to explain,” he said about his elusive title. Whether it’s bad luck, untimely mistakes, or otherworldly events like the Hail Melon, Hamlin has faced it all.
But despite all the setbacks, Hamlin’s resolve remains unshaken. He is still in the fight, still chasing the one thing that has evaded him for nearly two decades: a NASCAR Cup Series championship.
With the Round of 8 underway, Hamlin will look to capitalize on the remaining races and break the so-called “curse.” Will 2024 be the year Hamlin finally conquers his demons and earns his long-awaited title, or will the heartbreak continue? Time will tell, but if anyone can rebound from adversity, it’s Denny Hamlin.
