For nearly 20 years, Denny Hamlin has been in hot pursuit of a championship title that has persistently remained beyond his grasp. Despite his impressive record of over 50 victories, including three prestigious Daytona 500 titles, the ultimate championship glory has remained elusive. As the Next Gen era unfolds, the veteran driver seems to be struggling with the steep climb, further distancing him from his cherished dream.
Since 2022, Hamlin has found himself unable to reach the championship race in Phoenix. The path only seems to grow more challenging without his former chief, Chris Gabehart, who has transitioned into a new role at Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). In contrast, Christopher Bell has emerged as a formidable contender for NASCAR’s most significant prize. With a triple-win streak in 2025 and two championship race appearances in the Gen 7 era, Bell has become a favorite to win the Bill France trophy for JGR yet again. Hamlin’s acceptance of these shifting dynamics within the organization is apparent, especially considering his inability to keep pace with the JGR team’s top-performing driver.
Hamlin’s last win was at Dover in 2024, a victory that now seems a distant memory after 28 winless races, marking the 9th longest streak without a win in the Cup Series. Last Sunday, Hamlin was tantalizingly close to ending this winless streak at Phoenix Raceway, falling short by a mere 0.049 seconds. However, he was outshone by teammate Christopher Bell, who notched up a three-peat in the Next Gen era.
Instead of focusing on the recent race, Hamlin’s attention was drawn to the 29 races he had failed to win since his last victory. Once a leading figure at Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin now finds himself overshadowed by a rising star. Despite almost clinching a win at the Desert Mile, his thoughts were filled with the challenges of the previous year.
In an interview before the race in Vegas, Hamlin reflected on the team’s loss of speed at the end of the previous year and how it felt like an eternity as they returned to the racetracks to evaluate their current position. This sentiment gains weight when considering the ‘all-in’ approach adopted by Joe Gibbs Racing last year. The No. 11 team began on a high, with three wins in the first eleven races, and consistently remained in contention. Hamlin enjoyed a successful run after his Dover victory, with four consecutive top-five finishes. However, this momentum was lost following the Olympic break.
Compounding these struggles was the L2 engine penalty imposed by NASCAR for unauthorized use of the race-winning engine from Bristol. The penalty, resulting in a 75-point dock and 10 playoff points, severely affected Hamlin’s playoff run. The departure of FedEx and Chris Gabehart’s exit from the #11 team added to the disappointment of the 2024 campaign.
Meanwhile, Hamlin’s teammate Bell is on a record-setting path. If he secures four consecutive wins, he will be the first driver since Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to achieve this feat. Only eight drivers have managed four straight wins since 1972, and five of them went on to win the championship.
At 44, Hamlin is currently the oldest full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. Following two decades of championship elusion, questions are being raised about his ability to compete and succeed at the highest level of American stock car racing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR legend, has commented on Hamlin’s situation, stating that Hamlin understands the urgency of his situation given his age and career stage.
Hamlin’s struggle is not merely about winning or losing races – it’s about his legacy and future in the sport. Despite having amassed 58 career wins in the Cup Series, the absence of a championship title prevents him from being recognized as one of the greats. This narrative echoes the stories of Mark Martin and Carl Edwards, and it seems Hamlin may be headed down a similar path. With perhaps two racing years left, the question remains if Hamlin can secure the elusive championship that has so far evaded his storied NASCAR career.
Will Hamlin be able to outrun rising stars like Bell and Larson? Can he silence his critics once and for all? The answer to these questions lies in a NASCAR championship win – a triumph we hope is not too late for Hamlin.
