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Denny Hamlin’s Ultimate Goal: 60 Cup Series Wins Over a Championship?

Miguel Cunha by Miguel Cunha
February 17, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
Denny Hamlin’s Ultimate Goal: 60 Cup Series Wins Over a Championship?

Feb 13, 2025; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) races side by side with driver Austin Cindric (2) during Duel 2 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

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For most NASCAR drivers, a Cup Series Championship is the ultimate prize—the defining achievement of a legendary career. But Denny Hamlin? Not a chance.

When asked if he’d trade his three Daytona 500 wins for a Cup title, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver didn’t hesitate:

“Not a chance.”

Despite having 54 career Cup Series victories, more than any driver without a championship, Hamlin has come to terms with his career path. As he nears the twilight of his career, his real goal isn’t lifting the championship trophy—it’s cementing his legacy among NASCAR’s all-time greats with 60 career wins.

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Hamlin’s True Motivation: Chasing 60 Wins, Not a Cup Title

In a recent interview with Chris Myers, Hamlin was asked about his elusive championship. Surprisingly, he revealed that he doesn’t think about it much at all.

“Day to day, I don’t think about it. You know, when they talk about the greats of the sport, they’re gonna go down the list of race winners. I really wanna get to 60, put myself inside the top 10 race winners in the Cup Series all time. That to me is the driving factor. If you get to 60 and win a championship, I mean, icing on the cake.”

For Hamlin, winning six more races is the priority—not the elusive title that has slipped through his fingers multiple times.


Why 60 Wins Would Be Historic

If Hamlin reaches 60 career wins, he will enter an elite club of NASCAR legends.

Here’s a look at the top all-time Cup Series winners:

RankDriverWinsChampionships
1Richard Petty2007
2David Pearson1053
3Jeff Gordon934
4Bobby Allison841
5Darrell Waltrip843
6Jimmie Johnson837
7Cale Yarborough833
8Dale Earnhardt767
9Kyle Busch632
10Kevin Harvick601
—Denny Hamlin540

Every driver on that list has won a Cup Series championship—except Hamlin. If he joins the 60-win club, he’ll be the first driver in history to achieve that milestone without a title.

It would be a bittersweet moment, solidifying him as one of NASCAR’s greatest winners, but without the sport’s biggest prize.


Can Hamlin Hit 60 Wins in 2025?

Reaching 60 wins in 2025 would require a career-best season for Hamlin.

Here are his most dominant tracks, where he has the best shot at adding to his total:

  1. Darlington Raceway – 4 Wins (Southern 500 King)
  2. Pocono Raceway – 6 Wins (Master of the Tricky Triangle)
  3. Richmond Raceway – 5 Wins (Short-Track Success)
  4. Martinsville Speedway – 5 Wins (Virginia Dominance)
  5. Daytona International Speedway – 3 Wins (Including 3 Daytona 500 Victories)

Hamlin has always been a threat at these tracks, and with Toyota’s continued development, he could be on pace for another multi-win season.


Will Hamlin Ever Win a Championship?

At 43 years old, Hamlin still has a few strong seasons left to chase the title. But history hasn’t been kind to him.

  • 2024 marked the third straight year he failed to make the Championship 4.
  • He’s finished runner-up in the standings multiple times (2010, 2014, 2020).
  • Despite early-season dominance, he often fades late in the playoffs.

While winning a title would be the ultimate validation, Hamlin has made peace with his career path.

“If I get 60 wins and a championship? That’s icing on the cake.”

At this point, his focus is on history, not heartbreak.


Legacy Over Championships?

Denny Hamlin’s career is an anomaly—a driver with Hall of Fame numbers but no championship to show for it.

Instead of dwelling on missed opportunities, he’s rewriting the conversation.

If he hits 60 wins, he’ll be remembered not for what he didn’t do, but for what he did better than almost anyone else—win races.

So, the real question is:

Would you rather be a champion once or win 60 races?

For Hamlin, the answer is clear.

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