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Strategic Triumph: Denny Hamlin Credits Crew Chief for Fifth-Place Finish Amid Ryan Blaney’s Ongoing Struggles

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 25, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Strategic Triumph: Denny Hamlin Credits Crew Chief for Fifth-Place Finish Amid Ryan Blaney’s Ongoing Struggles

Mar 23, 2025; Homestead, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) races during the Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

A rollercoaster of emotions swept over veteran racer Denny Hamlin as the checkered flag signaled the end of the race at the 2025 Straight Talk Wireless 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Despite starting from a challenging 23rd position, Hamlin, the seasoned Joe Gibbs Racing driver, managed a commendable fifth place finish. However, the 44-year-old couldn’t help but see it as a squandered chance to snap his elusive winless streak, especially after leading for a significant 15 laps on the formidable 1.5-mile track.

The No. 11 Toyota, despite its reduced speed, impressively weathered the testing circumstances to climb up the ranks. Hamlin generously acknowledged the strategic prowess of his new crew chief, Chris Gayle, for outmaneuvering the competition, particularly the troubled Ryan Blaney, who faced yet another day of struggle on the track.

Hamlin’s tactical acumen was on full display as he navigated the limitations of his No. 11 Toyota to make significant gains on the track. Even though he was not in the top ten after 80 laps, the Florida-born veteran managed to overtake Alex Bowman on Lap 104, quickly securing second place. His experience proved invaluable in these grueling circumstances, culminating in a nail-biting Stage 2 finish. He skillfully leveraged the lap traffic that hampered Ryan Blaney, seizing the stage win.

Reflecting on his race strategy during the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin shared, “There was a 6-7 lap window where a caution would be great for us and there’s like a 35 lap window where a caution would be really bad. So we played the riskier strategy…”. Hamlin further highlighted the importance of faith in his crew chief’s decisions based on their broader perspective and access to data and information.

In a game-changing move, Hamlin decided to pit while leading the race on Lap 125. Following suit, Kyle Larson pitted two laps later, momentarily handing the lead to Josh Berry. However, when Berry also pitted on Lap 128, Blaney regained the lead. It seemed like Blaney was on track for a stage win, but Hamlin’s risky strategy paid off. By Lap 158, Hamlin climbed to third, with Larson hot on his heels in fourth place. Meanwhile, Blaney’s decision to pit on Lap 119 left him grappling with a slew of lapped cars. This enabled Hamlin and Larson to overtake him, finishing 1-2 for Stage 2, with Blaney settling for third. This marked Hamlin’s first stage win since Homestead 2024.

Blaney’s race-to-forget began promisingly, with the Team Penske driver qualifying in sixth place at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He hit the ground running and quickly overtook Alex Bowman to vie for the top spot. His determination paid off when he triumphed in the opening stage. Despite an impressive performance in Stage 2, Blaney’s fortunes took a turn for the worse on Lap 207 when his engine failed with only 60 laps left. This resulted in his third consecutive DNF – a first in his career.

Ryan Blaney’s misfortune proved to be Hamlin’s advantage on a day that saw Hamlin end in fifth place, despite a lackluster qualifying. Meanwhile, Team Penske – the dominant force of the Next-Gen era with three consecutive championships – will be returning to the drawing board to identify the root cause of their recent string of DNFs. While they’re not quite in panic mode, the alarm bells are starting to ring for Roger Penske’s team. They’ll be eager to reverse their fortunes quickly and return to their victorious form.

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