DARLINGTON, S.C. — Lower than 10 days in the past, one might need questioned if Denny Hamlin would ever make it to his objective of 60 NASCAR Cup Series wins.
Now the query could possibly be whether or not Hamlin might get to 60 wins earlier than the 2025 playoffs even start.
When requested after his victory Sunday evening at Darlington Raceway, Hamlin mentioned:
“In truth it is actually 61,” Hamlin mentioned after his 56th profession Cup win. That’s basic Hamlin, shifting the goalposts a little bit to maintain him chasing the objective.
Sixty would tie him for tenth all-time in victories with FOX analyst Kevin Harvick; 61 would give him sole possession of the tenth spot. However after back-to-back wins at Martinsville and Darlington, simply what number of might the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran rack up this 12 months?
This weekend, the collection heads to Bristol Motor Speedway. Hamlin obtained into victory lane there a 12 months in the past, a race that was a part of his successful three of the primary 11 races of the 2024 season earlier than occurring a winless drought the remainder of the 12 months.
Hamlin has gained at two of his traditionally finest tracks, as he now has 5 at Martinsville and 5 at Darlington. Within the subsequent month, the collection heads to Bristol and Kansas, the place he has 4 profession wins. At Pocono he has seven and at Richmond, he has 5.
“I need to get it as quickly as attainable since you by no means know when you do not race anymore,” mentioned Hamlin, who is anticipated to race for at the least a pair extra years. “These wins early within the season definitely are useful to getting some stress off for playoff factors and positively makes me really feel good to maintain piling on these wins.”
Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and extra post-race interviews from Darlington
The playoff factors are factors drivers earn throughout the 12 months for race wins, stage wins and regular-season factors end that may probably assist them advance within the playoffs. The extra playoff factors he has, the higher probability Hamlin can have of creating it to the championship last spherical and probably capturing that first elusive championship.
The 44-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver earned his newest two wins in polar reverse vogue. He dominated the race at Martinsville. However at Darlington, he wanted a late-race warning and a quick pit cease to place him within the lead for an extra time end at Darlington.
These breaks he obtained Sunday at Darlington had been ones he had not gotten throughout the 31-race winless streak.
However extra importantly, Hamlin now has two wins with new crew chief Chris Gayle. And Gayle is who changed Chris Gabehart, the crew chief Hamlin thought he would have till the top of his profession. Gabehart, as a substitute, took a crew competitors director function after final season.
Gayle had been crew chief for Ty Gibbs. He mentioned he doesn’t fear about getting Hamlin to 60 victories. It was the fifty fifth he was involved about.
“I am coming in filling huge footwear for Gabehart,” Gayle mentioned. “He is been with Denny that lengthy. I am the one change. I am not naive sufficient to know that. I wanted to win and win early.
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“Final week [at Martinsville] was nice. We had been in a position to win with a special setup, with one thing we labored on, got here up with and have automobile pace, to get that out of the way in which. This one, I used to be stunned. We clearly simply had the precise situation. You are taking these.”
Motorsports is all about catching and profiting from the breaks.
“You are taking all those that you could steal by some means, then if you happen to get all those that you are the strongest automobile, you will be in good condition,” Gayle mentioned.
And Hamlin is in good condition. He’s including trophies and can also be juicing up the drama for followers, taking part in the function of the heel within the sport. Boos reigned on him throughout driver introductions and as he obtained out of his automobile to rejoice the win.
“I really like the followers,” Hamlin mentioned. “They do not actually love me that a lot. Nonetheless, I feel it is simply my character. I perceive that. I convey it upon myself most occasions. However I like it. I really like the response that I get out of individuals.”
And he additionally loves that he is one step nearer to 60. Or 61.
“It nonetheless feels good from my standpoint that I can, at 44, exit right here and win back-to-back races, be in competition week in, week out and nonetheless be on the high of my sport,” Hamlin mentioned. “Nothing’s dropped off.”
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years overlaying motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seaside) Information-Journal. Comply with him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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