Breaking news
NASCAR Cup Texas II
Once a title favorite, Hamlin's championship hopes in doubt
Once considered a championship favorite, Denny Hamlin will now have to rally just to make the title race at Homestead.
Jim Utter
Edited: Nov 4, 2019, 5:37 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
When Denny Hamlin won at Kansas Speedway two weeks ago, it appeared to help set up what could be the biggest season of his NASCAR Cup Series career.
The semifinal round of the playoffs featured its first two races at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (one of the best tracks in his career) and Texas Motor Speedway, where he won this spring.
He won the pole at Martinsville but ended up fourth. But he entered Texas with five wins this season and was ranked second in points. He still appeared in good position to make the final four and the chance for his first series championship.
But on Sunday at Texas, disaster struck.
Hamlin spun off Turn 4 on Lap 80 of 334 and slid into the infield grass to bring out a caution near the conclusion of Stage 1. His No. 11 Toyota suffered a significant amount of damage from the incident.
“Just got up in that stuff (traction compound) before it was really broke in. Just lost control. That’s all there is to it,” Hamlin said of the incident. Proud of the whole team for putting their best effort forward so we could be there at the end.
“Did the best we could and we’ll go to Phoenix and try to win.”
Hamlin ended up finishing 28th Sunday and six laps down. He was actually in worse condition right after the incident but made up a handful of positions on the track through attrition and pit stops by remaining in the race to the end.
But entering next weekend’s semifinal race at ISM Raceway near Phoenix, Hamlin has dropped from second to sixth in the standings among the eight playoff drivers.
Two are locked into the final four – Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick – with wins – and two slots remain open and will be filled by the outcome of next Sunday’s race.
Hamlin will enter the race 20 points behind Joey Logano, who currently occupies the fourth position. Of course a victory at Phoenix would lock Hamlin in the final – his preferred option.
In 28 career starts at the track, Hamlin has one win (2012) and 12 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes.
“The car and the effort will be there, that’s for sure. There’s no doubt in my mind that we can go there and win,” Hamlin said. “In these circumstances, I like the challenge.
“We’re going to go out there and give it our best shot and put our best foot forward and see if we can’t get a win next week.”
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Harvick makes final four with third straight Texas playoff win
Next article Kyle Busch: Logano is "who we’re racing" at Phoenix
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jim Utter
Erik Jones agrees to multi-year contract extension with Legacy Motor Club
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Erik Jones agrees to multi-year contract extension with Legacy Motor Club
Goodyear's option tires at Richmond "were like Mario Kart with a star"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Goodyear's option tires at Richmond "were like Mario Kart with a star"
NASCAR: Austin Dillon move was "really close to crossing the line"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
NASCAR: Austin Dillon move was "really close to crossing the line"
More from
Denny Hamlin
Winners and losers from NASCAR Cup at Charlotte after dramatic finish
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
Winners and losers from NASCAR Cup at Charlotte after dramatic finish
Denny Hamlin loses more ground to Kyle Larson: "We've got to execute better"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
Denny Hamlin loses more ground to Kyle Larson: "We've got to execute better"
Denny Hamlin had 'no idea' he helped Kyle Larson get back on the lead lap by pitting
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Las Vegas II
Denny Hamlin had 'no idea' he helped Kyle Larson get back on the lead lap by pitting
More from
Joe Gibbs Racing
Spire, Chris Gabehart reject Joe Gibbs Racing premise on deleted texts
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
Spire, Chris Gabehart reject Joe Gibbs Racing premise on deleted texts
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
Christopher Bell reacts to photo finish: “We’re not teammates running to the line"
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
Christopher Bell reacts to photo finish: “We’re not teammates running to the line"
Latest news
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
36 min
Phillip Island to remain in use despite MotoGP and WorldSBK departures
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
3 h
WEC: Barcelona 6 Hours schedule and TV times
Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
4 h
Brennan Poole joins Jordan Anderson Racing for 2027 NASCAR O'Reilly season
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe