Time is slipping away for Denny Hamlin. With an expiring contract at the end of the 2027 season, this campaign stands as likely one of only two remaining opportunities for him to claim the Bill France Cup.
Sunday’s 500-lap Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway demands a massive performance. Hamlin enters the race sitting second in the standings of The Chase presented by Mobil 1, sitting 73 points behind series leader Kyle Larson. He began The Chase as the No. 1 seed boasting a 25-point advantage over No. 2 seed Ryan Blaney and a 55-point cushion over No. 7 seed Kyle Larson, but that control has evaporated.
I think it’s the first weekend where there’s truthfully little pressure because I think the expectations are just so low,
Reflecting on the unpredictable nature of clutch moments, Hamlin pointed to past extremes. “I think that we’ve performed great in certain aspects, and I think that there’s been other times where we’ve kind of stubbed our toe when it was a big moment,” Hamlin said Saturday in a press conference. He recalled 2010 as a stark example where patience could have changed the outcome, noting that drivers rarely recognize a defining moment until it has already passed.
His long-time friend, business partner, and 23XI Racing co-owner Michael Jordan knows plenty about clutch performances from his six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Despite sharing an immense competitive drive, Hamlin does not fear disappointing Jordan if the championship pursuit falls short. “No, I don’t think so because I think he knows me well enough off the race track, and he knows my competitive spirit (and) knows that I never go through a period of not putting in the work or not having the drive,” Hamlin said.
Evaluating how a stellar regular season featuring four wins and a series-high point total gave way to a turbulent Chase, Hamlin admitted the blame is shared. He pointed to mistakes at Las Vegas, contact from Michael McDowell at Darlington, and a costly flat tire at Phoenix. At the same time, he refused to take anything away from the competition. “So I think they certainly deserve all the credit and all the accolades that they’re likely going to have in the next few weeks,” Hamlin said of the 5 team.
Hope remains at Martinsville, where Hamlin stands as the winningest active driver with six victories. He nearly secured a perfect 76-point haul at the track during the spring before finishing behind Chase Elliott. With a massive deficit to overcome, Hamlin oddly finds himself facing a unique mental landscape this weekend.
“I think it’s the first weekend where there’s truthfully little pressure because I think the expectations are just so low,” Hamlin said. With little difference between finishing second or fifth in points at this stage of his career, the No. 11 team approaches the weekend with a low-pressure, high-opportunity mindset.
Nascar Cup Series
