Denny Hamlin’s rough stretch in the NASCAR playoffs continued as the Joe Gibbs Racing driver struggled to make an impact at the Go Bowling at The Glen race on Sunday. Hamlin’s day took a turn for the worse early on, as he got caught in a crash on the first lap at Watkins Glen International Speedway, setting the tone for a tough outing.
After a lackluster qualifying session that saw him start in 22nd place, Hamlin’s weekend spiraled when he got involved in a multi-car wreck right at the start of the race. The incident occurred around the bus stop section of the track, involving several drivers, including Corey LaJoie, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Hamlin. The wreck caused heavy damage to multiple cars, and while some were able to keep racing, Blaney and Stenhouse Jr. were forced to retire immediately.
Hamlin’s #11 Toyota also took significant damage, particularly to the right front tire cover. Although he was able to keep going, his performance was far from competitive. Hamlin limped to a 23rd-place finish, just behind Ty Gibbs and ahead of Harrison Burton.
This disappointing result left Hamlin six points below the playoff cut-line, adding even more pressure to an already tense situation. Reflecting on his performance and recent struggles, the 43-year-old acknowledged in a post-race interview that his qualifying missteps played a role in his tough race day.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s just a couple of races where things weren’t in my control and didn’t go well,” Hamlin admitted. “On the first lap, I’ve got to take responsibility for what I did on Saturday, which is the qualifying. That’s on me. It put us in the middle of where wrecks usually happen, and we got caught in it.”
Hamlin’s frustration comes in the wake of an unexpected victory by Chris Buescher at Watkins Glen. Buescher managed to hold off Shane van Gisbergen and Carson Hocevar to take the win, marking the RFK Racing driver’s first victory of the season.
As Hamlin looks ahead, he’s clearly not satisfied with how things have been going in the playoffs so far. Despite being a strong contender during the regular season, where he finished fourth with 858 points and secured three victories, his form has dipped at a crucial moment. The playoffs are proving to be a challenge, and Hamlin now finds himself in a precarious position, dangerously close to the cutoff.
Before the Go Bowling at The Glen race, Hamlin had already spoken about his frustration with his recent run of form. In a media interaction with Fox Sports, he opened up about how disappointing the last few races have been.
“I mean, certainly I don’t love where I’m at—that’s a given,” Hamlin said. “But I still think if I just do the best I can tomorrow, and do the best I can at Bristol, it’ll still work itself out. But if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. My number one goal is getting to a win, and I’ve got plenty of races to do that.”
Despite the setbacks, Hamlin remains determined to turn things around. He emphasized his focus on securing at least two wins during the playoffs, hoping they’ll count toward something meaningful in the long run. While the playoff pressure mounts, Hamlin’s confidence in his ability to bounce back remains strong.
Hamlin’s regular season was largely positive, with three victories under his belt. However, a points penalty due to a technical issue with his Toyota Camry at Bristol set him back. Now, as the playoffs continue, every point matters, and Hamlin will need to put together strong performances to climb back above the cut-line and keep his championship hopes alive.
Looking ahead, Hamlin knows that the margin for error is slim. With the final races of the season fast approaching, he’s determined to break out of his slump and make a push for the championship. But for now, Hamlin is grappling with a challenging stretch, and the pressure is only getting more intense. He has the talent and experience to pull through, but it’s clear that nothing will come easy in this fiercely competitive playoff race.
Denny Hamlin faces mounting playoff pressure after a rough outing at Watkins Glen, info says……
