Denny Hamlin had a stroke of luck at the Bristol Night Race, finally putting an end to a stressful period in his racing season. Before the race, Hamlin found himself outside the playoff bubble, but after a solid performance, he secured a spot in the Round of 12, seeded sixth. This came as a huge relief for the driver of the #11 car, who had been feeling the pressure for weeks.
The stress had been so intense that Hamlin jokingly blamed his family dog, Lulu, for his streak of poor performances. In a lighthearted moment, he even joked about putting Lulu up for adoption, blaming her for his bad luck in the championship race. While the idea of a dog being unlucky might seem far-fetched to most, Hamlin’s frustrations were real, and his playful jab at Lulu became a running joke among his fans. One can only wonder if Hamlin considered letting his teammates, Martin Truex Jr. or Ty Gibbs, babysit Lulu during the Bristol race.
Lulu’s “bad luck” tag was lifted after Hamlin’s solid performance at the Bristol Night Race. The summer had been a rollercoaster for Hamlin, who after finishing second at Gateway, had shared the news of Lulu’s arrival with fans on his podcast “Actions Detrimental,” alongside his daughter Taylor. At the time, Hamlin didn’t seem too thrilled about having the new dog, humorously complaining that his daughters wouldn’t take care of her. Despite his initial reluctance, it’s clear from photos that Lulu is thriving, thanks to the family’s care. But right after Lulu joined the family, Hamlin’s luck on the track took a nosedive.
Just a week after bringing Lulu home, Hamlin’s car suffered a Did Not Finish (DNF) at Sonoma. This marked the second DNF of the season for Hamlin, following a strong series of three wins and four consecutive top-five finishes. From there, things only got worse, as Hamlin endured a lengthy streak of poor results. Over the next 17 weeks, Hamlin’s #11 car finished in the top five only twice, and the team had to retire early from two more races. To make matters worse, a 75-point penalty from NASCAR due to an engine issue further derailed his season. The penalty was related to a technical error with the race-winning engine in the Food City 500, which also meant Hamlin’s Bristol win was no longer counted towards playoff eligibility.
However, after securing top-10 finishes in both stages of the Bristol Night Race and finishing fourth under the lights, Hamlin felt that his unlucky streak had finally ended. Days after jokingly offering Lulu up for adoption on Twitter, Hamlin retracted his statement, posting, “She can stay for now.” It seemed like the pressure had lifted, and Lulu was no longer in the doghouse.
Lulu, in fact, became an overnight internet sensation. Her supposed link to Hamlin’s championship struggles caught the attention of many fans and even some big brands. PetSmart, a major pet care retail chain, sent Lulu a care package with a personalized note that read, “Dear Lulu, We’re sorry to hear your dog dad thinks you’re bad luck. These green goodies will keep your tail wagging all the way to Championship weekend. We’re #A11IN on turning your dad’s luck around.” It was a heartfelt gesture that brought smiles to Hamlin’s fans, many of whom were hoping to see him finally lift the championship trophy before he retires.
With his performance at Bristol, Hamlin edged closer to that goal, leaving teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs behind the playoff cutline. Truex, a former champion set to retire next year, and Gibbs, a young driver with plenty of time to make his mark, couldn’t match Hamlin’s success that night. It seemed that Hamlin’s luck had turned, while his teammates and a few other drivers, like Brad Keselowski and Harrison Burton, were left out of the championship chase.
Amid the celebrations, Hamlin’s crew chief, Chris Gabehart, had previously suggested keeping Lulu away for a week, implying she might be part of the bad luck. But where exactly was Lulu during the Bristol race? Was she with Truex, who had a strong run before getting hit with a costly speeding penalty in Stage 3? Or maybe with Gibbs, who also suffered a penalty that knocked him out of contention with 116 laps to go? Regardless, both Truex and Gibbs faced disappointment under the lights, while Hamlin broke free from his slump.
As for Lulu, her place in the Hamlin household seems secure again. Fans were quick to dismiss Hamlin’s playful accusations of bad luck, flooding social media with messages like “She’s your good luck charm” and “Sorry bud, she adopted you!” Some fans even jokingly speculated that Hamlin might have handed Lulu over to fellow driver Tyler Reddick, whose day also ended poorly with a 20th-place finish.
In the end, Denny Hamlin delivered when it mattered most, putting his championship hopes back on track. Fans in the grandstands couldn’t be happier, and it seems Lulu might just be Hamlin’s lucky charm after all.
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