Denny Hamlin has been a fixture in NASCAR’s playoffs since 2014, and over the course of his nearly two-decade-long career, he’s reached the championship round four times. Despite his many accomplishments, Hamlin is still chasing his first championship, with his closest shot being in 2010 when he finished second to the legendary Jimmie Johnson. Now at 43 years old, Hamlin remains determined to finally capture that elusive title.
This season could be his breakthrough. Despite a shaky start in the playoffs with underwhelming finishes in the first two races, Hamlin managed to keep his championship hopes alive with a top-5 finish at Bristol. The upcoming round presents similar challenges, but Hamlin is looking forward to racing at Kansas Speedway, a track where he has historically dominated.
Hamlin’s Kansas Dominance
Hamlin has a strong history at Kansas Speedway, having won four races on the 1.5-mile oval. His first victory came in 2012, a race packed with NASCAR greats like Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart. Hamlin’s next two wins at Kansas came back-to-back in 2019 and 2020, with his most recent triumph occurring in the spring of 2023 after a thrilling last-lap pass against Kyle Larson.
But it’s not just the wins that make Hamlin a force to be reckoned with at Kansas. Out of 33 races at the track, he’s finished in the top five 14 times and in the top ten 15 times. As he prepares for this year’s race, Hamlin shared insights into what makes him so successful at Kansas. He explained that his ability to maintain competitive lap times across multiple racing lanes sets him apart. “Everyone can run fast by the wall,” Hamlin said, “but can you still be fast when you have to pass someone and go low?”
In the Next Gen car races at Kansas, Hamlin has consistently finished in the top five, with an impressive average finish of 2.8 over five races. His results speak for themselves: he’s finished second, first, second, fourth, and most recently, fifth in the spring race of 2024. His stellar record on this track proves that he can excel no matter the car or conditions.
Given his consistent performance, Hamlin even mused about how great it would be if Kansas hosted the championship finale. “From a competition standpoint, it puts on some of the best racing we have,” Hamlin said. While he acknowledges that many factors go into determining where the finale is held, there’s no denying his preference for Kansas.
Hamlin’s Strong Performances on Intermediate Tracks
Kansas isn’t the only intermediate track where Hamlin shines. This season, he’s posted impressive finishes across various similar tracks, such as a 7th-place finish at Darlington, 5th at Charlotte Motor Speedway, 4th at Darlington earlier in the year, and 8th at Las Vegas. Hamlin attributes his success to his team’s ability to adapt to this style of racing. “Our car’s versatility over the last few years has helped us excel,” he said, explaining how they’ve mastered the momentum-based racing that defines mile-and-a-half tracks.
The Challenges Ahead: Talladega and Charlotte ROVAL
While Kansas may be Hamlin’s stronghold, the other two tracks in this playoff round, Talladega and Charlotte ROVAL, present significant challenges. Hamlin has historically struggled at both superspeedways and road courses. He admits that Kansas will likely be his best shot to secure a spot in the next round of the playoffs, but qualifying only 8th adds some pressure.
NASCAR analysts have also raised concerns about Hamlin’s performance on these tracks. Eric Estepp, for instance, pointed out Hamlin’s poor results on drafting tracks and road courses this year. “Talladega could be trouble,” Estepp said, noting Hamlin’s average finish of 28.2 at drafting tracks. He also mentioned Hamlin’s struggles on road courses, where his average finish this season is 26th. Despite these challenges, Hamlin remains optimistic.
### A Mindset Shift for Round Two
Hamlin’s confidence heading into round two stems from the relief he felt after surviving the first round of the playoffs. He admits that advancing from round one took a weight off his shoulders. “There was definitely a sigh of relief,” Hamlin said. Now, with Kansas on the horizon, he feels more focused and ready to capitalize on the opportunity to secure a spot in the next round. “Let’s go from treading water a week ago to punching our ticket into the Round of 8,” he said.
Still, the path ahead won’t be easy. Despite his strong record at Kansas, Hamlin faces stiff competition, particularly from Kyle Larson, who won at Kansas before and won’t make it easy for Hamlin to take the win. As the battle heats up, fans can expect a thrilling race to the finish.
The question remains: can Hamlin finally turn his Kansas dominance into a stepping stone for his first championship? One thing is for sure—he’s ready to fight for it.
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