Denny Hamlin’s pursuit of a NASCAR Cup Series Championship has been a story of remarkable talent, heartbreaking near-misses, and almost moments that keep fans hopeful for that one defining victory. In the most recent race, with only two laps to go, Hamlin seemed poised to secure a coveted Top 4 position. Yet, in a blink, his momentum stalled, dropping him to a third-place finish and pushing him further from his championship goal. Now 18 points below the playoff cutline, Hamlin’s path to the Top 4 is narrow. His last hope lies in either clinching a win at Martinsville or outpacing Kyle Larson, who holds an 11-point edge. Hamlin’s chance appeared solid, but Ryan Blaney’s late surge in Turns 3 and 4 snatched away the lead and Hamlin’s control, leaving his playoff future in jeopardy.
After a strong restart with seven laps to go, Hamlin seemed ready to defend his position. However, he faced immediate competition as he restarted just outside the second row and maneuvered around Blaney and Tyler Reddick. Despite exiting the pits in second place, he watched as Reddick stayed on track and took over the lead—a move that ultimately handed Reddick the victory. Speaking post-race, Hamlin expressed his frustration: “I thought I’d be strong enough to hold them off, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t do it.” For Hamlin’s fans, the race was another close call in a string of missed opportunities, with his last win dating back to April’s Wurth 400 at Dover.
Throughout the season, crew chief Chris Gabehart has worked relentlessly to keep Hamlin’s championship hopes alive. At Homestead, Gabehart took a calculated risk by running Hamlin long on fuel during green flag stops, securing him a place in the Top 10. Gabehart’s strategic use of fresh tires enabled Hamlin to close the gap on the leaders in the long run. In Stage 2, Hamlin demonstrated his prowess by overtaking his competitors to win the stage. The team’s strategy continued into Stage 3, delaying Hamlin’s pit stop until only 39 laps remained.
Yet, with 25 laps to go, Hamlin found himself 18 seconds behind. Despite this setback, he managed to climb to sixth with 22 laps remaining, then pushed to fourth with 17 laps left, and finally reached third as the pit cycles played out. A late caution with 13 laps to go gave Hamlin a final boost as he exited the pit road in second place. But with Reddick on a similar strategy, Hamlin couldn’t break through, and Reddick’s pace secured his victory.
Hamlin’s third-place finish at Homestead brings him to a critical crossroads. Only a strong finish or a win at Martinsville will keep his championship hopes alive. It’s now or never for Hamlin, as he faces a defining moment in his journey to secure that elusive Cup Series title.
