Denny Hamlin’s championship quest took a sudden hit over the last two weekends, as he suffered consecutive mechanical DNFs, an unprecedented setback in his NASCAR career since 2013. The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was taken out of contention first at Texas Motor Speedway when the engine failed and caught fire before the conclusion of Stage 1, and then again at Kansas Speedway, where a clutch issue ultimately ended his race despite valiant efforts from his crew to keep him running.
At Kansas, Denny Hamlin’s trouble became evident early on, requiring a push-start from his team each time he entered the pit lane. During a crucial round of pit stops prompted by Brad Keselowski’s race-ending crash, Hamlin’s car failed to move out of the pit box, coming to a halt in the middle of pit lane and forcing his crew to push the Toyota behind the wall. The timing was particularly devastating, as that pit stop was the last of the event, leaving Hamlin stranded after completing an impressive 199 of 267 laps. Running in third at the moment of failure, he ultimately finished 36th in a field of 38 cars after the transaxle gave out.
Reflecting on the frustration back in the garage, Denny Hamlin said,
“Yeah, I think eventually just broke the transaxle trying to leave the stall there. Unfortunate for the Progressive Toyota team. Really fast again – just can’t keep it together right now.”
His disappointment was clear, as the pain of two consecutive mechanical failures set in, especially since both occurred beyond his control.
While Denny Hamlin’s recent misfortune has interrupted a remarkable streak of 21 straight races where he finished on the lead lap, his two wins this season have provided reassurance, keeping his playoff prospects intact despite the back-to-back DNFs. Nevertheless, the situation raises uneasy questions about the resilience of his team and equipment, as both Texas and Kansas brought challenges he could not anticipate or avoid. As the playoffs approach, all eyes remain fixed on whether this talented driver can rebound and maintain his momentum in the coming races.
