Denny Hamlin scores major points in Nashville race, earning a third-place finish at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday in his 700th NASCAR Cup Series start, a result that left him feeling satisfied despite missing out on the top spot. Hamlin, representing Joe Gibbs Racing, showed consistency throughout the event and emphasized his happiness with the points he gained for the championship chase.
Hamlin’s Consistent Performance Nets Valuable Points
At 44 years old, Denny Hamlin began the Nashville race in the second position, right behind his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe. Piloting the #11 Toyota, Hamlin demonstrated his competitiveness by taking the stage one victory, finishing stage two in third, and ultimately securing third place at the checkered flag. Race winner Ryan Blaney crossed ahead, closely followed by Carson Hocevar, while Hamlin kept himself among the frontrunners through each segment of the event.
Throughout the intense 300-lap contest, Hamlin collected a substantial 53 points, bolstered by an additional point for earning the Xfinity Fastest Lap. This made his effort the second-highest points haul of the day, trailing only Blaney’s 54-point achievement. Hamlin was candid about his reaction after the race, sharing his feelings in an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
“I was happy with it… scored a lot of points,”
Hamlin stated. —Hamlin, Driver
Reflections on the Competition and Near Misses
During the post-race discussion, Hamlin acknowledged the skill and superior setup of the #12 Team Penske Ford driven by Ryan Blaney, admitting the challenge he faced keeping up as the laps wore on. Hamlin conveyed a level of acceptance regarding the result, referencing a recent conversation about the frustrations of coming up short with a strong car.
“Got beat by a better driver, better car today. I’m not as upset as I talked about earlier in the week. The frustrations when you have a good car and you don’t finish the deal. We just weren’t the best,”
he added. —Hamlin, Driver
“Just never quite got it. They dialed their stuff in as the day went on. We just didn’t get much better.”
—Hamlin, Driver
The Virginia native explained the pivotal moments over the long green-flag runs. PRN shared Hamlin’s reaction after the race, highlighting his assessment of Blaney’s strong performance.
“Just needed to be a little faster. The 12 had exceptional long-run speed, just couldn’t hang with him after about 40 laps on tires. They just had a lot of speed, we were kind of next in line,”
PRN quoting Hamlin. —Hamlin, Driver, via PRN
Building Momentum After Recent Setbacks
This solid third-place showing comes at an opportune time for Hamlin, following a late pit road miscue at Charlotte Motor Speedway that eliminated his chances for victory last week. Previously, he had secured a second-place result at Bristol Motor Speedway, ensuring a steady return to the top 10 after that setback.
Hamlin’s performance this season has included two wins, at Martinsville Speedway and Darlington Raceway, plus six top-fives and seven top-10 finishes. His consistency has kept him in contention among his NASCAR Cup Series peers such as Bubba Wallace, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Carson Hocevar, all of whom were among the top finishers in Nashville.
Looking Ahead to Michigan and Beyond
The 2025 Cracker Barrel 400 marked Ryan Blaney’s first win of the year, but Hamlin’s points gain positions him strongly for the upcoming events. Next on the schedule is the Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, a 200-lap challenge before the series heads to Mexico City for a historic inaugural event at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
As Hamlin maintains his championship focus, fans and competitors alike will be watching his pursuit of further victories and top finishes, especially as the NASCAR Cup Series moves into pivotal summer races and new territory on the international stage.
