Denny Hamlin is building something different in 2025. With four wins heading into late July, he is not just racking up trophies—he’s leading the charge in one of NASCAR’s most intense seasons in recent memory. From rain-delayed finishes at Dover to a return to form at Martinsville, Hamlin is stacking momentum while rivals like Larson and van Gisbergen try to keep pace. But for the 44-year-old veteran, the wins are only part of the story. The mission is clear. And this time, the path to Phoenix feels different.
Key Highlights
Denny Hamlin leads all drivers in 2025 with four Cup Series wins through late July.
Back-to-back wins at Dover featured high-pressure overtime and defensive brilliance.
Victories have come on short tracks, intermediates, and high-speed ovals.
Despite off-track drama, Hamlin’s focus and execution have remained razor-sharp.
Hamlin is chasing his first Cup title and now sits at 58 career wins.
Back-to-Back at Dover and the Art of Race Management
Denny Hamlin’s latest victory at Dover showcased everything that’s made his 2025 season special: smart race strategy, clutch execution, and unshakable mental focus. In the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, Hamlin managed tire wear, weather delays, and repeated overtime threats to win one of the year’s most chaotic races.
With just 14 laps to go, a rainstorm paused the action for nearly an hour. Once racing resumed, the drama didn’t fade. Teammate Christopher Bell, who had fresher tires, spun out trying to take the lead. Then came Chase Briscoe, also on new tires, but he couldn’t find a way around Hamlin either. Under immense pressure, Hamlin’s clean restarts and tactical blocking carried the No. 11 Toyota to victory.
“It was tough, those guys gave me a run for it, no doubt about it. Winning here at Dover is super special to me. This is a place I had not been very good at the first half of my career, and then to have back-to-back (wins) here the last two years is amazing.” – Denny Hamlin
That win followed earlier 2025 victories at Martinsville, Darlington, and Michigan—each race testing different skills, each one adding to his growing lead in the standings.
Consistency Across the Schedule
Hamlin’s wins haven’t been limited to one type of circuit. Instead, his four victories span the variety of tracks that make the NASCAR schedule so challenging:
- Martinsville Speedway – A tight, flat short track where Hamlin ended a 10-year winless drought by outdriving rivals with surgical efficiency.
- Darlington Raceway – Known for shredding tires and testing patience, Hamlin timed his final run perfectly to steal victory on one of NASCAR’s most technical ovals.
- Michigan International Speedway – At this two-mile speedway, pit strategy and clean air dictate success. Hamlin’s team nailed both.
- Dover Motor Speedway – A concrete monster that demands focus. Hamlin’s second straight Dover win required calm under chaos and a flawless finish.
Few drivers in any season manage to win across such a diverse track set. Hamlin has done it in less than five months, signaling championship-level performance in every phase of competition.
Battling the Best: How Hamlin Compares to Larson, Van Gisbergen, and Bell
The fight for supremacy in 2025 is fierce, but Hamlin has emerged as the most complete driver so far. While others shine in specific areas, Hamlin’s edge lies in doing everything well—and doing it under pressure.
Kyle Larson – With three wins and raw speed nearly every week, Larson remains a threat. But while Larson dazzles with pace, Hamlin has often outperformed him in late-race scenarios.
Shane van Gisbergen – The street course expert has turned heads with multiple wins, a first for a foreign-born driver in years. Still, his road course dominance hasn’t translated to ovals like Hamlin’s all-around strength has.
Christopher Bell – Intra-team rivalry has brought the best out of both drivers. Bell has equaled Hamlin in qualifying speed and race-day pace but lacks the win total after his late spin at Dover.
Hamlin’s edge comes from his adaptability and decision-making. Whether it’s pit calls, choosing lines in overtime, or navigating red-flag delays, he has been NASCAR’s steadiest hand through July.
Veteran Resilience Amidst Off-Track Challenges
This run of success hasn’t come in a vacuum. Just before his Dover win, Hamlin faced significant off-track stress tied to legal developments around his 23XI Racing team. A charter lawsuit with NASCAR created uncertainty around the team’s future, even as Hamlin focused on his personal racing goals.
Dover’s CEO pic.twitter.com/IsL2dlZlRL
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) July 21, 2025
Rather than letting the legal issues distract him, Hamlin used his experience and support system—including a crew with deep playoff experience—to stay locked in. He also found inspiration in the birth of his son Jameson, a personal milestone that fueled his emotional resilience through a high-pressure summer stretch.
These challenges have only highlighted how much more focused Hamlin has become in pursuit of the only goal that has long eluded him: a NASCAR Cup Series championship.
News in Brief: Denny Hamlin NASCAR Title Hopes
Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series with four wins in 2025, including Martinsville, Darlington, Michigan, and Dover. His back-to-back Dover wins featured multiple overtime restarts and strategic brilliance. Despite legal troubles surrounding 23XI Racing, Hamlin has stayed mentally sharp and emotionally grounded. With top rivals like Larson and van Gisbergen chasing close behind, Hamlin’s combination of form, versatility, and veteran experience has made him the top title contender.
