Denny Hamlin’s playoff performance took a hit at the recent New Hampshire Motor Speedwayrace, where an on-track incident involving Cody Ware led to a frustrating result for Hamlin. Despite being the winningest driver so far this season, Hamlin’s quest for another strong playoff round stumbled due to factors beyond his control.
A Promising Start Unraveled by Unexpected Caution
The NASCAR Cup Series veteran started the New Hampshire event from ninth place, showing early promise as he worked through the field. While Hamlin was unable to collect stage points in the opening segment, he recovered in stage two with an eighth-place finish. As the race neared its conclusion, Hamlin set his sights on moving into the top five, demonstrating confidence and competitive pace with forty laps to go.
However, the rhythm of the race shifted abruptly when Cody Ware, retaliating against Austin Dillon for an earlier run-in, attempted to spin Dillon. Ware failed in his attempt and instead lost control of his own vehicle, colliding with the outside wall. The resulting caution flag disrupted the order and halted Hamlin’s progress toward a top finish, forcing him to settle for a twelfth-place result and limiting his points for the day.
Hamlin Expresses Frustration with Ware’s Actions
Addressing the incident on his podcast, Hamlin did not hold back in his criticism of Cody Ware.
Image of: Denny Hamlin
“That was just stupid. Just dumb. Rule number one is you never wreck yourself when you’re trying to wreck someone else… I don’t think Rick Ware Racing is in a position to be tearing up race cars.”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
Hamlin openly questioned whether his shot at a top-five was lost solely to Ware’s actions.
“I mean, were we going to finish fifth before freaking Cody Ware tried to wreck Austin Dillon? I think we were running fifth right behind Byron and Larson, so it was… we’re still going to have a good day.”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
Playoff Standings and Hamlin’s Current Position
The aftermath of the caution saw Hamlin struggle during restarts, a weakness that further compromised his final result. When the checkered flag waved, Hamlin had tallied only 28 points for the race, dropping him to fifth in the overall playoff standings but still 27 points above the elimination line. Although not yet at immediate risk, Hamlin made it clear he was dissatisfied with the performance and pointed to several areas for improvement as the playoffs continue. He expressed disappointment following the race:
“Every time we started on the bottom, just could not get anything going, and so obviously it cost us some positions there from where we probably would’ve finished. But just got to get a little better, and certainly we didn’t come here with our best. Got to get a little faster, got to get the car handling better, and I’ve certainly got to do a better job.”
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
The incident also reflects ongoing tension within the playoffs, as the outcome was shaped not just by Hamlin or his Joe Gibbs Racing team’s efforts but by the unpredictable actions of other competitors like Ware and Austin Dillon. Already a four-time winner at Kansas, Hamlin now faces increased pressure to deliver at the upcoming round, with Byron and Larson remaining strong contenders ahead of him.
Looking Ahead to Kansas and the Road to the Championship
With the next playoff race set for Kansas, Hamlin is determined to recover from this setback and strengthen his bid for a place in the top eight. The contest remains intense, especially with recent drama such as the Ty Gibbs feud at Loudon drawing headlines and raising stakes for Joe Gibbs Racing as a whole. Hamlin’s playoff performance will be closely scrutinized, as fans and observers watch to see if he can turn frustration into fuel for a championship push this season.
