Denny Hamlin experienced a devastating setback at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, losing the chance for a landmark win in a stunning conclusion that embodied another chapter of Denny Hamlin Kansas disappointment. The veteran driver, in position to seize his sixtieth career NASCAR Cup Series victory and advance confidently through the playoffs, instead saw his hopes unravel during the crucial final laps in Kansas City, Kan.
Near-Perfect Performance Undone by Late Struggles
Throughout most of the race, Hamlin appeared poised for victory, leading 159 of 273 laps and maintaining his position at the front of the pack. The elusive 60th Cup win, a milestone Hamlin labeled the new gold standard in modern NASCAR, drove his relentless pace. Attaining that victory would have made him only the second active driver, alongside Kyle Busch, to reach the mark, and would have provided a significant buffer in the championship hunt, with other notable active contenders like Joey Logano still behind on that achievement.
Hamlin’s resolve shone despite mounting challenges on track. About 50 laps from the finish, he began to notice his power steering was failing—a critical issue that threatened both control of the vehicle and his prospects for victory. Over team radio, his frustration and urgency became evident.
“I’m thinking all race, it’s just our race,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
He soon communicated his uncertainty as the issue worsened:
“I don’t know what to do,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
His crew chief, Chris Gayle, responded with reassurance, focusing the team on maximizing the finish to avoid jeopardizing their playoff standing.
“I got you. You’re just going to do all you can here to get the best finish so we don’t have ourselves in a bad spot next week (for the elimination race at the Charlotte Roval). That’s all you can do.”
—Chris Gayle, Crew Chief
Compounding Issues: Pit Crew Changes and Costly Seconds
The situation deteriorated further in overtime, when a debris caution sent the leading cars, including Hamlin’s, to pit road. This race marked Hamlin’s first with two new pit crew members, following penalties after a tire detached from his car at the previous Bristol race. Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin’s team, started serving the suspension for both the tire changer and jackman during the Kansas event, leading to replacements stepping in at a pivotal time.
Earlier pit stops had kept Hamlin competitive, but disaster struck during the final stop. Jackman Nate McBride struggled to secure the jack properly, resulting in a pit stop for two tires that took nearly twice as long as those of other leading teams, who completed theirs in around four to five seconds. By the time Hamlin’s car returned to the track, he was out of the top five, and the difficulties mounted.
“We had a bad pit stop, restarted sixth.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
Final Laps: Lost Opportunity in a Dramatic Overtime
Despite setbacks from the power steering problem and pit misfortune, Hamlin battled back. Two late cautions extended the race into double overtime and he fought into second place on the last lap. As he approached the final turns, he was close behind Bubba Wallace—driver for 23XI Racing, the team Hamlin co-owns with Michael Jordan. In a heated moment, both entered Turn 3 side-by-side, but Hamlin left an opportunity on the inside lane open.
“One to go, I’m thinking find a way to get to 60,”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
“Obviously, not having power steering that was not ideal.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
Chase Elliott, sensing the opportunity as Hamlin and Wallace contested the same piece of track, seized the chance and darted through the inside. He executed the pass with expert timing, crossing the finish line just .069 seconds ahead of Hamlin. Elliott detailed his strategy in the dramatic finish:
“I saw (Hamlin) and (Wallace) race hard in (Turn) 3 and I thought, ‘Man, if I just stick the bottom here, I might be at least three wide with them off (Turn) 4,”
—Chase Elliott, Driver
“My eyes went to just do the best I could to (run) the bottom as fast as I could (run) it. I really kind of quit watching them. Then I saw (Hamlin) come back down and obviously ran into him. I think he was trying to cover my run, but he was too late at that point.”
—Chase Elliott, Driver
A Painful Outcome and What Lies Ahead
After the race, Hamlin was met with a quick show of support from Wallace, but the anguish of falling short was plain. Despite being 48 points above the playoff elimination cutline and in good shape to advance to the next round at Charlotte Roval, Hamlin’s focus remained on what slipped away at Kansas Speedway—where he first debuted in a Cup car. The loss left a deep emotional mark.
“Just super disappointed, that I couldn’t finish this one out.”
—Denny Hamlin, Driver
As the NASCAR championship picture narrows, Hamlin and the Joe Gibbs Racing team will need to regroup and address the mechanical and pit stop challenges that have recently plagued the No. 11 car. The Denny Hamlin Kansas disappointment adds yet another layer of motivation as both driver and crew head toward the Charlotte Roval, aiming to convert heartbreak into success before another season slips away.
