Denny Hamlin’s Sunday night at Kansas Speedway was a stark reminder of how quickly success can slip away in NASCAR. Despite dominating much of the race, Hamlin’s late-race misfortunes opened the door for Chase Elliott’s victory. Four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon knows that feeling all too well. With 93 career wins to his name, Gordon has experienced highs and lows and understands that the defeats often linger longer in memory than the triumphs. His empathy for Hamlin resonated in the post-race press conference.
Key Highlights
Jeff Gordon has 93 Cup Series wins; Denny Hamlin has 59 and counting.
Gordon empathizes with Hamlin’s Kansas disappointment despite Elliott’s win.
Hamlin led late but lost power steering and faced pit road mistakes.
A tire carcass and on-track incidents with other drivers impacted the final laps.
Gordon predicts Hamlin and his team will have more opportunities to win.
Jeff Gordon on Racing Defeats
Gordon reflected on the nature of racing losses and the weight they carry for drivers.
“I can’t remember many of the ones I won, but I can tell you all the ones I lost.” – Jeff Gordon
He emphasized that mistakes linger longer than victories, especially when they happen in critical moments.
“Those decisions haunt you, mis-shifts and bad choices on restarts and whatever it might be, especially if it was on your watch or in your hands.” – Jeff Gordon
Gordon’s comments came after a question regarding how he relates to Hamlin chasing late-career milestones. His response captured the blend of empathy and perspective he carries from his own racing career.
Kansas Misfortunes
Denny Hamlin dominated the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 throughout the Kansas race. He swept both stages and was pulling away late when his car lost power steering. Despite holding the lead with 14 laps to go, a tire carcass brought out cautions that altered the race’s outcome. On pit road, a substitute jack man caused Hamlin to lose four spots, a penalty stemming from the Bristol Night Race and previous suspensions over a loose wheel.
On the restart, contact between Bubba Wallace and Christopher Bell further complicated Hamlin’s path. Elliott took advantage of the opening when Hamlin left a lane open in the final corner. Gordon recognized that while the result was unfortunate for Hamlin, these situations are part of racing’s unpredictability.
Jeff Gordon’s Perspective on Hamlin’s Future
Even as he empathizes with Hamlin’s Kansas disappointment, Gordon believes there will be more opportunities for the driver and his team.
“I don’t know what was going to happen there if Denny wrapped the bottom instead of kind of using Bubba up but I still think Chase had a great shot at it because of the new tires and the run he had going into (Turn) 3.” – Jeff Gordon
“Yeah, Denny’s having a great year. He signed a new contract. I don’t think he’s done winning. But when you have the opportunity — he’s probably more disappointed that the cautions came out when he had the lead and wanted to see it finish out that way. But the way he’s running right now and the way that team is, I think he’s going to get some more opportunities.” – Jeff Gordon
Gordon’s insights underscore that even in defeat, Hamlin remains a strong contender, with more chances for victories in the remaining season. His experience provides a blueprint for resilience in high-pressure moments.
News in Brief: Jeff Gordon Relates to Denny Hamlin’s Kansas Disappointment
Denny Hamlin’s Kansas disappointment highlighted the unpredictable nature of NASCAR racing. Hamlin led late in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 before losing power steering, suffering pit road penalties, and facing on-track incidents with Bubba Wallace and Christopher Bell, which allowed Chase Elliott to claim the victory. Jeff Gordon empathized, noting that drivers remember defeats longer than wins. Despite this setback, Hamlin’s performance and contract renewal indicate more victories are likely ahead.
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