Denny Hamlin championship hopes surged Sunday after a remarkable victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway locked him into the NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4, giving both him and his Joe Gibbs Racing team a rare opportunity to focus fully on the season’s final showdown in Phoenix. As Hamlin seeks an elusive first Cup title, anticipation grows within NASCAR Country, wondering if this year will finally bring him to the sport’s pinnacle.
Hamlin’s Landmark Victory at Las Vegas
With dazzling late-race driving that many consider among the best performances of his career, Denny Hamlin secured his 60th NASCAR Cup Series win at Las Vegas, a triumph that places him tenth on the all-time win list, tied with Kevin Harvick. This win did more than add another victory to his resume – it automatically advanced him to the Championship 4 round on November 2 in Phoenix, Arizona, making him the first driver to clinch a spot in the title race this season.
Because of the Las Vegas win, Hamlin can approach the next two Cup Series events – at the expansive Talladega Superspeedway and the tight, storied Martinsville Speedway – free from the pressure of earning points. Regardless of his results at these tracks, his path to the championship field is secure, providing a unique “preparation period” for Hamlin and his Joe Gibbs Racing crew according to many observers.
An Uneasy History with the Cup Championship
Hamlin’s road to this moment has been long and, at times, frustrating. Despite a Cup career that began in 2006, and countless memorable races, Hamlin has never clinched the championship trophy, leaving many fans and analysts to wonder about the factors behind this persistent gap on his resume. His years in the series have been shadowed not just by bad luck and tough choices, but by the arrival of extraordinary talents like Jimmie Johnson, whose run of five consecutive championships began just as Hamlin entered the sport.
In 2006, Hamlin placed third in the standings, with Johnson capturing his first of five straight titles. Hamlin remained a frequent contender in subsequent years but repeatedly finished behind Johnson, including a close second in 2010. Further championship near-misses include three finishes in third place, two in fourth, and another three in fifth, cementing Hamlin’s status as the sport’s perennial “so-close” contender.
Strong Track Record at Phoenix
Phoenix Raceway, where the title battle will unfold in three weeks, is by no means a weak spot for Hamlin. He boasts two wins at the desert venue, having first visited Phoenix victory lane in 2012 and again in 2019. The latter win catapulted him into that year’s Championship 4, held at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he ultimately finished tenth behind names like Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., and Kevin Harvick.
Beyond the wins, Hamlin has accumulated 17 top-five and 23 top-ten finishes at Phoenix, speaking to his consistency and competitive presence there. These numbers strongly suggest that when the championship lights shine at the season finale, Hamlin is likely to be among the primary threats for the Cup, with little reason to doubt his capacity to challenge the very best, including the likes of Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Richard Petty, Jimmie Johnson, and Cale Yarborough, whose achievements have set the sport’s gold standard.
Legacy Among NASCAR’s Greats
Hamlin’s 60th win places him in elite company, sharing tenth on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series win list with Kevin Harvick. Above him stand only icons, such as Richard Petty, David Pearson, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Jimmie Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, and Kyle Busch. With two years remaining on his current contract and Kyle Busch’s performance currently trailing, it is plausible Hamlin could soon surpass Busch’s 63-win mark, moving into ninth all-time. This season alone, Hamlin has claimed six victories, a milestone he last achieved in 2020.
Rival Playoff Drivers and Team Dynamics
While most playoff contenders scramble at Talladega and Martinsville to secure points and victories, Hamlin has the advantage of focusing solely on Phoenix. This strategic edge extends to Chris Gayle, his first-year crew chief, who will be navigating his debut in the championship finale. The partnership brings fresh energy to Hamlin’s campaign and may prove a critical factor when the stakes are highest.
This upcoming title race marks Hamlin’s fifth overall appearance in the Championship 4 and his first since 2021. At 44, there is speculation about how many more chances will emerge, but the way Hamlin performed during the decisive laps in Las Vegas serves as a reminder not to count him out just yet.
The Broader Significance for NASCAR
For years, the storyline of Hamlin as NASCAR’s great championship outlier—racking up wins but missing the ultimate prize—has fueled debate. Now, as he prepares for another run at glory, the prospect of Hamlin finally hoisting the Cup brings a mixture of hope and intensity throughout the garage areas, pit roads, and in the hearts of fans across NASCAR Country. The attention now turns to Phoenix, where Hamlin’s performance will crystallize whether this season marks the crowning achievement of a relentless career or adds another chapter to his sequence of near-misses.
Should Hamlin succeed, it will mark not only a personal breakthrough but also cement his standing among the legends he has long competed against, from Dale Earnhardt to Jimmie Johnson. For the Joe Gibbs Racing crew, for Hamlin himself, and for a fanbase accustomed to drama and anticipation, the Phoenix finale is now the most anticipated event on the NASCAR calendar.
