Denny Hamlin’s road to the Championship 4 finale in Phoenix is clouded by persistent mechanical issues, putting his title ambitions—and those of Joe Gibbs Racing—at risk in the final stretch. As Hamlin gears up to race at Martinsville before Phoenix, the topic of Denny Hamlin mechanical issues is stirring concern among his team and competitors.
Recent Setbacks Raise Doubts Ahead of Phoenix
Despite having already punched his ticket to the Phoenix championship race alongside teammate Chase Briscoe, Hamlin faces mounting uncertainty as Martinsville approaches. Both he and the Joe Gibbs Racing organization have been forced to confront recurring mechanical “gremlins” threatening their playoff momentum.
One glaring example occurred at Talladega, where Hamlin encountered a throttle problem due to on-track debris. The issue forced a prolonged pit stop during caution laps, dropping him down to 24th place. Luckily, his prior victory at Las Vegas had locked in his Phoenix slot, so the malfunction did not end his championship chase, but it brought renewed anxiety over the team’s reliability.
This was not an isolated event—earlier in the playoffs at Kansas, Hamlin not only finished just behind Chase Elliott but also drew attention for his aggressive move that sent 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace into the wall. That incident worsened his car’s performance, made even harder to manage by a power steering malfunction and a slow pit stop. These combine to reinforce the notion that Hamlin’s playoff journey has been repeatedly disrupted by mechanical woes and hard luck.
This string of problems echoes trouble from 2022, when a stuck throttle during Martinsville practice shattered his shot at the Championship 4. Just days away from Phoenix, both Hamlin and his team are keenly aware of the mechanical risks that could intervene again at the most crucial time.
Hamlin and Team Acknowledge Mounting Pressure
The pressure is on for the No. 11 team, which has less than two weeks to address these nagging issues before the showdown in Phoenix. For many in the garage, the stakes feel especially high given Hamlin’s history with late-playoff misfortunes. Hamlin voiced his frustration, saying,
Yeah, it’s really, really frustrating because we want our results dictated by our performance on the race track. Nothing would absolutely suck worse than to go to Phoenix and have a mechanical (issue) or something happen that takes away (my) opportunity to achieve (my) dream.
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
These concerns are compounded by multiple types of failures over the season. Hamlin explained,
We’ve had issues with batteries and starters and clutches, and lots, lots, and lots this year. I’ve had all three, and how should I word this … What if we hadn’t won (Vegas) and that was my championship hopes, and that is where my frustration lies. It’s not necessarily things that we put together that I would love to see us fix.
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
Hamlin admitted uncertainty over whether a solution is truly within reach before Phoenix, stating,
I don’t know that we’re going to fix it in a couple of weeks, but I just hope it doesn’t play a factor when it really, really counts at the end of these races, especially the final race.
— Denny Hamlin, Driver
Team Leadership Attempts to Provide Assurance
The technical challenges have also captured the attention of Chris Gabehart, Joe Gibbs Racing’s competition director and Hamlin’s former crew chief. Gabehart has sought to calm nerves but concedes the need for deeper investigation. He described the incidents as “freak” occurrences but agrees that solutions are crucial. As he put it,
It is a little bit of a freak instance that we need to get to the bottom of, for sure. I don’t want to take it lightly, but it was not something as simple as a bolt coming loose or something like that,
— Chris Gabehart, Competition Director
Gabehart attempted to dismiss any thoughts that these issues stem from poor quality control or systemic flaws, while still reinforcing the urgency for answers before anything more serious jeopardizes their season.
The unusual nature of Hamlin’s troubles—spanning from stuck throttles at Talladega, to power steering loss in Kansas, to pit problems and debris-induced shocks—raises concerns about how unpredictable race days can rob even the best-prepared drivers of their chance at glory. NASCAR journalist Matt Weaver highlighted the unusual chain of misery marking the anniversary of Hamlin’s Martinsville misfortune, further emphasizing the pressure cooker environment team and driver now face.
Martinsville: The Final Test Before Phoenix
Before anyone focuses on Phoenix, Martinsville becomes Hamlin’s last opportunity to test his equipment against the rigors of championship-caliber competition. For Hamlin and his team at Joe Gibbs Racing, ensuring every mechanical aspect is bulletproof may determine whether their championship opportunity becomes a triumphant story or a cautionary tale.
With memories of recent setbacks weighing heavily, all eyes are on how Hamlin manages these crucial days. The outcome at Martinsville will provide a telling glimpse of whether persistent Denny Hamlin mechanical issues can truly be tamed in time for the biggest race of the NASCAR season.
Some fluky things have happened to Hamlin like a stuck throttle (Dega) and power steering (Kansas) issue and this is the anniversary of debris causing a stuck throttle at M'ville.
Gabehart says this isn't a quality control thing. No concerns for Phoenix.https://t.co/kP8tpqLsHT
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 20, 2025
