Bob Pockrass
Fox Motorsports Insider
DARLINGTON, SC – Less than 10 days in the past, one would possibly surprise if Denny Hamlin would have ever come to his purpose of 60 wins of the Nascar Cup.
Now the query might be if Hamlin may attain 60 wins earlier than even the 2025 playoffs begin.
When he was requested after his victory on Sunday night at Darlington Raceway, Hamlin mentioned:
“In reality they’re actually 61,” mentioned Hamlin after his 56th profession victory. This is the traditional Hamlin, transferring a little bit the goalippies to maintain it on the hunt for the lens.
Sixty would tie him for the tenth of all time within the victories with Fox Analyst Kevin Harvick; 61 would give him the one possession of the tenth place. But after the consecutive victories in Martinsville and Darlington, what number of may accumulate Joe Gibbs’ veteran?
This weekend, the sequence heads to Bristol Motor Speedway. Hamlin entered Victory Lane there a yr in the past, a race that was a part of his three of the primary 11 races of the 2024 season earlier than going to an drought with out victories for the remainder of the yr.
Hamlin received in two of his finest traces traditionally, since he now has 5 in Martinsville and 5 in Darlington. In the next month, the sequence heads to Bristol and Kansas, the place he has 4 profession wins. A Pocono has seven and Richmonds has 5.
“I wish to get it as quickly as attainable since you by no means know when you do not run anymore,” mentioned Hamlin, who ought to run for no less than one other couple of years. “These victories initially of the season are actually advantageous to get a sure stress for the playoff factors and positively makes me really feel good to proceed to build up on these victories.”
Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and different post-gara interviews from Darlington
The playoff factors are factors that the pilots earn throughout the yr for the race victories, the victories on stage and the factors of the common season that may doubtlessly assist them advance within the playoffs. More playoff factors has, extra prospects that Hamlin must attain the ultimate spherical of the championship and maybe seize that elusive first championship.
The 44 -year -old Joe Gibbs Racing Driver gained his final two wins in reverse Polar. He dominated the race in Martinsville. But in Darlington, he wanted a warning in late race and a quick pit cease to place him on his head for a unprecedented purpose in Darlington.
Those breaks he obtained on Sunday in Darlington have been those he had not achieved throughout the thirty first sequence sequence with out victories.
But above all, Hamlin now has two wins with the brand new head of the crew Chris Gayle. And Gayle is those that changed Chris Gabehart, the top of the crew Hamlin thought he would have had till the tip of his profession. Gabehart, then again, took on a job of director of group competitors after final season.
Gayle had been head of the crew for Ty Gibbs. He mentioned he does not care about bringing Hamlin to 60 wins. It was the fifty fifth of which he was frightened.
“I’m coming to fill huge sneakers for Gabehart,” mentioned Gayle. “It was with Denny so lengthy. I’m the one change. I’m not naive sufficient to know. I wanted to win and win quickly.
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“Last week (in Martinsville) it was implausible. We have been in a position to win with a unique configuration, with one thing we labored on, we had and have a automotive velocity, to take away it within the center. This was shocked. Obviously we had the correct situation. You take them.”
Motorsports is all centered on seize and benefit of the breaks.
“Take everybody you’ll be able to steal not directly, so for those who get all these you’re the strongest automotive, you’ll be in fine condition,” mentioned Gayle.
And Hamlin is in fine condition. He is including trophies and can be squeezing the drama for followers, enjoying the function of heel in sport. The Boos reigned on him throughout the driver’s displays and whereas he left his automotive to rejoice the victory.
“I like followers,” mentioned Hamlin. “They do not actually like me a lot. However, I feel it is simply my persona. I perceive it. I carry it on me more often than not. But I like it. I like the response I depart with individuals.”
And it additionally loves that it’s a step nearer to 60. O 61.
“I nonetheless really feel good from my standpoint that I can, at 44 years previous, exit right here and win back-to-back races, be in dispute week after week and nonetheless be on prime of my recreation,” mentioned Hamlin. “Nothing has fallen.”
Bob Pockrass covers Nascar and Indycar for Fox Sports. He spent many years to cowl motor sports activities, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with Espn durations, Sporting News, Nascar Scene Magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow it on Twitter @Bobpockrass.
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