Denny Hamlin was cruising during the second race of the second round of the playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway. He rode comfortably in second place with a 37-point cushion above the playoff cutline. All signs pointed to a smooth race, gathering crucial playoff points to secure his path to the next round.

However, during the second stage on lap 105, Hamlin‘s race took what seemed like a rather all too common turn. He incurred a pit road penalty for speeding, a costly error that pushed him one lap down, leaving him with an uphill task for the rest of the race.

Denny Hamlin one lap down in Stage 2 after getting a pit lane speeding penalty

NASCAR insider Steve Letarte recently discussed the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran’s strategy on the Dirty Mo Dough podcast. Letarte speculated on Hamlin’s approach heading into the Talladega race, given his playoff situation. He remarked, “So Hamlin, I think if he’s running eight. So look, let me be clear. If he’s in the front, five or six cars, he ain’t worried about points. He’s gonna try to win the race.”

However, Letarte pointed out a strategic shift for Hamlin when he’s positioned further back in the field, saying, “But when he gets parked around 11th, because if something happens or whatever, he is not going to wreck for 12th. He’s going to score some points to get out of Talladega on to the next round.”

Denny Hamlin took a pit lane speeding penalty during his pit stop on lap 105 with the other Toyotas. The penalty put him one lap down on the field. However, after the incident, Hamlin’s crew chief came over the radio to give much-needed encouragement to his driver. Matt Weaver reported, “Chris Gabehart tells Denny Hamlin that not a lot of playoff teams are scoring stage points. “We’re fine. We’re going to get back on the lead lap and race it out.”

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Fans quickly took this incident to Twitter and slammed Denny Hamlin for what has become a regular theme for him.

NASCAR Fans slam Hamlin for getting yet another penalty for speeding on the pit road

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For Denny Hamlin, the pit road has become an unexpected nemesis. Despite his superstar status and championship ambitions, Hamlin’s pit-stop errors have become a recurring theme. Fans, never ones to hold back, took to Twitter to vent their frustration over his latest pit road mishap.

One fan wrote, “Death, taxes, and Denny Hamlin speeding.” Another said, “🚨 @dennyhamlin, too fast on pit road. He was leading the field when he led the Toyotas down on Lap 106. No. 11 pitting next time by. Locked up his tires entering pit road. Oof.” One fan pointed out the string of penalties, “There it is. Denny Hamlin can always be counted on to screw himself with a speeding penalty on pit road.” One fan took it so far as to say Hamlin getting a penalty is all but inevitable, “Sun came up today so naturally that means a speeding penalty for Denny Hamlin.”

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As the playoffs continue to unfold, fans will keep a close eye on Hamlin’s performance and whether he can overcome his pit-road demons. Do you think Hamlin will make it to the Round of 8? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.