There’s something electric about a flawless pit stop. Tires fly, fuel flows, and in under 10 seconds, a race can change entirely. Think back to Kevin Harvick’s 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship at Homestead-Miami. It was a defining moment in his career, largely influenced by a crucial pit stop decision. With 15 laps to go, Harvick was in 12th place but took four fresh tires during a late caution. This strategic call allowed him to surge through the field, taking the lead with eight laps remaining and ultimately winning both the race and the championship.

This was before the ‘Next Gen’ era. But in many ways, not much has changed; in fact, pit crews have become even more important. Pit crews remain the unsung game-changers as their work, often unnoticed by fans, can elevate a mid-pack car to championship contention. After his win at Darlington Raceway, Denny Hamlin reminded everyone that in this tightly packed field, seconds shaved on pit road can mean the difference between glory and getting lapped.

Denny Hamlin credits pit crew for pivotal role in Darlington victory

Denny Hamlin’s recent triumph at Darlington Raceway underscored the critical role of his pit crew in securing victory. Reflecting on the race, Hamlin emphasized, “They have such a crucial role in all this. A lot of it has been more crucial in the Next-Gen era because of how tight things are.” The Next-Gen car brought parity to the grid in 2022 when all teams started using single-source parts. This made assembly and pit stops the holy grail for teams to be contenders, and JGR is dominating in that field. Hamlin’s #11 team leads the entire grid in 4-tire pit stop time, averaging just 9.650 seconds per stop, 0.322 seconds ahead of 2nd place Noah Gragson! This precision was reflected in Hamlin’s ability to thrive late in the race.

Starting from the third position, Hamlin faced challenges early on, finding himself mired around 20th place. He managed to complete Stage 1 in the 16th position. Reasonable salvage after a poor start. However, despite not having the fastest car that day, strategic decisions and efficient pit stops enabled him to regain lost positions. At the end of Stage 2, Hamlin managed to clinch the third position.

Hamlin said in the post-race press conference, “When the field is separated by nothing, and you can turn a 20th-place car into a top-5 car by just placing it up front, the pit crew has a role in that. They just keep chipping away all day long.” This strategy proved effective as he steadily climbed the ranks.​ Then, by the final caution, Hamlin stayed in contention for a win. He was again running in third position in the field at the time and during the final overtime restart, Hamlin’s pit crew executed a flawless stop, gaining crucial positions.

Denny Hamlin eventually grabbed the lead during the final round of pit stops under a late caution triggered by Kyle Larson, who was 167 laps down, then outpaced the field. Hamlin powered his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota ahead of Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, who had dominated most of the race, leading 243 laps and sweeping both stages, and crossed the finish line with a 0.597-second margin of victory. Recalling the moment, Hamlin said, “When I had an indication we were going to win, it’s really off of turn two on the restart once… I knew it was over after that.”

This victory marked Hamlin’s second consecutive win and his 56th career Cup Series victory. He has surpassed Rusty Wallace for 11th place on the all-time list. The achievement highlights not only Hamlin’s driving prowess but also the indispensable contribution of his pit crew. Their performance exemplifies how synchronized teamwork can overcome on-track challenges and lead to success.

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Michael Jordan predicted Hamlin’s success at Darlington

Denny Hamlin began the 2025 season with a 26-race winless streak. It raised concerns about his form and sparked speculation about his ability to compete at the highest level. However, his dominant performance at Martinsville marked a significant turnaround. Here, he secured his first win of the year and reignited his championship aspirations by leading 274 laps and finishing 4 seconds ahead of the field. This victory not only boosted his morale but also underscored his capacity to adapt to the Next-Gen car. And during this period of adversity, no one believed in him more than Michael Jordan.

Ahead of the Darlington race, Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing with Hamlin, expressed his joy in watching him win and how badly he wants Hamlin to get that championship. “He’s [Denny Hamlin] a very confident driver. He is a very confident person. His competitive juice is no different than mine. I mean, I love that he’s gotten back to winning… I want him to win a championship so badly because I think he’s earned that because of what he has done for the sport for so long. And he’s gonna grind it out.” However, the highlight of his pit-side chat with Jamie Little was when he added, “Don’t be surprised if he wins today!”

Michael Jordan is backing him off the track while his pit crew does wonders on it. With Joe Gibbs Racing already boasting 5 wins out of the 8 races so far this season, is it finally Denny Hamlin’s year to win the elusive Cup Series Championship? Let us know in the comments!