Is the lack of Cup championships in Denny Hamlin’s decorated CV playing on his mind? He may not have won the elusive trophy yet, but Denny Hamlin is undoubtedly one of NASCAR’s all-time greats. With 54 Cup Series victories, his racing pedigree is second to none, and with three wins already this season, his fans are daring to hope once again. Could this be finally the year Denny Hamlin wins his first-ever Cup championship?

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has proven that trophies aren’t everything in NASCAR. Yet, in his mind, the lack of Cup championships appears to be the very reason Denny Hamlin cannot compare himself to other NASCAR greats of his generation.

Denny Hamlin feels second best to NASCAR greats

It’s hard to believe that Denny Hamlin hasn’t won a Cup championship in his illustrious, 15-year-long career at NASCAR’s top level. He has equaled Lee Petty’s all-time win record in the Cup Series and won the Southern 500 thrice, as well as the Coca-Cola 600 in 2022. If that wasn’t all, he has won the prestigious Daytona 500 three times as well, with back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2020, becoming only the fourth driver in history to do so. Yet, a Cup championship trophy is what Hamlin feels stands in the way of his name being etched in NASCAR’s history books forever.

When asked by Frontstretch about how he ranks himself compared to other NASCAR greats, Denny Hamlin candidly replied, “I don’t know. I just always felt like I was kind of second best to those guys. Jimmie in his prime was just so incredibly hard to beat. While I may have had him once or twice, over the long haul he still put together more wins. More championships obviously. I just always felt like there’s always someone coming in and just being a little bit better than me. I’ve just always been the next.”

When asked if he still feels that way, even though he is winning races, Denny Hamlin replied, “Honestly, right now, I feel as good as anyone. I feel like I can win 95% of the weeks that we show up. That’s something that’s very very rare. Certainly, right now, I feel pretty comfortable in it but it’s hard to argue the accolades the others have against what I have.”

Hamlin’s record of having the most wins in the NASCAR Cup Series without winning a championship will be something he looks at with bittersweet emotion. Except for the 2013 season, when a damaged back due to a collision with Joey Logano sidelined him for a big part of the early season, Hamlin has been a consistent participant in the playoffs. Even in his rookie season in 2006, Denny Hamlin finished third in the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings, in what was one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in recent history.

So what must Denny Hamlin do to take that extra step and win the Cup championship? With five races to go until the playoffs begin in Atlanta, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver needs to finish the regular season strongly. If he finishes at the top of the driver standings, Hamlin will secure 15 playoff points, which could make all the difference in the post-season. Moreover, he will need lady luck on his side, as NASCAR is a sport of the finest margins, where the small things can make a big difference.

Hamlin looks to fix heartbreaking 2020 Brickyard 400 loss

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It’s not just the Cup championship that has eluded Denny Hamlin in his illustrious career. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver hasn’t won the prestigious Brickyard 400 so far either, but that might change as NASCAR returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway after a three-year break. Now that the 2.5-mile oval track is waiting for the roar of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry, the 43-year-old believes that the time has come to get the job done.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Brickyard 400, Denny Hamlin said, “I don’t have that many chances left. It’s less than what’s on my hand, I would think. I mean, you just have to take advantage of every opportunity. 2020 was an enormous opportunity. 2018 was a very underrated opportunity. Brad caught a caution there that was just really untimely for us. But overall, I feel like I’ve always been in contention here, just never got it done.”

Unsurprisingly, Denny Hamlin vividly remembers the 2020 Brickyard 400. Competing with Kevin Harvick during the closing laps of the race, Hamlin took the lead with 27 laps to go and retained his position until seven laps remained. Just when a victory looked inevitable, the unthinkable happened. Hamlin cut a right front tire in Turn 2, forcing him into the outside wall, resulting in his No. 11 Toyota bursting into flames. After a three-year-long wait, Denny Hamlin finally has the opportunity to make amends, with victory also going a long way in winning the regular series championship.

Do you think Denny Hamlin is one of NASCAR’s all-time greats? Let us know in the comments!