Denny Hamlin Emerges as an Anomaly as Cup Series Underdog Edges Past Coveted Stats

The results haven’t been the same since Würth 400. The one who beats everyone’s favorite drivers, Denny Hamlin of course, hasn’t won a race in over two months. He may have three wins in this Cup season so far, but by his own lofty standards, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver seems to have fallen off recently. A quick look at the stats proves that Hamlin has only secured 2 playoff points in nine races, and two runner-up finishes. Many drivers on the grid will take those stats with both hands. Denny Hamlin? Not really.

The 43-year-old isn’t even in the top 10 on points scored in the last 5 races. But, surprisingly enough, do you know who is? Todd Gilliland. The Front Row Motorsports driver has stepped up his performances, particularly in Chicago, where he achieved his highest finish of the season.

What has gone wrong for Denny Hamlin?

It’s quite telling that Denny Hamlin’s best finish in the last five races is 12th place, a race where he began in pole position at Nashville Superspeedway. In the other four races, the 43-year-old hasn’t finished above 24th place, ending up 30th in Chicago and 38th at Sonoma Raceway. With just a single playoff point at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Hamlin should certainly hope to do better in the remaining six races of the regular season before the playoffs begin.

If you’re wondering just how important playoff points are, just ask Martin Truex Jr. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver entered the 2023 season playoffs as the regular season champion but struggled in the first nine races. He finished 18th in Darlington, 36th at Kansas, 19th in Bristol, and finished 17th or worse in the remaining Round of 12 races. Despite the results, Truex Jr progressed into the Round of 8, simply because of the bonus points he gained after winning the regular season championship.

And that’s exactly what Denny Hamlin should be keeping in mind for the remaining races of the regular season. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is currently fourth in the drivers’ standings, 42 points behind rival Kyle Larson, despite both drivers winning the same number of races so far. The difference is that the Hendrick Motorsports driver has been more consistent, surpassing Hamlin in poles, laps led, top five, and top 10 finishes after 20 races.

If there’s one thing Denny Hamlin desperately wants, it’s a championship title. Despite being considered one of NASCAR’s all-time greats, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver wants something to show for it once the curtains close on his illustrious career. With the likes of Todd Gilliland and the usual suspects breathing down his neck, it’s time Denny Hamlin snaps out of his slumber and shows the form we have seen in Bristol, Richmond, and Dover earlier this season.

Todd Gilliland shows a huge upturn in form

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Who would have predicted that Todd Gilliland would get his best-ever finish of the season so far in Chicago? The Front Row Motorsports driver started the race in 26th place but ended up 7th. Not only did he get three stage points in his No. 38 Ford, but he capitalized on opportunities while others made mistakes, securing 33 points in the process. Before Chicago, his best-ever finish was an 8th place in Talladega, where he started in third place.

In the last five races, Gilliland has finished no lower than 17th, which was at Nashville Superspeedway, accumulating 142 points in the process. Within the same time frame, Denny Hamlin has managed to secure 95 points, a stark contrast between the two drivers. While the possibility of a playoff is too far-fetched, Gilliland and Front Row Motorsports can take solace in the fact that the 24-year-old has improved since last season, in which he finished 28th. As things stand, he is in 19th place after 20 races this season.

With just six races to go until the regular season ends, Gilliland and Front Row Motorsports will take it race-by-race to finish the season strongly. The 24-year-old’s long-term future is secure, having signed a multi-year extension last month, and will look to partner with Noah Gragson from 2025, to build on his already impressive season. Gilliland has come a long way since the Craftsman Truck Series days, and his steady rise in the Cup Series is a testament to his hard work and dedication.

Do you think Denny Hamlin will win a race before the playoffs begin? Let us know in the comments!