It may not have been the finish Denny Hamlin wanted, but the Joe Gibbs Racing driver got the result he needed at Bristol Motor Speedway. Going into the race, there was plenty of speculation about the veteran’s chances of making it into the Round of 12, as he was six points behind the cutline with just one race to make up the deficit. However, ‘The Last Great Colosseum’ has been a track that has served Hamlin well in the past and it was no different this time around.

Despite his winless streak being broken at Bristol’s 0.533-mile concrete oval, the 43-year-old racing driver will be going into Kansas Speedway with some much-needed confidence. He may not have matched Kyle Larson’s pace at the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Night Race, but that hasn’t stopped the veteran from issuing a warning to his rivals.

Denny Hamlin is looking to fire on all cylinders

In what can only be described as a clutch performance, Denny Hamlin came through just when it mattered the most. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver was in a precarious position going into the final Round of 16 playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway after a string of disappointing results at Atlanta and Watkins Glen cast doubts about his championship hopes. However, the racing veteran proved exactly why he remains a genuine title contender by finishing fourth in the final Round of 16 race, advancing into the next round by 15 points. It was Hamlin’s best result since finishing runner-up at Pocono Raceway and with momentum on his side, he will go to Kansas Speedway with renewed optimism.

Speaking after the race, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver issued a warning to his rivals by saying, “It’s all offense from this point forward. We’re going to Kansas, a track we have been really really good at. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the run.” However, Hamlin also acknowledged that he fell short at Bristol, struggling to match up to Kyle Larson’s pace during the race. The Florida native said, “My aspiration was to win it. It looked like the #5 was better than all of us.”

Despite going through a playoff slump, Denny Hamlin was always confident about his chances going into the race at Bristol, and rightfully so. He finished eighth in qualifying and only built on his track position from that point onwards. He gained two places by the end of Stage 1, finishing in sixth place, and progressed to third by the end of Stage 2. Hamlin dropped down to fourth by the time he reached a checkered flag after struggling for grip, but the result was enough to secure his place in the Round of 12. Now he can look to build on this performance to progress to Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.

It seems like Hamlin has finally learned his lesson. After being blamed for being ‘too conservative’ at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver is looking to not make the same mistakes, particularly at Talladega Superspeedway and the Charlotte Roval. Going on the offensive is when Denny Hamlin races best and with the stakes being as high as they are, Hamlin needs to play to his strengths if he hopes to lift the first championship title of his career.

Chris Gabehart looking forward to upcoming races

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Denny Hamlin and Chris Gabehart have a lot to look forward to going into the Round of 12. After all, the team secured their first top-10 result since the final race of the regular season at Darlington Raceway. Despite facing several challenges in the opening playoff races, Gabehart believes that the experiences have only made the No. 11 team stronger. With seven races remaining before the season ends, the crew chief is optimistic that the mistakes made at Atlanta and Watkins Glen won’t be repeated in the upcoming races.

Speaking after the race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Chris Gabehart said, “To come to a track where we should control our destiny, and do, certainly gives us a new lease on life, and we won’t forget what we’ve learned. I can promise you we’re going to go to Talladega and race our [bu**s] off, and we’re going to go [to] whatever the Smith family has dreamed up for the Roval next and race our (bu**s) off. I’m looking forward to it.”

Over the years, Hamlin has found every conceivable way to miss out on a championship. Despite being amongst the best drivers in the Cup Series, the trophy has eluded him for almost two decades. Could this finally be the year he breaks his winless streak and cements his place amongst NASCAR’s all-time greats? At the age of 43, time isn’t on his side to make his dreams come true and one can’t help but feel that if there is ever a time for Denny Hamlin to win the championship at Phoenix Raceway, it’s this season.