The trickster of the Tricky Triangle dominated once again. Denny Hamlin, having already accumulated three wins over the 2024 season, expected a strong run this weekend. Recently, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver finished five consecutive races outside the top ten—his longest slump of the year. But he roared back to form in today’s race.

In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports at Pocono Raceway, Hamlin explained how the track always proves to be so strong for him. He credited the most precious asset a driver can have in a team—having a fruitful connection with the No. 11 crew under Joe Gibbs.

Denny Hamlin salutes his crew for dominance

The JGR driver’s unparalleled strength at Pocono Raceway is no secret in NASCAR circles. Denny Hamlin comes back every year, wielding his Toyota through the tricky turns and high-banked lanes of the track comfortably. His results show it- as the defending race winner, he owns seven trophies from the track, the most of any NASCAR Cup driver. Hamlin also owns 15 top-five finishes in 34 races at Pocono.

And Denny Hamlin credits his team for his consistent speed in the high mountains of Pocono. Talking to NASCAR journalist Jordan Jenkins for EssentiallySports, Hamlin hinted at an almost telepathic connection with the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 team. Whatever his crew thinks, he executes, and vice versa. “You know I think our team does a great job of giving me what I need. I try my best to give them the information they need…to make it fast and I do, and I just try to do my part.”

The Great American Getaway 400 earlier today witnessed the powerful teamwork of this group. After a light bout of showers, Denny Hamlin started strong from the get-go in 4th place. He overtook Josh Berry for the lead on lap 67 and subsequently led 31 laps. However, Ryan Blaney soon entered the picture despite staying outside the top-ten grid in both stages. The Team Penske driver led more laps after a multi-car crash on lap 127 and eventually soared to victory at the end with a 1.312-second margin.

Denny Hamlin stayed as a thorn in his side throughout, finishing in the runner-up position. And the No. 11 team is to be praised for it: Chris Gabehart and the team helped Hamlin wade through the crashes of laps 121 and 127. Their effective communication also scored playoff points in acquiring the second-stage win.

Last year as well, Denny Hamlin cited the same reason for securing his seventh Tricky Triangle victory.

Hamlin and his team are a match made in heaven

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Denny Hamlin and Chris Gabehart’s relationship is an old and strong one. While Gabehart serves as the eyes and ears of the track, Hamlin delivers by gaining track position. This powerful dynamic is what has handed Hamlin the title of Pocono master over the years. In 2022, Hamlin won the race before NASCAR invalidated his finish due to a technical penalty. But he answered back the following year and dominated the 2.5-mile tricky track. He also beat NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon in the number of Pocono wins.

And last year, similar to today’s exclusive with EssentiallySports in Pocono, Denny Hamlin pushed all the praise to his team. He emphasized how, without the support of the No. 11 crew, Hamlin would have been helpless. “It’s such a clichéd thing, and I know it sounds bad, but it is an indication of where your team is at. Like, you got to have a fast car, you got to have a good engine, your aero’s got to be good, your strategy gotta be good, and the driver’s got to do his part.” He added with gratitude, “I only have one element of that I have to do, and the rest is up to the team. So, I think I’ve been really lucky to be with a fast team for most of my career.”

Indeed, the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team is one of the unbeatable teams in the NASCAR Cup Series. We are pumped to see where Denny Hamlin and his crew head in the playoffs and if he can finally seize his coveted championship title.