This is Why Denny Hamlin is Still Championship-Less in the NASCAR Cup Series

Once again, it is so close, yet so far for Joe Gibbs Racing star, Denny Hamlin. At the 18th time of asking, he has failed at the final hurdle on his quest for a maiden Cup Series title. It isn’t to say that Hamlin is a bad driver, because the statistics certainly do not indicate that at all. However, one does have to wonder why the #11 driver is still the bridesmaid and not the bride. It isn’t for the lack of trying, because he notched up three wins in the 2023 Cup Series campaign.

Hamlin made his Cup Series debut all the way back in 2005 for Joe Gibbs Racing, taking part in the last seven races. For the following season, he joined on a full-time basis and hit the ground running. Since then, he has been a picture of consistency, reaching the Playoffs almost every year. The only outlier was the 2013 season where he finished in a low 23rd. However, the closest he ever came to winning was in 2010, where he finished 2nd behind Jimmie Johnson.

Why is Denny Hamlin so unlucky with championship-winning attempts?

Earlier during the Playoffs, Hamlin once declared that 2023 was finally going to be his year. Sadly, it was not to be, and he spoke way too soon. To be honest, the 42-year-old has had some controversial takes, and he has often feuded with other drivers. But as you know, there is also luck.

Earlier at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, he had a chance to win the race, but his steering broke. As a result, he was helpless as the car careened into the wall and his day was done.

That poor result put him 17 points below the cut line ahead of Martinsville. At the short track, he did manage to finish in a decent third place, giving him 34 points in addition to his 19 points in Stages 1 and 2. Unfortunately, those 53 points were not enough, as William Byron scored enough to steal that final spot. This was because he had a 30-point cushion to the next driver, so Hamlin was narrowly edged out.

Last Year, Hamlin was on course to reach the Final 4 yet again. Unfortunately, he was cruelly denied, thanks to the now famous ‘Hail Melon’ from Ross Chastain.

Even during the 2010 season, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver dominated with eight wins. Unfortunately, he choked towards the tail end of the season and Johnson took the title in the end.

READ MORE: Refusing to Take Names, Denny Hamlin Unleashes Veiled Dig at NASCAR Amidst Truck Series’ Phoenix Shame

Is the Joe Gibbs Racing star the next Mark Martin?

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Critics of Hamlin would loath to compare him to the legendary Mark Martin. Martin’s stats do look better, with multiple runner-up finishes, but no one can really deny that Denny Hamlin is far from a slouch. Unfortunately, the driver is now going to be 43 years old, and his age could potentially be a factor that denies him a title. Of course, he will continue to prove that he is capable of winning races, and his driving prowess was never in question. However, the opportunities to win a championship are slowly drying up.

On the bright side, Denny Hamlin can proudly say that he has three Daytona 500 trophies. In addition to that, he has 51 race wins, which is fairly impressive. To be frank, he had been very unlucky this season, but if it was like this for the last 18 years, how many mirrors has he broken? He recently told Fox Sports, “I’m going to compete next season. And if I compete next season, I’ve got a great shot. Every seven days, I have a shot to win [a race] and just not many people can say that.”

Does Denny Hamlin believe himself to be capable of winning the title?

Obviously, no driver will ever admit that they are not capable of winning a championship, least of all, Denny Hamlin. Now, the #11 driver will have to do nothing but wait for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season to begin. Once again, he will promise his fans that 2024 will be his year.

Still, frustration may be setting in, as the years pass and Hamlin is still title-less. When he spoke to The Athletic, he said, “I can’t tell you the mindset of the years that I’ve had where I f***ed up and I knew that I kept us from going to the next round. Or winning a championship. I just know that’s all I’ve got. That’s all I’ve got in my tank. Pushing every lap. I can’t second-guess or doubt myself because I know that there’s nothing else I could have done. Absolutely nothing else. We didn’t fall short on performance. We performed fine, but luck is a factor in this sport, and when you take small sample sizes to crown champions, sometimes if the luck doesn’t fall your way, you’re going to get left out. I’ve just been unlucky in the playoffs.”

Hamlin will always believe that he can win a maiden Cup Series title. Otherwise, what is the point of being competitive in a sport like NASCAR. As long as he is still capable of winning races, there is a chance that he can win a Cup Series title. The trick is for him to win strategically and propel himself forward. It is no use winning lots of races if he does not win the important ones, especially in the Playoff stage.

In essence, if he can win a race when it counts and advance to the Playoffs, then no matter it is Round of 12, 8, or 4, he will be fine.

WATCH THIS STORY: Jeff Gordon’s Take on Denny Hamlin’s “Villain” Persona