17 seasons into the chase, and 42-year-old Denny Hamlin once again has the Cup Series trophy within his grasp. The schedule of races that is to come henceforth is not something that Joe Gibbs’ star racer has not gone through before. Year after year, he has met these tracks with procedural precision, yet he has never been good enough to find that missing piece of the puzzle and win the championship.

As he searched high and low for that final word to complete his sentence, he got on the same table as veteran reporters Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi to discuss his night in Bristol. And in what is turning into a habit of his, he once again ran risks with his words.

Denny Hamlin fires unwarranted shots at previous NASCAR champions

One of the records that Denny Hamlin broke with his win at Bristol was that he now has the most Cup Series wins among all non-championship-winning drivers in history. As unnecessary as this record might sound, it can be agreed that 51 Cup Series wins are not an easy feat to achieve.

Though he has long mentioned that the success of his career cannot be judged based on whether he wins a championship, there can be no greater agenda on his list given the circumstances. The title is the only thing that can end all the controversies surrounding him and place him on the highest pedestal there is.

Getting the mic in the podcast, ‘The Teardown’, Denny talked of his chances at the championship and tried a shot at providing a holistic view of his thoughts. He said, “Will I ever win a championship? I don’t know. But I know I’m good enough to. I think that there’s been other Champions that I feel like I’m better than. But circumstances haven’t worked out for me in one way shape or form so I certainly know we’re capable.”

If points can be given to a driver’s honesty, Denny could have benefited from this statement. But unfortunately, that isn’t the case, and he could once again be poking at a sleeping bear. Not wise with stakes so high, but Denny obviously doesn’t care.

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Can Denny get the better of the “other champions” and regain the capability he claims to have in 2023?

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Turn the dials back to the years when big fish like Jimmie Johnson retired, and you can probably find a younger Denny Hamlin dreaming of an obstacle-free championship run. But even though the apexes were gone and it was his turn to be one, he never clawed in the championship.

Drivers younger and far more inexperienced than him won the NASCAR championship right under his nose, fair and square. Since the elimination format was introduced in 2014, Denny has appeared in the Championship 4 race at the Phoenix Raceway on four occasions and bit the dust every single time.

While it can never be found for sure whom he talked of when he said that there have been other champions that he feels he is better than, it is interesting to note that four of the drivers who have won championships since Denny debuted almost 20 years ago are in contention with him in the 2023 round of 12.

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Whether his words draw the ire of the former champions and they hit back is a question. But if we know one thing, it is that NASCAR carries more drama than any Hollywood blockbuster this time of the year. And Joe Gibbs Racing’s face-man has his certainties sorted once more.

He was brimming with positivity when he said, “It’s our year. I just feel we have got it all put together. Nothing to stop us at this point.”, at Bristol, he faces his next duel at the Wild West. Will 2023 be the year he finally attains salvation? Let us know what you think in the comments below!