Charlotte Convention Center (Charlotte, N.C.) — Perhaps the 20th attempt will finally bring success.
Denny Hamlin is heading into his 20th NASCAR playoffs. Despite being ninth on the all-time wins list with 64 victories, his storyline remains familiar as he approaches The Chase — will he finally clinch a championship, or continue to be known as the greatest driver never to win a title?
“I’ve felt that way many times,” Hamlin told me during Chase media day on Wednesday, when I asked if this year might be his breakthrough. “You just don’t know. If things fall into place like they have been, then absolutely, this could be my year.”
Still, there are reasons to doubt a fairy tale ending. Last year, Hamlin’s father was terminally ill, and Hamlin hoped to win a championship while his father was alive. Tragically, his father passed away in a house fire in December.
Maybe fate simply had to wait. Hamlin acknowledged before the season that this year could go either way. After four race wins, he enters The Chase as the top seed.
“I definitely wanted it last year, but if you can win just one title, you won’t be too particular about the timing,” Hamlin said. “It’s been a tough year overall, so I really appreciate the racing gods sticking with us.”
Perhaps those racing gods knew this year would be his moment to contend. The 2026 Chase format has returned to a simpler setup resembling the original, rather than the elimination-style format NASCAR used from 2014–2025. This year’s Chase is a straightforward 10-race mini-season with 16 drivers competing for the title. As the top seed, Hamlin starts with a 25-point lead over second place and holds a 100-point advantage over the 16th spot.
Last season, Hamlin appeared poised to win but lost ground after taking four tires during a late caution and couldn’t catch Kyle Larson, who had fresher tires.
“This might be my best shot because it won’t come down to a single restart or one race,” Hamlin said. “There’s enough races now that it’s not one moment or a caution that can derail everything. Over the long haul, I like our chances.”
Hamlin races for Joe Gibbs Racing but also co-owns 23XI Racing with NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. Two drivers from his team—Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace—made The Chase this year. While Hamlin has traditionally scaled back ownership duties during the playoffs, he plans to dedicate even more time to his own Chase campaign this season.
This focus is partly due to the new playoff format. Previously, in the three-race elimination rounds, Hamlin sometimes locked in his advancement early and was able to ease off for the final race. This year, there’s no room for coasting.
“I’ve tried to carve out more time during the week for The Chase, so I can dig deeper into track details or trends,” Hamlin explained.
He has won at all 10 Chase tracks during his career and has amassed the most points at the eight Chase venues that NASCAR has already raced at this season.
“Everything but Talladega is my track,” Hamlin said. “We’ve had strong runs at all Chase tracks recently, so our notebook is solid.”
If Hamlin wins the championship, would he retire in 2027, which is the final year of his contract and the season he has hinted might be his last?
“I wish,” Hamlin responded. “I really wish that could be the case, but I doubt it.”
Fan Take: This moment feels pivotal for Hamlin, as the new Chase format offers him a better shot than ever before to finally secure a championship and rewrite his legacy. For NASCAR fans, a Hamlin title would not only be a thrilling end to a longstanding storyline but also reinforce the sport’s ongoing appeal with familiar names rising to the top once again.
Source: www.foxsports.com
