Denny Hamlin faces steep roadblocks on quest for elusive Cup title

gettyimages-2170233482 — CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 04: Denny Hamlin speaks with the media during NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day at the Charlotte Convention Center on September 04, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

Only a month ago, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was in position to challenge for the Regular Season Championship, but a penalty he and the team received two weeks ago for a Toyota self-reported error—which included the loss of 75 championship points and 10 playoff points—has put the No. 11 JGR Toyota group in a rally mode as the 10-race championship portion of the season begins this week.

A three-time winner this season, Hamlin goes into the Playoffs ranked sixth, 25 points behind leader Larson.

Still racing for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship in an otherwise highly-decorated 54-win, 20-year career, Hamlin said Wednesday a title in 2024 would be the quintessential capstone, especially considering the challenging circumstances he’s faced.

“I think it will if it has a positive outcome,” Hamlin said of rebounding from the penalty during this championship run. “I can’t honestly say it’s something we rallied around. I mean, certainly it took away 15 points and when you add it all up in the regular season, 15 points every round we lost, that’s really hard to overcome, but we can.

“We can and that’s the good news. … if we can get through these first two or three rounds and have a shot at Phoenix, then that’s going to be a very rewarding feeling. If there’s ever a year to win it, do it when there’s the most adversity on the line.”

Hamlin has won races at nine of the 10 current Playoff tracks. The Charlotte ROVAL, which has only been on the scheduled for six years, is the only Playoff venue where he hasn’t hoisted a trophy.

“What I love about our team is I feel like I have one of the best crew chiefs, the best teams in the garage, and there’s only two to three of us that knows they can win every single week they hit the track and we are one of them,” Hamlin said.

“If I could make it to the Championship 4 this year with all the variables that got thrown our way, it will be one of the more rewarding accomplishments of my career.”