Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Oct 17, 2026; Avondale, Arizona, USA; Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin (11) during qualifying for the Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway.
This was supposed to be the year that Denny Hamlin finally claimed the NASCAR Cup Series championship that has eluded him throughout his career. The 45-year-old future Hall of Famer was dominant through the later stages of the regular season, and entered the Chase for a championship as the heavy favorite.
However, it seems that any thing could go wrong, has gone for the historically cursed superstar, and he now sits in fourth place in the standings with just three races remaining.
Hamlin is only 31 points behind leader Kyle Larson after Sunday’s race at Phoenix. But after squandering yet another opportunity for a big day, he sounds as he’s starting doubt whether or not he’ll ever actually lay claim to a champion.
Denny Hamlin’s Post-Race Comments Raise Doubts About Confidence
Hamlin looked set to make up a significant amount ground on Larson, who struggled all day before crashing and finishing in 34th. However, he suffered a blown tire late in the race and came home in 28th.
Afterward, he was asked if he took any consolation from the fact that he made up ground on Larson.
“I don’t know. I mean, not really, because it’s about our day; it’s not about others’ days,” he said. “We just have not finished races to the best of our capability, and so, if we can start doing that, like, in a really big hurry, then you never know what could happen.”
So, knowing that he and his team haven’t executed the way they need to in the Chase, how does Hamlin feel about his championship chances?
“Some things are meant to be, some things are not meant to be,” he said. “I think that, you know, there’s been so many cards that have been dealt in my career in these Playoffs, or Chase, that I’ve seen it all, and nothing surprises me anymore.
“Nothing surprises me. I’m not shell-shocked, because I’ve been here.”
That’s far from Hamlin’s usual confidence, which borders on bravado. And it raises the question if he’s already lost hope in his chances to win a championship in 2026.