The best NASCAR driver to never win a Cup Series championship believes he can lose that tag this year.
At least that’s what Denny Hamlin told the Bristol Motor Speedway crowd on Saturday night as they booed his third win of the year, 51st of his career and third in the prestigious night race at the Tennessee short track.
“It’s our year. I just feel we’ve got it all put together,” Hamlin said. “Nothing to stop us at this point.”
Hamlin has won the storied season-opening Daytona 500 three times and most of NASCAR’s crown jewel races at least once, but he has never secured a Cup Series title in 18 years with Joe Gibbs Racing. He signed a contract extension this month, and his car was among the strongest in the first round of the 10-race playoffs.
He is third behind William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports and JGR teammate Martin Truex Jr. with the points reset for NASCAR’s second round, with the field trimmed from its original 16 contenders to a dozen.