Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR Championship Hopes Dashed By Rivals In Savage Annonymous Poll

Veteran NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s quest for a championship title has faced a sharp blow following a biting anonymous poll conducted by Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. Surveyed among NASCAR Playoff drivers, opinions diverged on whether Hamlin, currently driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, will ever secure the coveted Cup Series championship.

In an anonymous assessment that unveiled varying levels of support and skepticism, 12 drivers expressed confidence that Hamlin will win a championship before retiring. Conversely, four respondents doubted his prospects, believing he might end his career without the title. The poll aimed to capture the candid and sometimes brutal views within the racing community.

“He’s obviously a really good racecar driver. A very smart racer. Probably understands a lot of the sport as good or better than anyone else because he gets to see both sides of it. He’s put himself in that position many times. You’d think eventually the odds would work in his favor,” one driver shared.

“If you asked 10 years ago, a resounding yes,” commented another unnamed driver.

However, comparative and skeptical perspectives emerged too.

“I don’t really know if he will or not. He’s plenty good enough to. It just seems like something has always happened. It’s surprising he hasn’t already. Maybe he won’t because it was also surprising Mark Martin never did,” one driver remarked.

Hamlin showed impressive form in the year’s first half, clinching victories at Bristol, Richmond, and Dover. This period also saw him maintaining remarkable consistency with five straight top-5 finishes from Dover to Gateway.

Nonetheless, the second half of the season painted a different picture. In the last 11 races spanning from Sonoma to Darlington, Hamlin failed to secure a victory, managing only two top-5 finishes and two top-10 finishes.

His performance was hampered by a series of on-track issues, wrecks, and engine problems, raising questions about his ability to maintain the momentum crucial for championship contention.

As Hamlin enters the NASCAR Playoffs, he holds the sixth seed.

What Is The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Field?

1. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 2,040 points
2. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 2,032 points
3. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, 2,028 points
4. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 2,022 points
5. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford, 2,018 points
6. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 2,015 points
7. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 2,014 points
8. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford, 2,008 points
9. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford, 2,007 points
10. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford, 2,007 points
11. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, 2,006 points
12. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 2,005 points
13. Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, 2,005 points
14. Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, 2,005 points
15. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 2,004 points
16. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 2,004 points