At the NASCAR Cup Series event held at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, Chase Elliott faced a major setback due to a questionable pit call from crew chief Alan Gustafson just before rain arrived, ending his hopes for a win with a sixth-place finish. Denny Hamlin shared his perspective on Elliott’s performance and overall driving style following the race.
During an episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin expressed skepticism about Elliott’s capacity to dominate races in the manner of some of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates like Kyle Larson. Hamlin categorized Elliott’s recent strong showing at Dover as an unusual performance and said Elliott typically does not lead exceptionally long portions of races but instead stays within the top ten, delivering consistent results without overwhelming dominance.
To me it felt like one of his stronger performances…I just feel as though Chase isn’t one of those guys that leads 100-200 laps in races, right? He’ll get you really good finishes and he’ll get you some wins, but it’s not dominating.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Hamlin elaborated further on the podcast by noting that Elliott’s lead in the regular season points standings is largely due to consistent finishes and benefiting from the recent performance declines of several championship contenders such as William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, and Hamlin himself. While others struggled with issues over the past two months, Elliott maintained steady results.
Six weeks ago, he was 10th to 15th every week and then would finish in the top 10 because attrition and whatever, and now he’s leading. A lot of it is [William] Byron‘s had a very tough couple months. All of us guys at the top, there was three or four of us that had major issues. Chase doesn’t have those.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Earlier this season, fans expressed frustration with the No. 9 team’s cautious approach, which focused more on collecting points than aggressively pursuing wins. Hamlin stated that while the team has maintained this strategy, they have improved considerably since the start of 2025, putting Elliott in a stronger position as the playoffs approach.
He’s made a massive run, and it’s not just because of this one week. I’ve just feel like they’ve turned the corner, and they are stronger now than what they were.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Chase Elliott Reflects on the Setback at Dover
Following the race, Chase Elliott spoke openly about his disappointing finish despite starting from pole position. He acknowledged the challenges and difficulties faced during the event but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to recover and improve in the upcoming races, emphasizing the resilience required during a long season.
You know you’re still early enough in the event at that point that there’s still a lot of time to recover. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows all the time, so you just have to deal with whatever comes your way, and we had an issue come our way and I felt like we’ve dealt with it well.
—Chase Elliott, NASCAR Driver
With five regular-season races remaining before the playoffs commence, Elliott is focused on winning at least one more race to build momentum and accumulate crucial playoff points. Maintaining his grip on the regular-season championship under the Next-Gen car format remains another primary objective.
Elliott’s consistency has made him a formidable competitor, even if his style lacks the dominating track control of others. His ability to avoid the issues that plagued many contenders in recent months places him in a favorable position as the season nears its crucial stages.
Evaluating Elliott’s Approach Versus Other Championship Contenders
Denny Hamlin’s remarks highlight a broader contrast between Elliott’s careful but steady racing philosophy and the more aggressive approaches favored by dominant drivers like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. While Larsons and Bells of the field often lead major portions of races, Elliott finds success through tactical positioning and capitalizing on attrition or mistakes from others.
This strategic difference places Elliott in a unique spot in the NASCAR hierarchy: he may not often lead hundreds of laps consecutively, but his consistent presence near the front has allowed him to gather points steadily. This approach has arguably prevented him from falling behind when other top contenders experienced struggles in recent weeks.
Impact of Team Strategy and Crew Chief Decisions
The controversial pit call by crew chief Alan Gustafson before the rain at Dover proved pivotal, ultimately costing Elliott a stronger finish. Such tactical decisions are a major factor in NASCAR outcomes and can shift the momentum of a race and a driver’s season.
Despite some early-season criticism about prioritizing points over aggressive winning attempts, Elliott’s team appears to have adapted while maintaining their methodical style. This balance has helped them improve overall performance and stay competitive against the fluctuating success of other teams.
Looking Ahead in the NASCAR Cup Series Season
As the regular season draws closer to the playoffs, the focus intensifies on whether Elliott can transition from consistent contender to multiple race winner. Securing additional victories and playoff points will be critical in his quest to defend or reclaim a regular-season championship.
Denny Hamlin’s cautious assessment of Elliott’s capacity to dominate highlights the ongoing debate among NASCAR observers about the best path to success—whether through dominating track control or steady point accumulation. The season’s closing events will reveal which approach delivers the greatest rewards.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How did Denny Hamlin get so rich?
A. Starting in 2006 with Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin began his full-time Cup Series journey. He’s achieved 51 Cup Series wins, including three Daytona 500 victories in 2016, 2019, and 2020, and has earned millions in the process.
Q. Did Denny Hamlin and Jordan Fish get married?
A. Denny Hamlin is set to marry Jordan Fish. Since she loved dancing as a child, she performed for the NBA team now called the Charlotte Hornets. She met Hamlin while performing at a game for the Bobcats, the team’s former name.
Q. How did Denny Hamlin get rich?
A. Denny Hamlin has built a net worth of about $65 million through his racing career, endorsement deals, team ownership, and smart real estate investments. Whether driving or managing a racing team, Hamlin consistently makes successful decisions both on and off the track.
Q. How is Denny Hamlin so rich?
A. Denny Hamlin has a $65 million net worth, supported by over $100 million earned through NASCAR contracts and race winnings. His wealth is further boosted by big endorsement deals with companies like FedEx, Jordan Brand, and Toyota. Additionally, he co-owns 23XI Racing, a team worth more than $100 million.
