During Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway, Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 team operated with a revised pit crew due to mandatory suspensions for Austin Maloney and Joel Bouagnon, who were sidelined after a wheel failure at the Bristol Night Race earlier this month. While the adjustments allowed the team to continue, an error during the final pit stop significantly affected the race outcome.
Hamlin entered the last pit stop as the leader but left the pit area in sixth position after issues with the replacement jackman. Despite the setback on pit road, Hamlin expressed appreciation for the efforts of his crew during Monday’s Actions Detrimental podcast.
“I’m gonna give props to my pit crew,”
Hamlin stated.
“… These guys are filling in, and they got a tough task. They hadn’t been in this position all year, maybe once or twice. I get it, the last pit stop was the one that is focused on. We did have one earlier, we came in first and come out fifth, sixth. I had driven my car the first run, I come in, I pit, we lose five spots, and I immediately say, ‘We’re all good. I’m gonna get this right back, don’t worry.’”
?Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
“I just knew what I had, but when it happens with a few laps to go, there’s just not much you’re gonna be able to do. It’s not like I just got a different pit crew, we put parts of this team together, part of my other team with them, like, pit crew members — their footwork matters. They’re dancing together. The jackman and the tire carrier and the changer and the carrier, when they run around the car, they get used to where all the other people step. It’s all choreographed.”
?Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Missed Victory: Hamlin’s Hopes Dashed on Final Lap
Before the final caution, Hamlin was positioned to claim his sixth win of the season and the milestone 60th victory in his NASCAR Cup Series career. In the overtime final lap, he aggressively pursued Bubba Wallace, attempting a pass on Turn 3. However, Hamlin lost traction, resulting in contact that forced Wallace into the wall. This incident eliminated both drivers from contention, allowing Chase Elliott to seize the race win.
Hamlin visibly felt the weight of the lost opportunity, reflecting on the frustration of being unable to overcome the pit road error and secure the victory.
“The guy’s head was slumped. You don’t think he felt it?”
Hamlin said.
“Do you know how rewarding it would have been to win that race for me and make up for that? Like, I think everyone sometimes can get guilty of seeing it through their lens and saying, ‘Ah, you did me wrong.’ No, maybe think about my motivations.”
“There’s nothing I wanted more than to win that race after those issues, and then go to Victory Lane, go to the jackman and say, ‘I got you.’ That would have been awesome, but it didn’t happen.”
?Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Implications for Hamlin and the Team Moving Forward
The results from Kansas Speedway highlight the delicate dynamics within a NASCAR pit crew and how crucial cohesion is for race success. Hamlin’s remarks emphasize the complexity of replacing key crew members mid-season and the instinctive coordination that develops over time among pit crew members, including the jackman, tire carriers, and changers.
Despite the setback, Hamlin’s recognition of his pit crew’s effort under challenging circumstances suggests strong team resilience. How the crew adapts in upcoming races will be critical for Hamlin’s ability to compete for victories as the NASCAR Cup Series progresses through the season.
