Denny Hamlin left New Hampshire disappointed after an incident with Ty Gibbs and struggles with speed pushed him to finish 12th, despite aiming for a top-ten result. He acknowledged that better luck and improved teamwork could have led to a stronger finish.
Turning Focus to Kansas Speedway With Confidence
Heading into the Denny Hamlin Kansas race, he is looking forward with a clear mind following a series of productive discussions about last week’s difficulties. Hamlin’s record on the mile-and-a-half Kansas oval is impressive, boasting an average finish of 12.9 across 34 starts, including four wins and 14 top-five finishes.
Despite these accomplishments, Hamlin remains keenly aware that one mistake could cost him victory, underscoring his desire to avoid the errors that have previously undermined his performance at Kansas.
I feel good about it. I feel as though we’ve been super strong here the last four or five years. It’s interesting, this is the one track on the schedule where we just haven’t had a clean race,
he said.
We’ve had pit road issues, we’ve had mechanical failures, all kind of different things that have derailed us from finishing or winning most of the races we’ve been at here. I’m just praying for a mistake-free race on my end, and if that’s the case, we are going to be in contention like we always are here,
Hamlin added.
Milestone Opportunity and Strong Starting Position
Hamlin’s last victory at Kansas came in spring 2023, and a fifth win at the track would mark his 60th career Cup series triumph. This milestone holds special significance, as Hamlin leads all active drivers in wins at the Kansas oval. His recent consistency is notable as well, with seven of his last eight Kansas races ending inside the top ten.
NASCAR Insights ranks Hamlin no lower than ninth in all five key statistical areas for similar tracks, highlighting his competitiveness. This weekend, he will start from the front row in the second position—the best Kansas starting spot for him in two decades. His previous best was third in spring 2016, though that race ended poorly after a late crash involving Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson.
Looking Ahead: A Chance to Overcome Past Setbacks
With both favorable history and a strong qualifying position supporting him, Denny Hamlin is determined to make the most of this opportunity at Kansas Speedway. A clean, mistake-free performance could help him erase past frustrations and add another significant victory to his accomplished career.
