Denny Hamlin concurs with Joe Gibbs Racing’s competition director Chris Gabehart that Team Penske appears nearly unbeatable for the NASCAR Cup Series championship after Sunday’s race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The race utilized the same rules package and right-side tires that will be used at the upcoming championship finale at Phoenix Raceway, giving a clear indication of which team holds the advantage.
The New Hampshire event was run on a one-mile track mirroring Phoenix’s short track rules configuration, which included the recently introduced right-side tires. This combination highlighted Penske’s strength, as the team continues to dominate under these conditions.
Latest Race Results Confirm Penske’s Edge
Team Penske has previously won all three NextGen-era championships held at Phoenix, with Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney both securing titles. At New Hampshire, Ryan Blaney won the race while teammate Joey Logano qualified on the pole and remained in the top-five throughout the event. These outcomes reaffirm their superiority under the current setup.
Chris Gabehart emphasized this advantage, stating,
“The biggest thing you have to take away from today, with this aero package and the same tires at Phoenix and a one-mile raceway, the Penske cars are completely untouchable again,”
addressing reporters after the race.
Hamlin Acknowledges Penske’s Advantage and the Challenge Ahead
Hamlin admitted to feeling the pressure of Penske’s performance but also emphasized the need for his team to keep striving despite the tough competition. He added,
“I know what it’s like to be untouchable. We’ve been fortunate enough to be on the right side of that, but the reality is we have a lot of work to do with this package. And that’s the focus. The rest of it is just noise. We have to get better.”
On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin expressed that if a Penske driver reaches the final round, it is highly probable they will win the championship. The only realistic chance to prevent Penske from taking the title would be to eliminate them in the semifinal round.
Hamlin commented on this scenario, saying,
“If you’re not a Penske fan, that’s probably what you should hope.”
No Quick Fixes Expected Before Phoenix Finale
When asked if there was a chance to close the gap on Penske’s speed before the November championship race, Hamlin was doubtful. He explained,
“If we re-racked and ran tomorrow, we would have the same result. It’ll take an extensive overhauling of philosophy to get another two percent of grip out of our cars.”
He added,
“We’re not going to be able to tweak our way to the speed that the Penske cars had. If they carry that moving forward, we’re not going to be able to — we will not overcome that, if it correlates to Phoenix.”
Hamlin anticipates a repeat of the recent race conditions when the drivers head to the desert for the finale.
Looking Ahead to the Championship Battle at Phoenix
With Team Penske’s history of success at Phoenix Raceway and their demonstrated advantage in the latest races, the championship battle appears poised to follow a similar pattern. Teams outside Penske recognize the significant challenge they face in overcoming this lead, especially given the limited time and room for improvement.
The pressure will mount as the season ends in November, with fans and drivers alike awaiting whether any team can disrupt Penske’s dominance or if history will once again favor Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, or another Penske driver.
