On Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, Denny Hamlin secured his best finish in the early part of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series by crossing the finish line in fifth place in the Straight Talk Wireless 500. Driving the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, Hamlin’s result marked his first top-five placement during the initial four events of the season, as he remained competitive throughout much of the 312-lap race and accumulated valuable stage points.
Hamlin Describes His Car’s Lack of Pace Compared to Race Leaders
Despite running near the front for significant portions, Hamlin openly acknowledged after the race that his car was not fast enough to contend for victory. He emphasized that while his team delivered steady speed, they were unable to challenge the dominant cars in the final laps.
Not enough. That’s a good overall summary. We just didn’t have the ‘it’ that we needed. I felt like I was always just a little behind the 20 and the 12. I thought we were kind of the next tier of cars, but we didn’t have anything more than that.
?Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Hamlin referred to Christopher Bell in the No. 20 Toyota and Ryan Blaney in the No. 12 Ford, who consistently ran at the front. Blaney overtook Ty Gibbs with nine laps remaining and claimed his first triumph of the season by leading 28 laps and finishing 0.399 seconds ahead of Bell. Kyle Larson secured third place, followed by Gibbs in fourth and Hamlin in fifth.
During the race’s early phases, Hamlin maintained contention, finishing fifth in Stage 1 and improving to second place behind Bell in Stage 2.
Pit Road Challenges Impacted Hamlin’s Track Position
Pit road issues further limited Hamlin’s ability to stay among the leaders. He acknowledged that while the team struggled during key moments on pit road, other teams executed stronger stops, especially when Hamlin’s car was positioned mid-pack.
We had some issues when we did have track position. We didn’t have a great day on pit road. They had a great day when we were kind of in the middle of the pack. But those are the ebbs and flows. Everyone is trying to get reps and rhythm for the season. We’ve just got to work on it and get a little better for sure.
?Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Despite these difficulties, Hamlin felt the car’s performance aligned closely with his expectations coming into the race weekend.
This is exactly what I thought we were. I thought we probably improved our car about three to four spots overnight. But we were going to need a big chunk overnight to be a race-winning car, and we just didn’t have enough tools in the toolbox to adjust that much.
?Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Stage finishes contributed valuable points for the No. 11 team, giving them an important boost in the standings.
Tire Wear and Race Cautions Played a Significant Role
The event was marked by multiple caution periods, many caused by incidents linked to aggressive tire management on Phoenix Raceway’s one-mile oval. Hamlin noted that excessive tire wear and failures led to several interruptions during the race.
It looked like wrecks and debris. There was a lot of tire damage and tire issues with guys pushing the limits. Goodyear brought another tire here that’s great. It really allows the driver and the team to control their destiny. It’s always going to be a battle of how hard you can push it.
?Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Although the frequent restarts affected the rhythm of the race, Hamlin maintained that the overall competition remained intense and competitive.
I thought the racing was great. Overall, there were just a lot of cautions because of restarts and guys getting into each other. That’s just part of it.
?Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Driver
Implications for Hamlin and the Season Ahead
Hamlin’s fifth-place finish has helped him improve his standing to 12th in the NASCAR Cup Series leaderboard after four races. While the result did not meet the team’s highest ambitions, the experience and points gained lay a foundation for upcoming events. Hamlin and the Joe Gibbs Racing crew will look to refine their car’s speed and pit strategies as the 2026 season progresses, striving to challenge drivers like Bell, Blaney, and Larson who currently lead the series.
.@dennyhamlin reflects on his day at Phoenix Raceway, where he locked down a fifth place finish.
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— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) March 9, 2026
