Denny Hamlin claims he can still triumph over Martin Truex Jr. to win the Cup regular season title
Denny Hamlin started the race pole Sunday but finished P2 behind Willaim Byron.
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Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. (Via IMAGO)
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has said he can still win the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series regular season title. He is currently second in the championship table, 39 points behind his teammate and 2017 Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. Hamlin was able to close the gap with his fellow Toyota driver after securing a P2 finish at Watkins Glen on Sunday.
While Hamlin scored a podium, his teammate wasn’t that far behind as Truex Jr. was able to secure a P6 finish in his No:19 Toyota Camry, proving the massive positive momentum they have had over the last two months. Hamlin had the opportunity to secure the win as he started the race on pole but failed to remain competitive after losing the lead to Michael McDowell on lap three.
While discussing the regular season championship and the 15 bonus playoff points that come with it, Hamlin pointed out that they still have a genuine shot at it. He added that the fight would have been more entertaining if not for the 25-point deduction he got after he admitted in his podcast that he intentionally wrecked Ross Chastain.
“I mean, it’s doable. You’ve got to have things go your way. But yeah, if we can talk NASCAR into those 25 points they took away earlier in the season, we’d really make it interesting,” the 23XI Racing co-owner said, as reported by Motorsports.Com.
In case you missed it: Jeff Gordan explains how Chase Elliott ran out of fuel at Watkins Glen
Denny Hamlin is going to Daytona as a happy man
While a victory was always the desirable aim for Hamlin in New York, he wasn’t disheartened or disappointed for missing out on the win. He pointed out that he missed out on the lead earlier as McDowell was in killer mode while he was settling, and when he got back, he got caught up behind winner Willaim Byron.
“I’m happy with my day. It takes me a while to get going, and with (Michael) McDowell there at the beginning, like he’s just ready, and he’s on kill, and I’m kind of working my way into it,” Hamlin said after the race.
“I just lost the lead because I looked at (Byron’s) back bumper the rest of the day. It was a fun race. Appreciate the guys here and Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing for giving me a good car and giving me the tools I need to get better,” Hamlin added.
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Justin P Joy
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