Denny Hamlin has stored the win counter ticking for greater than twenty years within the NASCAR Cup Collection, and his newest strike at Las Vegas Motor Speedway pushed his tally to 61. The title chase nonetheless hangs over his profession as an unfinished enterprise, however cracking the checklist of the game’s prime winners has him knocking on a uncommon door.
For years, Hamlin circled 60 because the quantity to chase, figuring out the title struggle can slip by a driver’s fingers. That time hit residence once more at Phoenix Raceway final 12 months, the place a late warning pulled the rug out from underneath him. So, now, wins, in his ebook, are the measure that nobody can take away.
With Hamlin’s deal anticipated to run by subsequent season, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has set his sights on 67 earlier than he hangs up the helmet. Crew chief Chris Gayle, nevertheless, just isn’t prepared to attract a line within the sand.
From his aspect of the pit field, the goal retains shifting. “I believe he stated 60 earlier than he was achieved, proper? And so he’s hit that quantity and eclipsed it, and he’s nonetheless racing. So I don’t know. I don’t know what may occur, and I do know he’s signed up for a pair years right here.”
Hamlin has already cleared the bar he as soon as set, and so long as the engine retains firing, Gayle sees no cause to place a ceiling on it. Plans can change, and so long as the tempo holds, the wins can hold coming.
“So, man, I hope he hits that quantity and past particularly as a result of I need to be concerned with that and win that many races developing right here. So, yeah, you understand, I don’t know what his plans may change. I believe he positively needs to be aggressive on the finish of his profession, and also you’re seeing that. So I believe so long as he can keep aggressive, we’ll see what occurs,” Gayle continued.
