Denny Hamlin Remains Confident After Darlington Chase Setback: 'Still in the Spot Everybody Else Wishes They Were'

Denny Hamlin entered the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway determined to improve on his recent performances at the track. But Sunday's opening race of the NASCAR Chase for the Cup ended in disappointment, with Hamlin finishing 18th after a costly pit stop and on-track contact. Despite the rough start, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver remains defiant and confident about his championship chances.

Hamlin, who drives the No. 11 Toyota, finished third in both Stage 1 and Stage 2 at Darlington. However, a slow pit stop in the second stage dropped him deep into traffic. While working his way back through the field, Hamlin made contact with Michael McDowell's No. 71 car, sending his right front into the outside wall and causing significant damage. He went a lap down but managed to recover to 18th by the checkered flag, thanks to his team's efforts.

Despite the setback, Hamlin's position atop the Chase standings remains intact. He still leads the playoff field, though his advantage over second-place Christopher Bell, who won Sunday's race, has narrowed to just 12 points.

Hamlin's Defiant Response to Darlington Disaster

In a post-race interview with NASCAR media, Hamlin made it clear that he is not discouraged by the Darlington result.

“We'll do our best to execute a much better day next week than what we did this week. Still in the spot everybody else wishes they were,”

he said.

When asked if he was tired of driving damaged race cars, the 45-year-old veteran, competing in his 20th career post-season in the Cup Series, responded with characteristic composure.

“Not really. I mean, you know, it's a professional sport, so you can't have big mistakes. We just had a tough pit stop there that set us back from third to about 20th. Once we got back there, you know, you're with guys that are a little bit more aggressive and don't really care about the points or anything like that,”

Hamlin explained.

Hamlin was referring to McDowell, who is not in the Chase and therefore had less at stake in the race. McDowell raced Hamlin more aggressively, which Hamlin believes led to the incident that derailed his charge.

Pre-Race Concerns Prove Prescient

Hamlin had expressed concerns before the race about potential mistakes. In an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, he admitted to warning his team about lapses and their potential cost. He initiated a protocol of checking things three times, similar to how pilots verify procedures before taking action in an aircraft.

Those concerns were well-founded. Hamlin's regular season was highly consistent, with four victories, but it ended on a rocky note. He faced issues with his brake pedal at Iowa and miscommunication among his crew at New Hampshire. These hiccups could prove costly if repeated during the Chase, and Darlington served as a warning.

Hamlin's Confidence in His Chase Chances

Before the Darlington weekend, Hamlin had expressed strong confidence in his playoff prospects.

“You can't always control all the variables, but I would say, you know, if I had to draw a schedule, it'd be as good as it could get for us,”

he said after the New Hampshire race.

Despite the Darlington setback, Hamlin still earned 32 valuable stage points, which kept him at No. 1 in the standings. He will look to build on that as the Chase moves to the next round at Madison.

What's Next for Denny Hamlin in the Chase?

Hamlin knows he cannot afford another disaster. With the gap to Bell now just 12 points, every race matters. The next stop is Madison, where Hamlin will aim to rebound and extend his lead. His performance in the coming weeks will be critical as he pursues another championship.

For Iowa NASCAR fans, Hamlin's resilience and competitive spirit are qualities that resonate. As the Chase heats up, all eyes will be on whether Hamlin can turn his Darlington misfortune into motivation for a strong playoff run.

Frequently Asked Questions About Denny Hamlin's Chase Start

How did Denny Hamlin finish at Darlington?

Denny Hamlin finished 18th at the Cook Out Southern 500 after a slow pit stop and contact with Michael McDowell's car caused significant damage to his Toyota.

Is Denny Hamlin still leading the NASCAR Chase standings?

Yes, Denny Hamlin remains the No. 1 driver in the Chase standings, though his lead over Christopher Bell has been reduced to 12 points.

What did Denny Hamlin say about his Darlington performance?

Hamlin said, “We'll do our best to execute a much better day next week than what we did this week. Still in the spot everybody else wishes they were.”

Photo: Yahoo Sports