Why Denny Hamlin Is Dominating NASCAR Headlines Today—Inside the Story Fans Can’t Stop Talking About

Denny Hamlin heads into Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 determined to turn a modest qualifying effort into the statement win that has eluded him so far this season. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran will roll off 14th at Charlotte Motor Speedway after weather-disrupted time trials, but history suggests he cannot be counted out: Hamlin’s 12 career top-10 finishes in the 600 are tied with Kyle Busch for most among active drivers, and he finished runner-up in last year’s marathon night race. The spotlight is brighter than usual thanks to Kyle Larson’s quest to become the first driver in 14 years to win both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Hamlin, whose No. 11 Toyota has already spoiled several Larson bids in recent seasons, embraces the role of spoiler. “If his team pulls off the double, great for the sport,” Hamlin said Friday. “But my job is to win for FedEx and JGR, and Charlotte is one of the crown jewels we haven’t checked off yet.” Hamlin’s 2025 campaign has been a roller-coaster. He owns six top-10 results but also three DNFs, including a fiery engine failure that ended his Texas run on Lap 74, reinforcing the feast-or-famine narrative that has trailed the 43-year-old all spring. Crew chief Chris Gabehart said the team spent the off-week shoring up reliability, introducing a revised cooling package that debuted during Friday practice. Teammate Christopher Bell believes Hamlin’s famously methodical driving style remains the template for Cup success. “He’s the backbone of our organization,” Bell noted, emphasizing Hamlin’s precision in managing long green-flag runs that often define the 600-mile grind. That trait could be decisive as track temperatures drop under the lights and handling becomes a moving target. Off the track, Hamlin acknowledged that negotiations on a new multi-year contract with Joe Gibbs Racing are “ongoing,” with sponsorship alignment cited as the final hurdle. “We’re close, just not there yet,” he told reporters, adding that he expects resolution before the July break. Industry sources say convenience-store chain ampm will expand its 2025 partnership to include two primary races, a potential key to locking the deal. A win Sunday would do more than boost bargaining power—it would mark Hamlin’s 53rd Cup victory and cement his Hall-of-Fame résumé with a second career crown-jewel triumph to pair with the 2024 Southern 500. It would also provide critical playoff points as NASCAR’s refreshed postseason format, which Hamlin publicly advocated for earlier this year, places greater emphasis on regular-season wins and stage victories. To get there, the No. 11 squad knows it must out-strategize Hendrick Motorsports on pit road. Gabehart hinted at an aggressive approach: “You don’t run 600 miles by playing defense. Two-stop or three-stop windows, we’ll take whichever puts us in clean air when it counts.” Late-race cautions are almost a Charlotte certainty, and Hamlin’s mastery of restarts could prove the equalizer against Larson’s raw speed. Weather forecasters predict cool, stable conditions—factors that traditionally favor Hamlin’s meticulous tire conservation. Should the race stay green in its final stages, expect the Virginian to methodically pick off spots as others fade. And if Larson arrives from Indy on a jet-lagged adrenaline high, Hamlin is poised to capitalize. For NASCAR fans, the storylines converge: a veteran chasing an elusive Charlotte win, a contract in the balance, and the possibility of derailing one of the sport’s most ambitious double-headers. For Hamlin, Sunday represents something simpler: 600 miles, one goal—finally parking the No. 11 in Charlotte’s victory lane.