Ross Chastain unveils Cracker Barrel 400 guitar trophy
NASCAR Cup driver Ross Chastain was in Nashville to unveil the 2025 Cracker Barrel 400 guitar trophy at Gibson Storage.
Denny Hamlin, regardless of not having a NASCAR Cup Sequence championship, has 56 profession wins, making him the winningest Cup driver and not using a title.Hamlin is targeted on persevering with to win races, aiming for 60 profession victories.
If Denny Hamlin is the best driver to by no means win a NASCAR Cup Sequence championship, then so be it. That is form of how the 44-year-old driver with the eleventh most profession Cup wins in historical past is beginning to have a look at it.
Heading into the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 1 (6 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime), the driving force of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and co-owner with Michael Jordan of 23XI Racing is poised for the second time in 4 years to make a run on the championship. He certified for the NASCAR playoffs by successful at Martinsville on March 30 and adopted that up with a win the subsequent week at Darlington.
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These two victories give Hamlin 56 for his profession, making him the winningest driver in NASCAR Cup Sequence historical past and not using a championship.
So, how does he really feel about that?
“I do not assume that it may outline my profession,” stated Hamlin, who’s extensively thought of a future NASCAR Corridor of Famer. “I’ve received three Daytona (500s), three Southern 500s, a Coke 600 (Charlotte), I might like to get the Brickyard 400, I used to be actually shut final 12 months. I simply really feel as if I’ve achieved sufficient.”
Is Denny Hamlin dashing towards his first NASCAR Cup championship?
Whereas Hamlin could also be happy with what already has been achieved in his 20-year Cup profession, he is not taking his foot off the pedal anytime quickly. Alongside along with his two wins, he was second at Bristol and Phoenix, fifth at Miami, and sixth at Atlanta this season.
“Have I moved the bar or targets for myself over the course of my profession? Completely,” Hamlin stated. “It was once I used to be simply aiming for 40 wins, after which I moved the bar to 50. And now it is 60. So I consistently problem myself.”
Hamlin was in rivalry till late in final week’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. He led for 51 laps earlier than experiencing gas points with 15 laps left.
Hamlin wouldn’t be the primary elite driver to fail to win a championship if that’s the way it finally ends up. Others embody Corridor of Famers Carl Edwards, Davey Allison, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin.
Denny Hamlin’s objective nonetheless a NASCAR championship
Earlier than the playoffs have been launched in 2004 drivers received championships by accumulating factors by means of the season. From 1949-2003 the driving force with the best level whole was awarded the championship.
The primary driver to win a championship within the playoff system was Kurt Busch (2004). The newest champion is Joey Logano (2024).
“The championship is an accomplishment that I undoubtedly need,” Hamlin stated. “It is the crowning accomplishment in our sport. However I solely can management what I can management.”
Hamlin has run effectively in three of the 4 races at Nashville. He received the pole and completed sixth in 2022, led 81 laps earlier than being third in 2023 and received the pole once more in 2024 and completed twelfth.
