Qualifying Highlights: Cup Series at Michigan
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Newsweek
14-06-2025
- Newsweek
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Delivers Brutal Reality Check for Denny Hamlin
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has revealed a startling statistic about NASCAR drivers with the most wins after 700 race starts. While several renowned names have more than five wins to their names, Denny Hamlin's single win comes as a brutal reality check for many. Aged 44, and with 57 race wins, Hamlin has yet to win a NASCAR championship. However, considering the approximate number of years he might continue racing, Dale Jr. estimated how many races Hamlin could realistically win before retiring. Though Hamlin recently secured his third victory of the season at Michigan last weekend, suggesting his top form, Dale Jr. offered a different perspective with the stats he found on social media. Revealing on his Dale Jr. Download podcast, he said: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan."I saw on social media that I was like, damn, that's a cool stat. After 700 starts, Jeff Gordon won six races. After 700 starts, Harvick won seven. Those are big names. Take Richard Petty off the list because he won 22 after 700 starts, but he was 38 or 39 when he made his 700 starts. So hell, you know, take him off the list. "At the top of this list—most wins after 700 starts—it's Harvick with seven, Jeff Gordon with six, and then it's like threes and twos and ones. Denny just won, so he's got one after 700. "How many more does he win before that race at Michigan? I thought the over/under was six. The line was six wins. Like, could you imagine going into Michigan thinking Denny Hamlin's going to win only six races the rest of his life at the Cup level? "That's crazy. But that's what the odds would say. Now, he's maybe moved that line to maybe eight or nine wins—maybe 10 wins, I guess, since he won this weekend. How many years do you think he races to win?" The point prompted Dale Jr. to admit that Hamlin might be having a NASCAR retirement plan in mind, but hinted that it won't be easy taking the big step. He added: "The guy may be looking at two years, but if he still wins three races, is he really going to retire if he's still winning? You don't think he'll be lured to go drive for his own team for a little while? "I think he has a plan in his mind when he thinks he's going to retire, but I think that he's going to find out when he gets to that doorstep, it's going to be harder to do than he thinks." Hamlin admitted back in April that he has a retirement plan on his mind, but didn't reveal the timeline. However, he confirmed that he will race for his own team, 23XI Racing, and retire from NASCAR in a phased manner.
Newsweek
11-06-2025
- Newsweek
Denny Hamlin Prioritizes Family Over Mexico Cup Race as Baby Arrival Nears
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Denny Hamlin's fiancée, Jordan Fish, is expected to deliver their third child, and as a result, Hamlin has revealed that he will prioritize family over the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico this weekend. Hamlin comes off the back of a spectacular win at Michigan International Speedway, his third triumph of the season. Despite being in top form, Hamlin confirmed on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that he will not be going to Mexico if Fish does not deliver before the race. He said: "I said it from the very beginning, if she hasn't had it by the time I have to leave for Mexico, then I'm not going to go to Mexico. I think that's the proper thing to do. Letting her call the shots, I think that's the best thing. Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Yahoo! Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan."When she, her body, and her mind says it's time, then that's what we'll do. Ultimately, I need to be there for her during, post and all those things. I'm going to make sure I spend proper time with her and obviously, the racing will come second this week." 👶🏼 @dennyhamlin joined #SXMOnTrack and gave an update on his racing plans for Mexico City if his third child hasn't arrived yet. 🗣️ 'The racing will come second this week.' More → — SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) June 10, 2025 Considering Hamlin's situation, he has had a reserve driver ready for recent races, including Nashville and Michigan. Joe Gibbs Racing has kept NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Ryan Truex on standby. If Hamlin does not make it to Mexico this week, Truex will take the wheel in his place. Hamlin's race at Michigan last week was a great example of fine racing as he battled for the top spot and conserved fuel in the mileage race. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for William Byron, who led the race for 98 laps but had to pit after he ran out of fuel, leading him to finish P28. Addressing his win, Hamlin said in the post-race press conference: "I mean, it feels good. I'm so hung up on trying to get to a win total that I told you before I get really frustrated on the days that I feel like I had the car, I just didn't have the execution or I made a mistake. "It's gratifying. I look at the names that have won multiple. I think Jeff Gordon has the most, right? It's like these guys, I can't hold their helmet back. They're better than I am. I know they're better than I am because I've raced against them. "It just feels good because I'm going to hate it when I'm not at the level I'm at now. I certainly will retire very, very quickly after that. I'm not going to hang around and do it just to do it. This is how I want to spend my last season, is like still winning, you know? I'm going to keep going."
Newsweek
10-06-2025
- Newsweek
NASCAR Insiders Clap Back At Michigan Critics: 'It's a Damn Good Race'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. While many fans might have fumed at the race results of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway, considering the way Denny Hamlin secured victory, the fact of the matter is that such mileage races are also a form of pure stock car racing where drivers have to not only focus on raw speed but also have to conserve fuel to avoid running out towards the end of the race. The FireKeepers Casino 400 Cup race saw Carson Hocevar lead in the early stages, which meant he utilized all that his car had to offer. However, that burned a significant amount of fuel. With just 18 laps to go, Hocevar encountered a flat left rear tire, which forced him to pit, leading him to finish the race in P29. Hocevar admitted that despite the flat tire incident, he would still have to pit since he was running low on fuel. Similarly, William Byron, who led the race for 98 laps, ran out of fuel when there were just four laps to go. He drove hard in the end to defend the spot while Hamlin chased him, causing him to burn more fuel. Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, and Michael McDowell, driver of the #71 Delaware Life Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025... Christopher Bell, driver of the #20 Rheem Toyota, and Michael McDowell, driver of the #71 Delaware Life Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan. MorePitting in the closing stage of the race for fuel meant Byron finished the race in P28, allowing Hamlin to secure his third victory of the season. Being a seasoned driver, Hamlin conserved his fuel and gave a tough fight to Byron, setting an example of how performance and mileage can be achieved in the same race. Speaking on the Teardown podcast, The Athletic's Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi discussed the nature of the race at Michigan and revealed that it has the perfect mix of speed, strategy, team elements, and cautions that make a very good race. Bianchi said: "I say this all the time. If you are a NASCAR fan and you did not like this race, why? Because your favorite driver didn't win? Okay, sure, but this is what NASCAR racing is. You had the speed sensation, you have guys being able to make moves we didn't talk about, all of the things that we've talked about the Next Gen car, you had strategy, you had all of the team elements! You even had cautions. You had guys who overstepped, Blaney made a mistake and hit the wall, you had a damn good race here. I don't know why you would really hate this race." Gluck then pointed out fan reactions on X that complained about the mileage race, which prompted him to point out the strategic elements that make such races compelling. He added: "That is a strategy play, that is like guessing to see, and how much did you save, and how much did you lift, and should you go hard, should you try to take the lead. What's wrong with that? That's great stuff!" Bianchi responded: "It is a fundamental part of racing. Do you go hard? Do you save? Do you burn up your stuff and all of this? It's phenomenal."
