NASCAR Cup Series: Denny Hamlin Reveals the One Thing That Cost Him the Win

Denny Hamlin recently analyzed his second-place finish at the Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. On the latest episode of his podcast, Hamlin reflected on his pursuit of race winner Joey Logano and noted a specific window where he thought he had a genuine chance to take the lead.

Hamlin explained that his best opportunity arrived shortly after the green-flag pit cycle. He noticed Logano struggling more than usual with tire grip immediately after exiting the pits, a change he attributed to the track surface conditions. Hamlin kept his car within striking distance, though he maintained a careful pace to avoid burning through his tires before the closing laps.

Despite the brief opening, Hamlin acknowledged that the No. 22 car was the fastest machine on the track throughout the day. He noted that Logano possessed exceptional grip that allowed him to run multiple lines through the corners. Hamlin's team attempted to force a shift in momentum by pitting one lap early, aiming to steal track position, but the strategy fell just short.

The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran admitted that catching Logano would have required a mistake or traffic interference. While the win escaped him, Hamlin maintains a firm grip on the championship standings, now leading Tyler Reddick by 68 points. For Logano, the victory serves as a major performance boost for the Team Penske garage after a lengthy period without a win.