Accidental winners are always subject to track conditions in NASCAR. Remember the Daytona summer race of 2019? It was about to rain, and the frantic racing led to a big one, wrecking most cars. Kurt Busch stayed out under caution and continued to lead with limited fuel. The green flag was signalled, but Busch had to pit. This led to Justin Hailey, in his Spire Motorsports #7, staying out an extra lap and taking the win when the race was called off because of the starting thunderstorm. What luck! But recently, a veteran driver experienced this phenomenon, or at least insiders feel so.
Denny Hamlin has his legacies entrenched in life for being so close and yet so far from glory. Three-time Daytona 500 winner, partial owner of 23XI Racing, he is no stranger to the victory lane. However, this latest off-the-charts win was like none other before. Using his experience as a strength, Hamlin and his crew chief, Chris Gayle, exhibited a tire management masterclass at Darlington Raceway’s Goodyear 400. The #11 team perfectly executed an overtime restart following a clutch final pit stop. This unexpected win had fans and foes alike abuzz- not in awe and admiration, simply in disbelief. But, NASCAR insiders have a pretty different way to look at it.
Some victories are hard to believe, even as the winner
Heard the post-race interview by Hamlin? After being asked if he had doubts about winning the event, he said, “There’s two people I really love right now: my pit crew and Kyle Larson. So, (I) had a little assist there. So thank you.” We all know how blunt the #11 driver is, so hearing this gives the impression of confusion brewing in him after the win. Even former Hendrick Motorsports driver Landon Cassill took notice.
In conversation with driver and pit reporter Parker Kligerman on the Money Lap, Cassill revealed his reaction to Denny Hamlin‘s win. He said, “Did Denny Hamlin accidentally win this race?” Kligerman agreed with him, saying, “Yeah, he definitely did,” and further enquired, “What did you text him?” Responding to the question, Cassill said, “I texted Denny yesterday and said ‘LOL Denny.’ That’s all I said.” It was not so much sarcasm as it was straight astonishment wrapped in more humor at a win that defied logic more than it did lap times. However, Parker came clean as to why he felt it was an accident.
“Because his response at victory lane was pretty funny. In his interview, he is just kinda like, ‘Yeah! won it,’” Parker Kligerman said. Well, this is rightly said. However, Landon Cassill shed a different light on the incident, speaking about the impact of this win on Hamlin’s confidence.
Hamlin clobbered his way to a Martinsville victory- Hamlin led 136 laps and never looked back; Cassill commented: “I’d say he walked out of there having more confidence and swagger after a win like that than even one at Martinsville.” Hamlin’s improbable back-to-back win at Darlington on April 6, 2025, makes him say this. And why not? The #11 driver went from fifth to first on overtime during a late-race shuffle. And, then, Cassill put words in Denny’s mouth which could have apparently surfaced if Hamlin was not amused about his run.
Landon Cassill said, “It’s just like, ‘Yeah, I didn’t even got to try to win. I can run fifth all day, and I’ll still win.’” Well, now it’s safe to say that some people know Denny Hamlin better than he might know himself! That’s the proof that NASCAR is a family. But one truck series racer has experienced the mirror opposite of Hamlin’s luck, stripping him off his biggest career victory recently. And, he was also at this interview.
Parker Kligerman’s truck series devastation
Just for context, Parker Kligerman runs part-time for Henderson Motorsports’ Truck team. His last win was in July 2022 when he won the Mid-Ohio race. This year, he looked to collect his fourth career series win with a win at the holy touchstone of NASCAR, Daytona International Speedway. It was the biggest win of his career. Kligerman said, “God, I love this place. I love racing. I love winning. I’m ready for the next chapter of my life, but this one means a lot.” Little did he know he would be stripped off this honor by NASCAR officials.
NASCAR disqualified Kligerman when his truck was found to be too low in the post-race inspection. Corey Heim took the winner’s title. Kligerman, being an analyst, tried to appeal the ruling but was denied. But let’s hope it turns out better for him. A missed Daytona win is the most heartbreaking thing the sport can bring to a driver. But Kligerman’s resilience in the face of adversity is commendable! Well, speaking of resilience, Denny Hamlin is going for his three-peat at Bristol this year. He exposed a gamble that led to JGR bagging the race at Darlington. What does Bristol hold for our winning streak holder?
The shiny Gladiator sword awaits the worthy wielder, and it looks like Denny Hamlin is already putting on his armor. If he wins, he will tie Jimmie Johnson’s 3-peat and Jeff Gordon’s total wins at Bristol. That’s like throwing a wooden spear into a pond to catch yourself a fish and getting 3 instead! Can you imagine the impact it will have on his career?
With the new-found confidence, Denny must eye the big fish. After all, confidence is king in the world of NASCAR. And sometimes, so is a little chaos.
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