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Denny Hamlin calls his shot in NASCAR playoff media day post

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•09/04/24•

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Denny Hamlin (18)
Sep 4, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Denny Hamlin speaks to media members during the NASCAR Playoffs Media Day at the Charlotte Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Denny Hamlin has already answered one burning question during the NASCAR Cup Series playoff media day event. The 43-year-old driver went to social media to share a video of him at media day with a sign on his back that said, “Please don’t ask him if it’s his year. It’s always ‘his year.’

Hamlin enters the playoffs sixth in the standings after being hit with a major penalty last month. His playoff appearance comes after he won the NACAR Cup series regular season title as a co-owner of 23XI Racing. Tyler Reddick is one of the two drivers of 23XI and finished first in the regular season standings.

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Hamlin and his No. 11 team were hit with an L2-level penalty for violating NASCAR’s engine inspection requirements. It led to him and team owner Joe Gibbs being docked 75 points and 10 playoff points, and Hamlin’s win at Bristol did not count toward eligibility for the Cup Series playoffs.

Denny Hamlin’s penalty gives him motivation

During media day, Hamlin was asked if the penalty would give his team motivation during the playoffs. “I think it will if it has a positive outcome. I really can’t honestly say to you that it was something that we rallied around,” Hamlin said. “I mean, certainly, it took away 15 points when you add it all up in the regular season as well. Fifteen points every round that we lost. That’s something that’s really going to be hard to overcome, but we can. I know that we can. So, that’s the good news. If we are able to find ourselves making it through these first two, three rounds and have a shot at it – at Phoenix I should say, then that’s going to be a very rewarding feeling. And, so, if there’s ever a year to win it, do it when there’s the most adversity on the line.”

Hamlin will be motivated but knows it will be challenging to win it all. He said: “It’s one thing to not have many Playoff points but then to not have them on tracks that you know that your result is not necessarily in always your hands, it certainly makes it a precarious position but it’s what we got and I’ll do the best that I can and I know that I’m going to go to the track with the same mindset and that’s to win every week.”