Denny Hamlin Dominated Martinsville in March. Can He Finish the Job This Time?
· Yahoo Sports
Denny Hamlin led 292 of 400 laps at Martinsville Speedway in March, won both stages, and started from the pole. Yet after controlling most of the afternoon, he watched Chase Elliott celebrate in Victory Lane.
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Now Hamlin returns to Martinsville for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500 with considerably more at stake. He trails Kyle Larson by 73 points in the championship standings with just two races remaining in the 2026 Chase.
Hamlin’s March performance showed exactly why Martinsville remains one of his strongest tracks. The six-time winner appeared to have the car to beat until pit strategy and late cautions changed the race. Elliott gained ground by pitting earlier during a green-flag cycle, and Hamlin struggled to regain the lead after the field was reset.
The No. 11 team later discovered evidence of a slightly loose left-rear wheel, which may have contributed to the handling problems Hamlin reported late in the race.
Despite the disappointing finish, Hamlin’s Martinsville record speaks for itself. He has six Cup victories at the half-mile oval and more than 3,000 career laps led there.
The challenge this weekend goes beyond winning another grandfather clock. Hamlin needs to outscore Larson by 74 points across the final two races to claim the championship. A strong Martinsville performance could reduce that deficit, but Larson’s consistency makes the task difficult.
Hamlin had the speed to win at Martinsville in March. This weekend, he’ll need both the speed and the result if he hopes to keep his championship hopes alive heading into Homestead.