Overview
- Hamlin’s Pennzoil 400 triumph at Las Vegas marked his 61st Cup win, moving him past Kevin Harvick to 10th all-time and within two of Kyle Busch.
- He sits fourth in the standings, reported at 78 points behind leader Tyler Reddick, as 23XI drivers Reddick and Bubba Wallace set the early-season pace.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. publicly picked Hamlin to win the 2026 title, and Richard Petty said the veteran has a strong chance based on current form.
- Hamlin credits simulator work and data-sharing adopted since 2019 for fixing weaknesses, while Mark Martin praised his rare winning form at age 45.
- Targeting more gains at Darlington, Martinsville, Bristol and Talladega, Hamlin flagged Darlington’s higher horsepower and lower downforce as key unknowns, even as some insiders caution late-career momentum can prove short-lived.