Overview
- Denny Hamlin dominated the Pennzoil 400 to earn his 61st Cup win, moving to 10th all-time and within two of Kyle Busch.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. publicly picked Hamlin to win the 2026 championship, with Mark Martin and Richard Petty also praising his form at age 45.
- Hamlin said on his podcast he plans to retire at 67 career wins based on his recent pace, keeping his near-term focus on adding more victories.
- He credits expanded data sharing and simulator work since 2019 for sharpening weaknesses and sustaining performance late in his career.
- Fourth in points, Hamlin heads next to Darlington, where he has five wins, followed by Martinsville, where he has six, strengthening his near-term outlook.