For much of the past several seasons, Denny Hamlin said reaching 60 career NASCAR Cup Series wins was his most important career goal, even more than the elusive championship, and he now sits at 61 after winning on Sunday at Las Vegas.
He always said ‘60’ was the most important competitive goal, because he couldn’t control his destiny in the championship battle, for reasons ultimately validated at Phoenix in November when a caution for three laps to go denied him again.
However, to Hamlin, winning as many races is possible is his truest yardstick of success so what comes next after reaching 61st and sole possession of 10th on the all-time wins list? Win some more.
“We have next Darlington, Kansas, right? Martinsville,” Hamlin said on his Actions Detrimental podcast on Monday. “I’m just thinking of the tracks. Get another win, that’s the goal. One of those two races. One of those three. Talladega, I wish, guys. I wish. I’m trying everything when it comes to superspeedway racing, just not getting the proper finishes. I’m trying to run up front as much as I can, doesn’t matter. Crash.”
- Richard Petty 200
- David Pearson 105
- Jeff Gordon 93
- Donnie Allison 85
- Darrell Waltrip 84
- Jimmie Johnson 83
- Cale Yarborough 83
- Dale Earnhardt 76
- Kyle Busch 63
- Denny Hamlin 61
So with what he expects to be final contract ending at the end of next season, where does Hamlin expect to finish on this list?
“I thought that realistically it was… I think … I don’t know … I’m going to fall at 67,” Hamlin said. “That’s where I think it ends more than likely. And then the next year, more than likely 67. That’s just by the numbers. That’s not any, ‘Oh I feel this, I feel that.’ That’s just where the numbers land averaging what I average.”
That would be the 3-4 wins a year average that he is generally good for these days.
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