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Denny Hamlin has encountered several challenges in the current NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, openly acknowledging that both he and his team have not performed at their best during this crucial phase of the competition.
As one of the most successful drivers in the sport without a championship title, Hamlin is currently positioned fifth out of eight contenders, trailing 27 points from the crucial cut-line. While he managed to secure a top-ten finish at Las Vegas through a strategic fuel gamble, the day overall was still disappointing for him.
Thus far, Hamlin has yet to secure a playoff victory, and he emphasized that unless a few of his competitors falter, advancing based on points seems improbable. This situation raises the question: what factors are impacting the performance of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team, and should there be a reconsideration of the pit crew lineup?
In a media session on Saturday, Hamlin reflected on the situation, stating, “No, you ride with the group you got. They’re certainly in a slump, for sure. But we got to ride it out and feel like that’s the best group we can put on pit road.” He reiterated that the talent among his crew is not in question, recalling that they were regarded as the top pit crew earlier in the season.
However, Hamlin acknowledged the inconsistencies he has encountered during pit stops, mentioning, “It’s been a lot of different issues on pit road. Pretty much most times we come down, it’s been different things, so can’t really pinpoint one consistent problem we’ve had.” He remains hopeful that they will find solutions moving forward.
Speed Issues
Adding to the team’s difficulties, Hamlin has expressed concerns about the overall speed of his vehicle. He noted that the car seems to be lacking the necessary pace, making it increasingly difficult to recover from setbacks during races.
“We’re not leading laps,” Hamlin underscored, pointing out that he has only led five laps in the first seven playoff races. He attributed this lack of speed to a combination of factors, including the nature of recent race schedules. “We haven’t done that over the last several weeks, certainly,” he explained, citing specific tracks like Bristol and Kansas where they performed well but were thwarted by pit stop issues.
With different race formats, such as road courses and superspeedways, Hamlin feels these conditions haven’t favored his team, in terms of leading laps or showing outright speed. Yet, amid these struggles, he remains resolute, highlighting that there is still potential for advancement in the playoffs despite the challenges, stating, “…We still have a chance, even this late in the game.”
Source
www.motorsport.com