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Lulu the Pup Earns Another Week with Denny Hamlin Amidst NASCAR Playoffs
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The fate of Lulu, a stray puppy that found her way into Denny Hamlin’s life, remains secure for now as he navigates the pressures of NASCAR’s playoffs.
Hamlin’s daughters discovered Lulu under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis this past June, but the addition of the puppy has sparked concerns that it may be affecting his racing performance. Hamlin, a three-time Daytona 500 champion, even cited performance statistics to support his assertion that Lulu’s presence might be a distraction.
Prior to Lulu joining the family and returning to North Carolina, Hamlin had achieved significant success with three wins, an average finish of 12th place, and a flawless record of completing every race. He was also leading the Cup Series standings. However, the situation quickly turned when, shortly after Lulu’s arrival, Hamlin experienced his first did-not-finish (DNF) due to an engine failure, followed by an accident at Indianapolis, another crash at Daytona, and a harsh penalty from NASCAR related to Toyota’s engine modifications, which ultimately pushed him to seventh in the playoff rankings.
After struggling in the opening races of the playoffs, Hamlin faced the possibility of elimination as he prepared for a critical race at Bristol Motor Speedway. This led to an offhand comment about potentially rehoming Lulu, which upset his daughters.
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Fortunately for Hamlin, a fourth-place finish at Bristol allowed him to advance to the second round of the playoffs, granting Lulu a temporary reprieve. Taylor, Hamlin’s 11-year-old daughter, quickly sought confirmation of the puppy’s future, prompting an affirmative response from crew chief Chris Gabehart.
“Can Lulu still stay though?” Taylor eagerly asked. Gabehart’s reassuring reply, “Close enough. Close enough,” prompted a moment of joy for Taylor as she celebrated the news with enthusiasm.
Despite his impressive record of 54 career Cup victories, Hamlin has yet to capture the elusive Cup title, a fact that has become the source of good-natured jokes among his friends. He recently engaged to Jordan Fish, the mother of his children, and humorously noted their contrasting ring counts on social media.
With Hamlin turning 44 in November, the quest for a championship has taken on heightened urgency, especially with competitors like Kyle Larson currently performing exceptionally well. Larson dominated the race at Bristol, securing his fifth victory of the year, while Hamlin’s teammate Christopher Bell leads in points and has consistently been a top performer over recent seasons.
Nonetheless, Hamlin remains optimistic about his championship aspirations as the series heads to Kansas Speedway, a track where he has traditionally excelled, boasting four career wins. After securing second place in last year’s playoff race and finishing fifth earlier this year, he believes the upcoming races present an opportunity for him to push forward. “It’s all offense from this point forward,” he stated confidently. “We’re going to Kansas, a track we’ve been really good at, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the run.”
For the time being, Lulu continues to enjoy her home with the Hamlin family, serving as a joyful distraction amid the high-stakes atmosphere of NASCAR racing.
Source
globalnews.ca