[autotag]Denny Hamlin[/autotag] has been strong throughout the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season and that was shown by his second-place finish in the regular season standings behind Martin Truex Jr. following the race at Daytona International Speedway. Hamlin enters the Round of 16 with the third-most playoff points but it didn’t come without some ups and downs.
The driver of the No. 11 car was given a 25-point penalty after intentionally wrecking Ross Chastain at Phoenix Raceway. It wasn’t enough to truly hurt Hamlin’s chances of winning the regular season championship. Also, Hamlin revealed on his podcast, Actions Detrimental, that he is still suffering some lingering effects from Chase Elliott’s intentional wreck in the 2023 Coca-Cola 600.
A big hit for Denny Hamlin. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Ss1FEqGYiJ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 29, 2023
“(Charlotte Motor Speedway) really did it for me,” Hamlin said. “That was the toughest one that I had in the (NextGen car), probably ever. That one rung my bell quite a bit. I was really sore for a full week. I still have some lingering effects from that in my foot. This car is brutal when it comes to those impacts but it’s what we got right now.”
Hamlin didn’t elaborate on the lingering effects in his foot and whether it may need surgery down the line. At this point in the season, it is not uncommon for drivers to have aches and pains but it is notable as Hamlin is one of NASCAR’s best drivers. It’ll be a story to follow on whether the foot starts to bug him even more going into the playoffs.
[lawrence-related id=897]