Denny Hamlin’s 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season in review

Denny Hamlin had another good year with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Here, you can check out Hamlin’s 2023 season in review!

[autotag]Denny Hamlin[/autotag] was convinced that he would break through for a NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2023 and even though it didn’t happen, it was a solid year. Hamlin ended the season with three wins, 14 top-5 finishes, and 19 top-10 finishes. Unfortunately for the driver of the No. 11 car, he was eliminated in the Round of 8 after Ryan Blaney won at Martinsville Speedway.

Hamlin won at Kansas, Pocono, and Bristol. The 43-year-old driver became a “villain” throughout the campaign with incidents involving Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain. He even taunted the crowd at Bristol. Hamlin led 998 laps (third best) with a 12.4 average finishing position (third best); however, his consistent season was determined by a two-race stretch in October.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver began the Round of 8 with a 10th-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a 30th-place finish at Homestead-Miami Speedway. If not for an issue in the No. 11 car at Homestead, Hamlin likely would have clinched a spot in the Championship 4 at Martinsville. Instead, he was on the outside looking in for the second straight year.

Hamlin did almost everything right throughout the 2023 NASCAR season to make himself a championship contender. In the end, Hamlin’s inability to win in the Round of 8 and missed opportunities with playoff points ended his chances. At 43 years old, time is running out for Hamlin and he needs to take advantage of his best years moving forward.

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