Denny Hamlin reminisces on frustrating 2019, 2020 NASCAR championships slipping away

Denny Hamlin is one of the top wheelmen in NASCAR Cup Series history, but he’s still searching for the championship that’s eluded him over the course of his career.

During the latest episode of Harvick’s Happy Hour, Hamlin sat down for an interview with Kevin Harvick, where he elaborated on some close calls throughout his career, and whether they’re still stuck in his craw.

“I mean, 2010’s the easiest answer,” Hamlin said, regarding which near-championships still make his skin crawl. “2019, I thought, was one where I was chasing down Kyle Busch. We were running one, two. And that’s where we put the the big a-- piece of tape on the car. Chris [Gabehart], in his first year as crew chief, got a little ambitious, and we ended up overheating the engine on the last run of the day and I had to come in.

“But I just I felt like, so much at peace with it, because I knew I did everything that I could do on that given day.”

While 2010 and 2019 are tough on Hamlin to think about, he’s had some other chances since then, but he’s at peace with falling just short in those races for the Cup Series title.

“Now, 2020, I think we went — you know, 2020 2021, went back to the final four again. I mean, Coy Gibbs and my mom were on a flight out to Phoenix saying, ‘We don’t have a shot. Our cars aren’t fast enough. No, not at this type of racetrack. It’s just, every year that I’ve had a shot since 2010 and 2019, I feel like I’ve done everything I was capable of doing. But it just hasn’t worked out. Right? And so, that’s been very frustrating, but also I’ve had some damn good years too,” Hamlin added. “So I wouldn’t throw away an eight win season and not winning championship and win two races in the championship. I just — I value them a little differently than most.

“But you know, I just feel like I’ve had some opportunities, for sure. I definitely was very nervous in 2010, racing against Jimmie [Johnson]. I felt like I really had our foot on his throat in Phoenix, and we had a fuel situation. Would have made us just have to start a car at Homestead that year. But you know, it just things didn’t work out. I’m at peace with you know, whatever happens. But trust me, I’m working hard every day to continue to get better at every track, so I can just keep giving myself opportunities.”

Moving forward, Denny Hamlin won’t be wasting any more opportunities at a title, but we’ll see if he’s able to capture the one accolade that’s long eluded him in the Cup Series in the future.