Kyle Petty: Denny Hamlin ‘is the class of this generation’ of NASCAR drivers

Kyle Petty believes Denny Hamlin is elevating himself above his peers with his performance during the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series campaign.

Hamlin already has a solid place in NASCAR history, but he’s continuing to climb up the all-time wins list, and the only thing missing from his resume is a title. Regardless, Petty is of the belief that Hamlin has risen above the competition, and placed himself on a pedestal with his performances.

“We saw him make a mistake in Texas. He learned from that mistake. He comes to Dover, and he gets it done. He gets it done. He will go down in history as one of the greatest drivers,” Petty stated, regarding Hamlin. “His peers, as we look at the guys who started at the same time — Martin Truex, same year. He has 20 more wins than Martin Truex.

“When we look at guys like Kyle Larson and Joey Logano, he has 20 more wins than these guys. He is the class of this generation. Believe me, he will be a top ten guy.”

While Hamlin has many more wins than guys like Larson, Truex Jr. and Logano, like Petty mentioned, those three have the championship that Hamlin covets. If the No. 11 can join them this season though, it could catapult him into a new stratosphere.

Regardless, while Hamlin is enjoying the praise, he also recognizes that it seems a little weird to see his name mentioned with the likes of NASCAR legend Lee Petty, after tying him on the all-time wins list.

“It doesn’t seem right,” Hamlin said, via his post-race interview. “If you put all the names on the list in the orders of the wins that they have, I don’t know, I see my name as just an outlier, one that sticks out like it doesn’t really belong there.

“I’ve been doing it a long time. You take for granted all the wins that you’ve had. All we think about is the ones that we didn’t win. I’m like, man, I feel like I should have 80 or 90 realistically. But everyone has those stories. It’s my personal goal, in my career I want to get to a number that puts me well inside that top 10 of race winners. I think that will speak for itself and the résumé.”

Denny Hamlin better get used to it, because the wins will continue to come for the No. 11. He’ll have plenty more opportunities at checkered flags, starting this weekend at Kansas, where he won in 2023.