Denny Hamlin’s 36th-place finish in Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway was significant for the 44-year-old Virginia native, and not in the best of ways.
The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who finished third-to-last in the 12th points-paying race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, suffered his second consecutive DNF, with Kansas a week removed from a last-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway. With the result, Hamlin was scored with back-to-back DNFs for the first time since 2013; the then-31-year-old wrecked at Kentucky Speedway (June 30) and Daytona International Speedway (July 6) that season.
RELATED: Kansas race results
For the four-time Kansas winner, Sunday’s finish was a disappointing one for a driver who looked to find Victory Lane for a third time this year. Despite finishing seventh and eighth in Stages 1 and 2, respectively, clutch issues within the No. 11 Toyota quickly became apparent, which required lengthy strategy discussions over the radio between Hamlin and crew chief Chris Gayle. A slow pit stop on Lap 127 due to problems with the Toyota’s right-front wheel exacerbated the issue when combined with the No. 11 crew having to push-start Hamlin out of the box. The concerns reached a tough conclusion during final-stage stops when Hamlin’s Toyota stalled, resulting in the No. 11 going to the garage with terminal damage.
“Yeah, I think eventually just broke the transaxle trying to leave the stall there,” Hamlin said when speaking about the final incident. “Unfortunate for the Progressive Toyota team. Just really fast again — just can‘t keep it together right now.”
WATCH: Hamlin, No. 11 crew discuss clutch issues | Hamlin goes to garage following mechanical problem
With the finish, Hamlin sits seventh in the championship standings, dropping four spots following the Kansas result. And while it’s worth noting that Hamlin finished the 2013 season 23rd in the standings — he missed four races due to injury — the longtime racer already has two wins under his belt in 2025 (Martinsville spring, Darlington spring). As such, a NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs berth is secured, giving him plenty of leeway to right the ship and contend for his elusive first Bill France Cup.
Although not a points-paying contest, Hamlin will look to rekindle early-season momentum this Sunday at North Wilkesboro Speedway during the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Race (8 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The 2025 regular season will then resume at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25 for the Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, Prime Video, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
MORE: Cup Series standings | Cup Series schedule
The good news for Hamlin? He is a former winner of the marathon crown-jewel race, triumphing in 2022. In other words, a turnaround could be right around the corner.
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