Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
Hamlin calls NASCAR title comeback unrealistic after Martinsville
Denny Hamlin finished sixth at Martinsville after starting from pole and leading early in the race.
A decision to stay out during Stage 1 backfired, and he scored no points in either of the race’s first two stages.
A spin and a poorly timed caution during a pit stop cycle also cost him track position.
Hamlin gained just three points on the championship leader, leaving him 70 points behind.
Drivers can score up to 76 points in a single race, so he remains in contention mathematically, but Hamlin says a comeback is unrealistic.
He said the deficit would have needed to be in the 40-point range to make the title path viable, and the season continues next week.
Denny Hamlin said a comeback for the NASCAR title was “unrealistic” after finishing sixth at Martinsville.
He is 70 points behind the championship lead, with a maximum of 76 points available in one race.
Hamlin started from pole and led early but fell back after his team chose not to pit during Stage 1.
He scored no points in either stage and also spun during the race.
Hamlin said poor strategy and lost track position stopped him from making more progress.
- Who
- Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 team.
- What
- He called a comeback for the NASCAR title “unrealistic” after Martinsville.
- When
- After the Martinsville race; the article was published on 2026-11-02.
- Where
- Martinsville.
- Why
- Hamlin was 70 points behind the championship lead after gaining only three points on the leader.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Hamlin's team chose not to pit, and he fell outside the top ten without scoring stage points.
Hamlin again scored no stage points.
Hamlin spun and lost more track position during a poorly timed caution in a pit-stop cycle.
Hamlin finished sixth and said a title comeback was unrealistic.
- Finish
- Sixth at Martinsville
- Points gap
- 70 points behind the championship lead
- Stage points
- Zero in Stage 1 and zero in Stage 2
- Points gained
- Three on the championship leader
- Maximum in one race
- 76 points
What people are saying
Yeah, I mean, it's unrealistic, for sure
Didn't capitalize on the speed that we had