Denny Hamlin once again found himself in the spotlight,  not because of what he did on track, but because of his comments about the upcoming in-season challenge. However, Dale Jr and his crew have questioned if these comments are just mind games.

Coming off three consecutive wins and reducing the points gap to 19 to Tyler Reddick in first place, Hamlin has continuously downplayed his chances of either beating Dale Earnhardt Sr’s record or even beating Ty Dillon at the upcoming in-season challenge at Sonoma. However, Dale Jr and crew disagree. 

" I think Denny is kind of sandbagging the same way he was saying, 'Oh, I can't catch Reddick, and I can't get to Dale Senior's numbers,'"Travis Rockhold, spoke about how he thinks the Joe Gibbs Racing driver is downplaying his confidence on the June 17 episode of The Dale Jr. Download podcast.

The No. 11 driver’s recent results are why Dale Jr and crew find it difficult to buy Hamlin's take about his achievements. Hamlin spoke about how he might not be able to catch Dale Sr all time career wins after Michigan.

However, after winning Pocono, his all-time career win count now stands at 64 as he surpassed the late two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch on the all-time wins list. 

"That's kind of how Denny operates, is he never he's never going to go out there and guarantee something," Rockhold added. "He wants to underpromise and overdeliver."

The NASCAR Hall of Fame driver further agreed with Rockhold, while he also pointed out how Hamlin believes in himself in private rather than speaking out loud about it in the media. 

"I believe, and you know, take this a step further," Dale Jr. added. "I think that Denny Hamlin is underselling to your point because he doesn't have to be braggadocious. He doesn't have to come out there. No reason for it."

With the red-hot run that Hamlin is currently having, the veteran NASCAR driver finds it difficult to buy the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers' take on his performance.

And the way his recent performance has been panning out, Joe Gibbs Racing is already looking into extending the driver's contract beyond 2027. 

Joe Gibbs Racing Opens Its Door to Denny Hamlin Beyond 2027

After getting the first career three-peat of his career, along with entering some of NASCAR’s elite clubs, there is only one question on everyone's mind, and that is about Hamlin’s future in the sport. 

While addressing the media at Pocono, Joe Gibbs Racing co-owner Heather Gibbs spoke about wanting to retain the No.11 driver beyond 2027. 

“At this rate, what he’s producing out there, it’s not something you would not consider," Gibbs said. "We want the best drivers in our cars. Our teams work to put the best cars on track. If it works out and he’s still producing and he wants to, it’s a huge commitment for him, he’s got his own team that he kind of wants to run."

Reddick held a 110-point lead over Hamlin heading into May. Since then, Hamlin has won the non-points-paying All-Star Race as well as three consecutive points races at Nashville, Michigan, and Pocono.

What do you think of Dale Jr. and his crew's take on Hamlin's mindset? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at RFK Racing Digest.

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar