Denny Hamlin’s recent slide might be even worse than it looks

It's been almost two months since Denny Hamlin gained ground in the NASCAR Cup Series standings.

By Asher Fair · Beyond the Flag

Published: Wednesday, 7 October 2026 at 12:30 PM

Key Things to Know

Beyond the Flag argues Denny Hamlin is in serious title trouble after falling 40 points behind Kyle Larson.
Hamlin has failed to gain ground in the Cup Series standings since mid-August at Richmond Raceway.
Following a three-race winning streak in the spring, Hamlin is currently winless across his last 15 starts.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Beyond the Flag argues that Denny Hamlin faces serious championship trouble in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs due to an ongoing slump. Despite clinching the regular-season title, Hamlin has fallen 40 points behind standings leader Kyle Larson following a spin and poor finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The analysis notes that Hamlin has not gained ground in the standings since mid-August and is winless across his last 15 races. With Larson surging, the author highlights that Hamlin has managed only one top-five finish over the past seven races as time runs out.

Read the full article on Beyond the Flag

Denny Hamlin’s recent slide might be even worse than it looks

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