The No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Camry of Chase Briscoe was the car to beat during Saturday’s qualifying at Michigan. Although the Hoosier earned his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series pole position to start from the front, his teammate Denny Hamlin put on a masterclass on fuel mileage and strategically cut the field for a thrilling win.
Despite being a veteran in the sport with over 700 starts, Hamlin is still refining his craft, especially when it comes to qualifying. During a recent episode of his podcast, the JGR ace peeled back the curtains just enough to give fans and fellow drivers a glimpse into what gives him an edge during those critical single-lap sprints.
Denny Hamlin’s Blueprint for One-Lap Brilliance
From qualifying laps to the final flag, Hamlin’s No. 11 Camry has delivered consistently strong and standout performances all season long. The JGR hardware has excelled on short and intermediate tracks like Martinsville, Darlington, Bristol, and Texas, regularly placing among the top-10 fastest in qualifying. And the two-mile Michigan International Speedway proved to be no exception.
While Briscoe earned his third straight pole, becoming the first to do so since Kyle Larson in April 2023 with a 195.514 mph lap, Hamlin secured the third-fastest time of the day, just behind Kyle Busch. That said, despite starting third, Hamlin lost his track position early on but came back charging owing to a brilliant pit and fuel strategy.
On the latest episode of the “Actions Detrimental” podcast, the 44-year-old shared insight into his qualifying mindset. While he avoided getting into the finer details, admitting he didn’t want to give his competitors an edge, Hamlin offered just enough to hint at his approach. He said, “I probably overshare on this podcast more than I should anyway. But I make sure, generally speaking, I try to drive the car like I think I’m going to have to drive it on Sunday. Sometimes, that is not the fastest way on Saturday.”
With Sunday’s stellar win, the JGR driver now has three wins, racking up 494 points in the process. He is closing the gap with table leader William Byron to just 82. His ability to balance long-run race strategy with a calculated approach to qualifying shows why he remains one of the most consistent drivers in the Cup Series today.
As the regular season draws to a close, his blend of experience, adaptability, and strategic thinking could prove to be the difference-maker. With three Ws under his belt, Hamlin isn’t just chasing Byron in the standings; he is making a serious case as the championship favorite.