Denny Hamlin has opened the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season with strong results, and his latest win has put him back in the title conversation. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver claimed victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Pennzoil 400, adding to his career total and showing he remains a weekly contender.
At 45, Hamlin continues to compete at a high level against a younger field. His recent form has also drawn public support from two Hall of Famers, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin, who both pointed to his performance and longevity.
Their comments come as Hamlin builds momentum early in the season and prepares for the next stretch of races.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Names Denny Hamlin as title favorite
Dale Earnhardt Jr. made his position clear after Hamlin’s win in Las Vegas.
“Denny Hamlin is my pick for the championship this year.”
The victory marked Hamlin’s 61st career Cup Series win, moving him to 10th on the all-time list, just behind Kyle Busch. Earnhardt Jr. also compared Hamlin’s ability to some of the sport’s top drivers from past eras.
“I do believe he’s as good as some of these guys. I think he’s better than, quite possibly, a Cale Yarborough, some of those big names he’s looked up to.”
He also pointed to Hamlin’s performance at his current age.
“There are anomalies in our history of drivers who didn’t fall off. A lot of guys tend to fall off around the same time frame in those early 40s, mid 40s. They’re toast, and he’s not doing that. He’s an anomaly.”
Mark Martin Highlights Hamlin’s Late-Career Strength
Mark Martin also addressed Hamlin’s current run during a media session at NASCAR Productions.
“So many people have changed the way they feel about him and he’s one of the greatest drivers ever. I don’t care what car he drove, you look at his numbers, and it’s some of the greatest ever, and I appreciate that he can win a race at 45 because most winners can’t win races at 45. It’s pretty damn cool. When he said after the race that he’s working hard, I believe it because I think it’s harder now to win at 50 than it was when I did it and it was hard then.”
Martin also spoke about how difficult it is to maintain that level in the current NASCAR environment.
“The way Denny looks, he could go another five years, and I know he probably won’t, but it’s just harder now. There are exceptions to this, and Denny Hamlin is the exception right now.”
Darlington Raceway Presents the Next Test for Hamlin
Hamlin now turns his focus to Darlington Raceway, where he is the defending winner of the Goodyear 400. His recent win and consistent results have placed him among the early contenders in the championship standings.
The upcoming race will give Hamlin another chance to build on his start to the season. With multiple wins already secured in his career and strong early form in 2026, he remains in the title race as the schedule moves forward.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Makes Bold Denny Hamlin Claim After Las Vegas Win