Denny Hamlin expressed deep frustration after the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond, where he felt a strong chance for victory slipped away due to a penalty. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who has already secured four wins in 2025, entered the Cook Out 400 confident that his car could perform well.
“My car had everything it needed to dominate the race.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Errors on Pit Road Derail Hamlin’s Bid for Victory
Despite a promising start, Hamlin’s day quickly unraveled when mistakes on pit lane cost critical track position. A speeding penalty against Hamlin himself combined with several poor pit stops by his team culminated in a disappointing 10th-place finish. Meanwhile, Austin Dillon managed to secure the race win and a spot in the playoffs.
Hamlin admitted that numerous issues on pit road contributed to the outcome, noting the importance of maintaining position at Richmond.
“I thought we were fortunate to get back to the top 10 there. The only reason we did is that we had a fast Camry.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Hamlin Details Speeding Penalty Explanation
On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin clarified the circumstances leading to his speeding penalty. He believes that when he exited his pit stall, he did not move far enough to the right, which shortened his distance on pit road. That slight deviation altered how NASCAR’s timing system registered his speed, making it appear faster even though he was within the speed limit.
He outlined the difference between running at 45 mph on the outside versus the inside of the pit lane, explaining how this affects speed readings:
“I certainly was so frustrated because I knew right off the bat we had a race-winning car.”
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Implications of Richmond Results for Hamlin and NASCAR
The loss at Richmond was a significant blow to Hamlin’s campaign, especially with a car capable of dominating the race on a track where track position is crucial. This setback highlights the fine margins that can decide success or failure in NASCAR, where even minor errors like pit road penalties can derail a driver’s chance at victory. The performance and incidents at Richmond serve as a reminder of the challenges Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing face as they continue the 2025 season.