Kyle Petty makes bold Denny Hamlin prediction as – Sports News
Kyle Petty believes Denny Hamlin isn’t solely on the precipice of one thing legendary, however one thing that will by no means be repeated in NASCAR.
Hamlin’s win on the Enjoy Illinois 300 on Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway, which noticed him being booed by followers as soon as again, marked the 59th of his storied Cup Series profession, bringing him ever nearer to Kevin Harvick’s 60 wins – the tenth most in collection historical past.
Now, with 5 wins this 12 months and eight races left, the 44-year-old isn’t solely closing in on a spot within the prime 10 all-time winningest drivers, however he may but set a new benchmark for his best season up to now. Hamlin’s most profitable 12 months to date got here back in 2010, when the Joe Gibbs Racing legend racked up eight wins en path to a career-best second-place end within the standings.
All in all, 2025 might be a historic 12 months for Hamlin for a lot of causes, particularly if he lastly manages to clinch his first Cup Series title. But upon reflection, Petty just lately admitted on NASCAR’s ‘Inside The Race’ that he believes Hamlin might show to be the ultimate driver to rack up 60 profession wins.
“I think he may be the last driver that hits 60. I know you want to throw in Kyle Larson, and I know they want to throw Joey Logano, and they want to throw these guys in. 60 is a huge, huge number in this day and time,” he stated.
Petty went on to focus on the importance of reaching 60 wins, declaring that Hamlin is one of simply three drivers at present among the many prime 20 in all-time winners to have didn’t win a championship.
“Out of the top 20 all-time winners in NASCAR, Junior Johnson has 50 wins, Denny obviously has 59, he has the most of anybody who hasn’t won a championship, and then there’s Mark Martin,” he stated. “There’s only three guys in the top 20 all-time winners that have never won a championship. But you know what, that doesn’t make any difference. They’re still top 10. They’re still top 15 all-time winners.
“And Denny is doing something, I’m telling you guys, and somebody may prove me wrong, but I think he’s going to be the last guy to climb that mountain and put that stick in the ground up there, that says 60-time winner, plus. Because I don’t think it’s going to stop at 60.”
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For Hamlin, time is rapidly operating out if he’s to achieve 60 wins and, lastly, declare a championship. Following his win at WWTR, he was frank about his want to retire no later than after the 2027 season, when his present contract is set to run out. However, he additionally admitted to reporters that ought to he win a championship earlier than then, he may determine to call it quits.
With a spot within the Round of 12 already secured courtesy of his win at WWTR, the stress is off for Hamlin as the Cup Series heads for Bristol Motor Speedway for the ultimate first-round race on Saturday, after which New Hampshire Motor Speedway and the USA Today 301 beckon.
Should Hamlin handle to surpass Harvick this season, subsequent up will probably be Kyle Busch, who at present sits ninth all-time on 63 wins.
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