Kevin Harvick feelings clear as Denny Hamlin | Sports News

Kevin Harvick made his ideas recognized as he watched Denny Hamlin climb over him within the historical past books.

Before the win, each Hamlin and Harvick had 60 wins, although the latter had retired from full-time racing after the top of the 2023 season. With fewer than 10 laps to go earlier than Hamlin’s win was made official, Harvick took a second to provide the star his flowers as he spoke to Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer. It appeared as if the Joe Gibbs Racing star was the person to beat, after his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate was overheard telling Hamlin to “slow down.”

“Records are always going to be broken and changed, and Denny Hamlin is going to surpass that 60 by quite a margin, in my opinion, over the next couple of years,” Harvick said to his fellow FOX broadcasters with six laps to go. “I think he’s going to be mid 60s or 70 by the time he’s done.”

After his 61st win, an emotional Hamlin took a second to elucidate to FOX Sports’ Jamie Little what it meant to be within the prime 10 checklist of winningest drivers in NASCAR historical past. Only Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, Jimmie Johnson, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon, David Pearson and Richard Petty have more wins.

“I mean my name stands out amongst – those are legends of the sport,” Hamlin said, “and I feel very fortunate to be on the list, but you know those guys were far more talented than I have ever thought about being.

“I simply labored actually arduous. I nonetheless to this present day work actually arduous at my craft to attempt to proceed to get higher and days like as we speak definitely make me really feel completely happy about the place I’m at within the sport nonetheless and what I can nonetheless do.” What’s more, it was clear that his win Sunday was an emotional one for Hamlin and his family.

The 45-year-old’s triumph marked the first time he won a race since his father’s, Dennis Hamlin’s, death in late 2025 from injuries sustained from a house fire. While talking with Little after the race, Hamlin explained what was going through his mind as he pondered if he wanted to continue racing.

“I knew it took a few weeks to really feel like driving, and during the last couple of weeks, I’ve undoubtedly regained my love of it and acquired refocused, and these are great alternatives for us,” Hamlin admitted after the win. As he was speaking, his family came to his side to congratulate him on the victory.

With his family by his side, Hamlin continued, “Yeah, I imply, that is a household sport.

“My family obviously had so much sacrifice to help me get here and now that I have grown in your generations. … It’s great that mom [Mary Lou Hamlin] gets to see this. I know Dad’s still saying, ‘That’s my boy.’ Hell of a day.”