Denny Hamlin, the ace of Joe Gibbs Racing, has just carved another notch in his illustrious NASCAR career by notching his 61st victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This remarkable achievement unfolded at the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube on March 15, 2026, and has set the stage for Hamlin to boldly declare his ambitions for the future. In a candid appearance on the Actions Detrimental podcast, the veteran driver revealed that he has set his sights on hitting a staggering 67 career wins before he hangs up his helmet for good.
Starting from a strong second position, Hamlin dominated the 267-lap race, leading an impressive 134 laps to secure his first win of the season. His performance not only showcased his skill behind the wheel but also reinforced his status as one of NASCAR’s elite competitors. As he reflected on his career trajectory, Hamlin stated with confidence, “I think I’m going to fall in at 67. That’s where I think it ends, more than likely. If it goes into the next year, more than likely 67. That’s just by the numbers. That’s not any ‘I feel this, I feel that.’ That’s just where the numbers land, averaging what I average, three or four wins a year.”
With his eyes set on achieving that milestone, Hamlin is gearing up for his next challenge at the Goodyear 400, scheduled for March 22, 2026, at the historic Darlington Raceway. Fans can catch the action live as FS1, MRN, SiriusXM, and HBO Max will broadcast the 293-lap showdown at 3 p.m. ET.
In a separate discussion during the podcast, Hamlin didn’t hold back on his thoughts regarding NASCAR’s driver approval process, particularly in the context of Cleetus McFarland, an ARCA Menards Series driver. Following McFarland’s tumultuous Truck Series debut at Daytona International Speedway, where he struggled significantly, Hamlin expressed concern over the current standards for driver eligibility. He observed, “I watched him in that truck race at Daytona, and, truthfully, he was out of control for all 12 laps before he wrecked. You could just see it. I know what in control and out of control look like, and I was thinking, ‘Oh man, this is not going to end well.’”
Hamlin’s critique raises an important discussion about safety and performance in NASCAR, as he advocates for a more stringent approval system. He emphasized the need for a thorough evaluation process to prevent inexperienced drivers from compromising the integrity of the races. He concluded with a cautious hope that McFarland can navigate his upcoming challenges without becoming the focal point of controversy, especially as he prepares to run Xfinity at Rockingham under the Richard Childress Racing banner.
Cleetus McFarland, who recently inked a two-year deal with Richard Childress Racing, will be competing in three races each year for RCR, sharing the stage with talented peers like Jesse Love and Austin Hill. As the NASCAR landscape evolves, all eyes will be on Hamlin and McFarland, each striving to define their legacies in the sport.
