Denny Hamlin's ominous JGR warning comes true after Chase Briscoe struggle
Denny Hamlin endured another disastrous NASCAR Cup Series race in Martinsville, finishing 35th after engine issues plagued his No. 11 Toyota
Denny Hamlin has experienced a downward spiral after a stellar victory in Las Vegas two weeks ago that secured his place in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Four.
He ended up in 24th place at Talladega and then dropped to a disappointing 35th place finish at Martinsville in the Xfinity 500. Engine troubles plagued Hamlin's day. It comes after one NASCAR insider delivered their definitive pick to win the 2026 Cup Series Championship.
His JGR teammate Chase Briscoe, who took home the win last week in Talladega, also failed to complete the race due to issues with his Toyota. At one point, he even claimed his car was "blowing up."
This follows Hamlin's cautionary words after last week's race. "We've got to get our s--- together at the shop to keep our cars from breaking down," he expressed, a wish that unfortunately did not come to fruition.
"The engine just shut all the way off...way too early to speculate, but I'm sure they've got an idea of what's going on," Hamlin shared post-race. "We were just starting to come around [prior to failing]."
When asked about his feelings leading up to next week's championship race in Phoenix, where the 44-year-old will have the opportunity to break his notorious record of having the most Cup Series wins without a season-long title, he responded:.
"I can be worried, but I can't do anything about it," Hamlin confessed. "I'm still optimistic that we're going to go there and put our best foot forward. I'll be prepared.
"If we hadn't won in Vegas, we would have been way out the way last week went, and the mechanical [not working] this week. Our performance is good. We're up front. As long as we can keep it together, we're fast and capable."
It's been a rollercoaster campaign for Hamlin. Despite securing an outstanding six wins, the JGR racer has also endured four results beyond the top 30, with many stemming from motor breakdowns.
Briscoe, during his debut year with Joe Gibbs Racing, confessed after the race that he was thrilled about his Talladega victory. "That win last weekend feels so much better now," he posted on social media.
William Byron seized the checkered flag at Martinsville. He'll be joined by Hamlin, Briscoe, and Kyle Larson as the quartet battling for the 2025 Cup Series championship at Phoenix Motor Speedway.