Denny Hamlin has always known that crossing the finish line first takes more than just talent behind the wheel. In NASCAR, where the competition bites hard, it’s the grind off the track that often seals the deal, turning good drivers into champions. At 44, Hamlin embodies this, balancing the chaos of co-owning 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan and navigating a heated antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR that could reshape the sport. Such off-track chaos for anybody can be a huge focus-breaker, but is that the case with Hamlin, too?

His recent gutsy three-wide move on the final restart clinched a fifth win of the season at Gateway, marking his 59th career victory and a historic 200th win for the team. His post-race words were clear: “I’m good at identifying problems and then going to work to fix them.” This relentless ethic keeps him sharp amid off-track pulls like the ongoing charter lawsuit and team ownership duties. His crew chief, Chris Gayle, who’s seen it all up close since taking over last fall, offers a firsthand take on how this focus plays out.

Chris Gayle is in awe of Hamlin’s laser focus

On SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Press Pass, Chris Gayle shared his genuine surprise at Denny Hamlin’s ability to tune out the noise during a recent segment. As the crew chief for the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota since November 2024, Gayle has watched Hamlin dive into competition meetings and simulator runs without a hint of distraction. “I can’t tell you that I have the insight into how he’s able to do it. I’m probably just as in awe as you guys, you know,” Gayle said, capturing the sheer admiration for Hamlin’s compartmentalization.

This stems from Hamlin‘s long-honed routine, built over 20 Cup seasons where he’s reached the playoffs 12 straight years, but 2025’s external pressures test it like never before. The antitrust lawsuit, filed in late 2024, continues to go through twists and turns, and these off-track storms can hit hard for anyone stuck in them. Add family commitments and Hamlin’s role as a dad to two young daughters and a son, and the weight feels immense, yet Hamlin channels it all into his preparation.

Gayle noted how Hamlin arrives fully present. “I spend a little more time with him, and I watch him come in here for competition meetings and for our simulator sessions, and I don’t hear anything about the lawsuit, what’s going on at home. It’s totally focused on the race car, on the 11 car and what we need to do to make it better.” This focus paid off at Gateway, where Hamlin started from the pole, led 25 final laps, and edged teammate Chase Briscoe by 1.620 seconds, a win that silenced doubters after a shaky 2024 playoff fade.

Gayle’s respect deepens when unpacking Hamlin’s work structure. “He knows what he wants out of this last part of his career, and he’s very focused on not letting these other things that could be distractions for others be a distraction for him,” he explained, pointing to Hamlin’s scheduled blocks for study and teamwork that rarely shift. In a sport where mental lapses cost positions, Hamlin’s consistency, evident in his 12 top-fives this year, keeps the No. 11 competitive despite crew changes.

Gayle, who replaced Chris Gabehart this season, credits this trust for their synergy, like tweaking setups at Iowa despite early struggles. It’s a story of veteran poise: Hamlin, once a brash rookie, now mentors his crew while battling broader fights, all without missing a beat on track.

Meanwhile, Hamlin’s edge hints at something bigger brewing in his championship chase this fall.

Hamlin’s 2025 title push gains traction

The yearly buzz that “It’s Denny Hamlin’s year” has echoed for nearly a decade, but voices in the garage now see 2025 as the real deal. After a 2024 season where three early wins fizzled into playoff invisibility, leading just 26 laps across 10 races, Hamlin entered this year underestimated, losing longtime sponsor FedEx and crew chief Chris Gabehart. Yet, with five victories already, including clutch ones at Darlington, Dover, and Gateway, he’s flipped the script at 44, the oldest full-timer post-Martin Truex Jr.’s retirement. As one analyst put it, “But 2025 is going to be different, and here’s why,” tying his surge to renewed fire amid the 23XI lawsuit’s mess.

That motivation shines through Hamlin’s extra push, especially as the antitrust battle with NASCAR ramps up, potentially ending his team’s run after 2025 without resolved charters. “If anything, though, he has seemed extra motivated throughout 2025, especially as the 23XI Racing team he co-owns with Michael Jordan finds itself embroiled in a messy lawsuit against NASCAR,” observers note, linking the legal stress to his on-track dominance.

Unlike past years, where close calls, like a runner-up finish in 2010, slipped away, 2025’s breaks have aligned: late cautions at Dover and rivals’ errors at Gateway handed him edges in a field stacked with young guns like William Byron and Tyler Reddick. Hamlin’s 2,120 points lead the regular season, and his Round of 12 lock via wins positions him strongly for Bristol and beyond.

Fans and pundits sense the shift, comparing Hamlin to Jimmie Johnson‘s 2016 title defense or Kevin Harvick’s post-2020 dip, but Hamlin bucks the trend. “Sometimes it’s just your year, when all the breaks go your way. It’s as if the ‘racing gods’ are aligning the stars for Hamlin to finally win the title, and under the circumstances, it would be the weirdest possible outcome both for him and for NASCAR. And that’s exactly why he’s going to do it,” the take goes, underscoring how lawsuit irony, suing the series while chasing its crown, fuels his drive. With 15 top-10s and no major DNFs, Hamlin’s consistency edges out peers like Kyle Busch, winless since mid-2023, making this fall’s playoffs his best shot yet.