Denny Hamlin is one of the most accomplished drivers on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. However, he has a ‘monkey on his back’ sort of a thing, as he is the only driver in the current field to win as many races as he has, without a title to his name.

It just seems, though, that 2020 might be his year to win the elusive title, given how things are falling in place. The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing star heads to Kansas Speedway this Sunday, on the back of two consecutive wins at the track.

A hat-trick of wins puts him directly in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Hamlin is keen to get the job done at Kansas itself, in the Round of 8. That enables him to devote his focus solely to the season finale.

Why winning at Kansas is so crucial for Denny Hamlin

Ahead of the Kansas race, Hamlin said, “Hopefully I have another really good handling car like I’ve had in the last few races. If so, I know it’s an important one for us.

“We could go the next two weeks, really shift our focus from Texas and Martinsville to putting all of our resources towards Phoenix. That certainly will be a benefit for whoever locks in right off the bat,” he added.

Hamlin won the race at Kansas in July this year. Before that, he won the playoff race at the venue last year. However, Kansas was not always a good track for Hamlin. “Kansas has not always been the strongest suit. I was terrified of Kansas probably a few years ago,” he said.

How Hamlin turned things around at Kansas

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This was because he had five finishes in 14th place or lower in seven races before his win in 2019. Hamlin explained how he turned things around to become a favorite at the track this Sunday.

“I showed up to the playoff race there last year and my car was just absolutely incredible. How well it was handling, how good it was. I remember, I started mid-pack or maybe in the 20s and just drove to the front. Dominated the day.”

Hamlin then said that he created a good database for Crew Chief Chris Gabehart to work on. Gabehart then made the required adjustments to the car as he knew exactly what Hamlin needed. This helped him in the Kansas race during the regular season this year.

The 2021 season will be a new challenge for Hamlin. Along with being a driver, Hamlin will also be a team owner. While he is excited despite the increase in responsibility, a title to his name will make it sweeter.

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