Team owner Joe Gibbs is inarguably the one person for whom last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series victory meant more than Denny Hamlin. This is simply because, until the race in Richmond, this season was nothing short of a disaster for Gibbs’ team.

However, with the win in their driver’s home state, and an overall display of strength on a general level, Joe Gibbs Racing now have some positive momentum with their eyes set on the playoffs.

But should that not happen, Denny Hamlin is ready to take the ax. Or at least so he joked. Or at least so would hope his fans.

In his post-race interview after taking the checkered flag in Richmond, the No.11 Camry driver revealed how their shape before the weekend convinced him that they were “buried.”

He said, “I went to NASCAR.com for the first time and looked (at) the standings last week. I just knew we were buried, whether you’re 32nd or 23rd, it’s like, what’s the difference?”

“I know we got a hold to dig out of, but you know, I told you guys on Saturday like, ‘Am I concerned? No,'” Hamlin continued. “Like we’re gonna be okay, we’re gonna make the playoffs so, if we don’t then he (Joe Gibbs) fire me.”

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He further added, “But instead, now I’m going to ask for a raise.”

“You always do that,” Joe Gibbs joked back.

Denny Hamlin couldn’t enjoy his hard-earned win for long

Despite registering his and his team’s first win of the season in front of his home fans, Denny Hamlin simply couldn’t enjoy the confetti falling on him in victory lane.

This is because while Denny Hamlin, the racecar driver, had just won a race, Denny Hamlin, the team owner, had to plow through frustrations about yet another disappointing result.

“On days like yesterday, I’m happy for a second, and then I look at the results like ‘WTF?’ You gotta kidding me,” Denny Hamlin told former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty after the race, “It’s frustrating I couldn’t enjoy the win very long.”