Securing his 4th Cup Series win of the season at Pocono Raceway last year, Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott went on to win the 2022 regular-season championship title. While the yesteryears saw the HMS star live his glory days, the 2023 season has repeatedly tested Elliott’s mettle. Yet to win a race, Chase Elliott has been eyeing a victory in hopes of grabbing a playoff spot, and what better place to turn around his luck than The Tricky Triangle?

Although Chase Elliott will be looking to repeat his Pocono victory during the upcoming Pocono 400 Cup Series race, it won’t be an easy task. 

Why, you may ask? Determined to seek redemption for last year’s events, Denny Hamlin will pose the biggest threat to the HMS star.

Denny Hamlin appears to be Chase Elliott’s biggest Pocono threat

Chase Elliott won the 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 event at Pocono, but surprisingly, he wasn’t the first to fly under the chequered flag. The HMS star actually finished the race in the 3rd spot. Joe Gibbs Racing’s #11 Denny Hamlin had won the race initially, with Kyle Busch as the runner-up.

Ecstatic to have won the race, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch were then disqualified after both their JGR machines failed post-race inspection.

This warranted NASCAR to strip the win from Hamlin, something the motorsport organization had not done in 62 years. 

Gearing up for the upcoming Pocono 400 event, Denny Hamlin will definitely seek redemption for being stripped of his win.

Adding to Chase Elliott’s woes, Hamlin is also favored as the top-best odd to win for the upcoming Pocono 400 event on Sunday. To Denny Hamlin’s credit, the JGR #11 driver has six career wins at The Tricky Triangle. If Hamlin does win the upcoming Pocono 400, he will surpass NASCAR legend, Jeff Gordon, with whom he is currently tied for the most number of wins, with six.

Watch This Story: Denny Hamlin Confesses Having A Disagreement With JGR Member After Falling Victim To HMS Star

What the future holds for Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott at Pocono, we will have to wait till Sunday to find out. In the meantime, let us dive deeper and find out what caused NASCAR to enforce the harsh punishment on Denny Hamlin.

Why was Denny Hamlin disqualified?

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Ready to depart from the Pocono Raceway, Denny Hamlin received a text message from his crew chief, Chris Gabehart, stating his #11 Toyota had failed post-race inspection. Unwrapping the vinyl from Hamlin’s machine, NASCAR officials ruled that illegal modifications had been done to the front end. 

Saddened by the development, Denny Hamlin revealed the reason behind his disqualification. “I think it was a shock to all of us, for sure; something that hadn’t been done in 60-some years.”

“I thought we had one of those Richard Petty big engines in the car or something, but not this time. It’s a piece of tape, and they were pretty consistent that that’s the way that they want it starting with this new car. I just hope that it’s consistent for everybody, no matter who wins the race,” the JGR driver said, as per NASCAR.com, during a media appearance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2022.

Read More: Denny Hamlin Divulges Why Fans Disapprove of Kyle Busch While Reacting to RCR Superstar’s Worst Weekend of the Season

Having the best odds, will Denny Hamlin finally claim his 7th Pocono career win, or will luck once again favor the HMS’ Chase Elliott?