The buildup to the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series has been fantastic for Denny Hamlin. The 43-year-old, who is looking for his maiden Cup championship, recovered from shoulder surgery in the off-season and came home to win the Clash at the Coliseum. His focus will now shift to the season-opening Daytona 500, a race he has already won on three occasions. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is seemingly in good form and the bookies favor him to win the Great American Race for the fourth time.

With more than 50 race wins to his name, Hamlin is a racer who will be considered a favorite to win at almost every single track on the calendar. However, being named a favorite and winning a race are two completely different things.

Denny Hamlin is an odds-on favorite for the 2024 Daytona 500

In the first half Clash at the Coliseum, Denny Hamlin was way off the pace. He struggled to pass cars and was rather being passed on track. It was only after his crew made adjustments to the #11 during half-time that he started to pick up the pace. Eventually, he fought off several challengers to take the checkered flag in Los Angeles.

He greeted the fans with his iconic “I beat your favorite driver” quip and even though he might not be repeating the same line at Daytona, he sure is looking forward to repeat his performance. However, his crossing the checkered flag in P1 at the Great American Race is not too unsafe a bet. According to Hard Rock Bet, the 43-year-old has the best odds at +1000 to win the race, along with reigning Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney.

These odds are always changing and they will do so by the time race day arrives. However, it is unlikely that Hamlin won’t be looked at as one of the favorites. He has a good record at the Daytona International Speedway and will be looking to bring his A game and win the first race of the season. That would put him in the playoffs immediately and there would not be too much to worry about for the rest of the regular season.

Last year, the 43-year-old explained what it takes to win the Great American Race in an interview with Sports Illustrated. Being a three-time winner of the event, few people in the Cup Series would be a better racer to answer that question.

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Joe Gibbs Racing star explains what it takes to win the Great American Race

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Hamlin boiled it down to percentages and fine margins. The Joe Gibbs Racing star admitted that there was also a degree of luck. He said that it was difficult to pass on a track like the Daytona International Speedway in the Next Gen car, especially if one finds themselves at the back of the pack. The key, however, is execution.

“It takes a lot of different facets and I’ve talked about this a lot this week, but I think that it takes three things. And the more I think about it, I think they’re all equally weighted at this point. It takes 33% luck, 33% of it is driver skill and the other 33% is execution, which is not making mistakes. Especially with this Next Gen car, it is so difficult to make it back to the front if you get to the back of the pack. I think you cannot make any mistakes on Sunday if you want to win,” he said as per Sports Illustrated.

After his Clash win, Denny Hamlin will be high on confidence and he seems to have what it takes to win the 500. Will the #11 driver be able to get the job done at the Great American Race? Let us know your thoughts.

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