Dale Earnhardt Jr. has déjà vu reacting to Denny Hamlin 2025 NASCAR championship chase, continued success

Dale Earnhardt Jr. feels like he’s seen this movie before with Denny Hamlin. The 2025 season has brought another championship chase and another dominant stretch for the veteran driver, leaving Earnhardt Jr. with a sense of déjà vu.

On the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download, the two-time Daytona 500 champion put Hamlin’s sustained success into perspective. It’s clear Earnhardt Jr. is impressed with the driver Hamlin has become and what he’s accomplished over the course of his lengthy NASCAR Cup Series career.

“Denny Hamlin, there’s something we say every year, it feels like, but it’s been true — the statement hasn’t been incorrect,” Earnhardt Jr. stated. “Every year we say, ‘Man, this is his best shot.‘ What Denny’s been able to do over the last handful of seasons is be a favorite — one of the contenders — year after year after year. And literally every single year, it seems like he’s even better. You’ve got to give the guy a ton of credit.

“Right now, I think we can say, maybe for the first time, that he has the best car in the field. When we go to the racetrack and we start thinking about who’s going to be good, Denny’s always one of the top three drivers. He’s always the top Toyota. And it’s just impressive. So, can he sustain this? Can they finally get to Phoenix and get the job done? It really does feel like he’s in the best position he’s ever been in.”

Even if Hamlin isn’t the most naturally gifted driver in the garage, Earnhardt Jr. admires the way he maximizes his opportunities: “Denny will tell you — he doesn’t believe he’s the most talented race car driver. He’s said in the past that he has to work harder to be able to compete with guys who maybe just have a little more pure, raw ability,” he added.

“I don’t know if he feels that way now. He may feel like he’s the best guy out there at this point. But his work ethic and preparation, at 44 years old, allow him to compete against guys who are 8, 10, 12, even 14 years younger. He’s raced through different generations of cars.

“While that experience is valuable, there’s also some habits — not bad habits, but things you probably shouldn’t hang on to. I’ve always wondered why really great race car drivers eventually fall off. They age out, they just can’t make the speed anymore. There are a lot of reasons why that happens. There isn’t one single answer that fits everybody — everyone experiences it differently.

“But at 44 years old, you’d expect people to be asking, ‘When are we going to see time catch up with him?’ And it just hasn’t happened. He’s getting better. He’s an anomaly. … You can think what you want about him, but look at his career: he’s changed crew chiefs, he’s changed cars, he’s gone through different generations of cars, and he’s always found a way to succeed. Whatever the package is, whatever the situation, he figures it out and gets it to the top. That’s just really impressive to me.”

Whether Hamlin finally captures his first Cup Series championship remains to be seen. But for Earnhardt Jr., the fact that Hamlin continues to improve with age is remarkable in itself. Already locked into the Round of 12, Hamlin now turns his attention to Bristol — where he could easily pick up his sixth win of the season, just for good measure.