Denny Hamlin 'still committed' to getting better at road course racing after COTA

Denny Hamlin and road courses haven’t been a winning combination of late. Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, Hamlin has just one top 10 finish in 16 road course starts.

His last win? August 2016 at Watkins Glen, which also happens to be his only road course victory in the NASCAR Cup Series. Though two decades into his Cup career, Hamlin is still committed to getting better on road courses, he said on Monday’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast.

“I’m still committed to getting better, though,” Hamlin said. “I really want to. There were times throughout the race where I felt competitive, like, I was catching top 10 cars. I could see them; they were coming back to me; I was running to them. Then there’s other times when it’s like, God dang, man, just hit a mark for once. It’s a shame because I actually enjoy road course driving, I just wish I was better at it.”

This past Sunday, COTA hosted the first road course race of the 2025 season. Hamlin qualified a respectable 11th but finished a career worst 21st in five races at COTA. Hamlin had a chance for a better result until Lap 78.

Denny Hamlin reveals what he texted Austin Dillon after late wreck at COTA

Battling with Austin Dillon for 20th, Hamlin ran through dirt on the road course and slammed into the No. 3 car. Hamlin took responsibility for the incident.

“As soon as I went left to pass him, I wasn’t offline or anything. But I could see the track had shit all over it,” Hamlin said. “You can’t see that until you pull out of line. I’m up his ass and we’re going through the esses. I’m like, OK, I’m going to go left here and get on the inside. As soon as I went left, I hear shit hitting the fenders. … As soon as I touched the break, over, spun out.”

Hamlin said he texted Dillon after the race to apologize. It was clear Hamlin felt remorse for what happened.

“I texted Austin and said, ‘Listen man, I apologize. I ran through shit,’” Hamlin said. “It’s no excuse, it’s still on me no matter what the circumstances, so it certainly screwed RCR over in more ways than one.”

Fortunately for Hamlin, the schedule is road course free until June 15. That is the first Cup Series race in Mexico City.