Denny Hamlin hit with back-to-back DNFs for the primary time in 12 years

It is now back-to-back DNFs for Denny Hamlin and there was completely nothing he might do to keep away from both one. Each points had been mechanical, taking him out of rivalry at Texas Motor Speedway final weekend and now Kansas Speedway on Sunday.

At Texas, the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota dramatically caught hearth earlier than the top of Stage 1 because the engine let go. However at Kansas, it was a clutch challenge plaguing Hamlin. He required a push begin from his crew each time he made a visit down the the pit lane.

However throughout a spherical of pit stops following Brad Keselowski’s race-ending crash, Hamlin’s automobile lastly gave up as they tried to get it rolling out of the field. The automobile crawled to a cease in the midst of the pit lane and wanted to be pushed behind the wall.

Including insult to harm, that pit cease ended up being the ultimate one of many race. He had virtually nursed the automobile to the very finish, finishing 199 of 267 laps. Hamlin was working in third place on the time, however completed thirty sixth within the 38-car discipline after the transaxle failed.

A uncommon expertise for Hamlin

“Yeah, I believe finally simply broke the transaxle making an attempt to go away the stall there,” mentioned Hamlin again within the storage space. “Unlucky for the Progressive Toyota crew. Actually quick once more – simply can’t maintain it collectively proper now.”

The excellent news for Hamlin is that he already has two wins this 12 months, which has him safely locked into the playoffs. However earlier than the problems at Texas and Kansas, Hamlin was having fun with a powerful run of 21 consecutive races the place he completed on the lead lap.

Moreover, back-to-back DNFs is one thing Hamlin hasn’t skilled because the 2013 season, however each of these had been resulting from race-ending wrecks (Kentucky and Daytona).

Images from Kansas – Race