NASCAR CUP SERIES: HOLLYWOOD CASINO 400

September 27, 2026

Denny Hamlin

Victory Lane Interview

Q. Denny Hamlin comes home in the third position. Really you were averaging a running position of third to fifth all day. What kept this from being an exceptional day? It was a great day, but what kept it from being exceptional?

DENNY HAMLIN: Winning. That's the only difference. Just didn't quite have it today. Just was hanging around. We could be really good in the long run, but the short run, you know, the 5 was really good, 2 was good. We just couldn't quite, you know, hold those guys off or keep them close enough in the short run.

Obviously at the end there ran a lot down, but just not enough time and track position. Obviously gained a few spots there at the end. Overall just that's kind of what we had. Third-place car, driver, and everything today.

Q. And the points gap widens. You're still second, but now minus 26. Does this feel like the first real threat to you being able to win a title?

DENNY HAMLIN: I mean, there's always been a threat. I haven't won it before, so I just feel like we're still in it, still really close. You know, we just got to continue to put together days like this, and we also got to win. We got to win a few races between now and the end of the year.