AVONDALE, Ariz. — Denny Hamlin is no stranger to the Championship 4, but this is a different version of the Virginia native who will fight for the title for the first time in the Gen 7 era.
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So how exactly is 44-year-old Hamlin different than the man who reached the Championship 4 in 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2014? How is he different than the version who competed for championships before the elimination era began?
"I would say overall just a lot looser," Hamlin said during Championship 4 Media Day. "Certainly just living this week to week. I've said it quite a bit, but just trying to count wins.
"If you try to start the year and say, We're going to win the championship, you got to work this thing backwards. It's very hard to work this sport backwards from the result to the execution of the result.
"I just have been very week to week on how do I win the weekend. Obviously winning the most races confirms that's the right approach. It's allowed me to be looser with it, not chase points as much or anything like that. Just capitalize on the week that we can win. Had some good results."
Hamlin has remained vocal about wanting to hit a certain number of wins before retirement. He pointed to 60 as the big number, which would put him into a tie with Kevin Harvick for the 10th-most in Cup Series history.
This season, in particular, Hamlin continued to point to this wins goal instead of the championship. Yes, his desire to join the list of NASCAR Cup Series champions remained, but it became less of a focus than hitting 60 wins.
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Hamlin certainly achieved his goal this season. He led the series with six wins. His 60th win, in particular, locked him into the Championship 4 for the first time since the 2021 season. Now, he has the chance to close out a meaningful season.
This is significant considering that when Hamlin announced his contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing, he acknowledged that he likely only had two years remaining before he exited the No. 11 Toyota.
"I think kind of solidifying, too, the end of my career, when that will be, it allows me to kind of timeline this thing out," Hamlin added. "Just kind of puts me kind of at ease about when the end is, then how am I going to accomplish the goals I want to from now to that point.
"One big mark obviously was getting to win 60. I didn't think I would get to it this year. Yeah, now you just got to move the bar to a little different spot."
This new version of Hamlin has helped him check off one major career goal. Now, he has the opportunity to go out and check off another at Phoenix Raceway.
This will not be easy considering the level of competition Hamlin will face. Fellow Championship 4 drivers Chase Briscoe, Kyle Larson, and William Byron have all won races at Phoenix Raceway. Larson has a Cup Series title on his resume.
Hamlin and his team will have to deliver a perfect performance and avoid mechanical issues. If they can pull it off, he will potentially have the chance to hold the most important trophy in NASCAR.
This is something the new version of Hamlin will certainly appreciate after he has fallen short several times before.
"It's cliché, but definitely true that the losses make you appreciate the wins more," Hamlin said. "Over the 700-some starts I've had in this series, I've certainly lost a ton more than what I've won.
"I've had opportunities to win championships. It's not happened. That's been a failed mission. If and when it does happen, it absolutely will be more gratifying."
