The only driver that has been able to go win-for-win with NASCAR Cup Series driver standings leader Kevin Harvick this season is Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin. Both Hamlin and Harvick lead the series in wins in 2020 with four each, but Hamlin is focused on snapping that tie this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway; not only getting his fifth win of 2020 but also defending his victory in this event last season.
The Virginian is currently sixth in driver standings 122 markers behind Kevin Harvick in the standings lead but has the series-most Playoff points (23) at this point in the season. In 17 starts this year, he has stockpiled four wins (Daytona 500, Darlington, Homestead, Pocono), nine top fives and 10 top 10s.
Digging into the numbers, Texas Motor Speedway has been a feast-or-famine type track for Denny Hamlin, who in 28 starts has three wins (2010 sweep, 2019), seven top fives and 13 top 10s. What is deceiving by those stats is he only has one DNF at Texas in his career but in his last six starts he has a win, a third-place finish and four finishes outside the top-25. It either goes really well for Hamlin in Texas or really poorly.
