Denny Hamlin rolled out of New Hampshire’s Mobil 1 301 more as a bystander than a frontrunner, the roar of engines a stark reminder of what could’ve been. Hovering in the top-10 for much of the race, he never broke free from the pack, finishing a distant 12th as Team Penske’s Fords owned the day, leading over 90% of the laps.

The race wasn’t without drama, either. In Stage 2, Hamlin tangled with teammate Ty Gibbs while scrapping for 11th, a tussle that ended with Gibbs spinning into the wall and out of the race. It was a gritty effort from Hamlin, but Loudon laid bare Joe Gibbs Racing’s struggles against Penske’s relentless speed, leaving Hamlin to dissect where JGR is falling short in their championship chase.

The day stung for Hamlin, who’s been chasing that elusive Cup title for years

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