It feels almost cruel how Denny Hamlin’s championship dreams keep slipping away, not from a lack of speed or talent, but from parts and pieces failing him when it matters most. Year after year, the No. 11 crew brings a car capable of winning it all, only to watch a mechanical issue derail its playoff run.

Last week, a throttle issue at Talladega turned a potential top-five result into a disappointing 24th-place finish. It’s been a frustrating theme for one of NASCAR’s most consistent stars. It’s hard not to feel a knot in your stomach when you watch Hamlin’s 2025 season unfold with such promise, only to be blindsided by another mechanical collapse, but the curse struck again at Martinsville.

Toyota trouble as engines drop at Martinsville

Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe both saw engines e

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