Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin has identified race restarts as his primary weakness, even after a dominant victory at the All-Star Race at Dover.
Speaking to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Hamlin acknowledged that late-race shootouts remain a significant challenge this season.
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"Speed-wise, if we're turning left and we are on an oval, we are there and we're really fast.
So, no weaknesses other than my restarts. I've got to work on that," Hamlin said.
The veteran driver noted that restart issues have cost him multiple potential victories in recent events.
Hamlin pointed to specific difficulties maintaining pace during short runs and on road courses as areas needing immediate improvement.
"That's something I have got to get better at because these races definitely come down to the shootouts at times.
Getting better in the short run, continuing to get better on the road courses," he explained.
At the AdventHealth 400 in Kansas, Hamlin led 131 of 274 laps but fell to fourth after a late caution by Cody Ware forced overtime.
"Cody Ware, six laps down, wrecking… I don't know. Just add it up," Hamlin said.
He admitted that the restart execution at Kansas allowed rivals to exploit his inside lane positioning.
"I fell for the same move that the 5 got me a couple years ago when I was on the inside.
I gotta learn from those mistakes," he stated.
