Denny Hamlin’s promising weekend at Martinsville Speedway took a disappointing turn as engine troubles derailed his race on October 29, 2023. After qualifying in the top five and finishing second in practice, Hamlin’s performance faltered during the final stage of the race when mechanical failures forced him and his teammate, Chase Briscoe, to retire from the competition.
Briscoe was the first to encounter difficulties, experiencing engine issues and coasting down the frontstretch on Lap 296 while running in 14th position. Less than 40 laps later, Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota also succumbed to engine failure, producing smoke while he was contending for second place. Additionally, Riley Herbst faced similar challenges in the No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota.
Despite the setbacks, both Hamlin and Briscoe had already secured their spots in the Championship 4, giving their teams crucial time to resolve the issues before the upcoming race in Phoenix. Hamlin, visibly disappointed after exiting his vehicle, reflected on the unexpected engine failure: “I felt like we were in a good spot there, where we just started to close back in on (Ryan) Blaney. We got the track position we needed. I didn’t feel anything; it was running, and then it was just no noises, no sounds, no indication. I decelerated into Turn 1, and it just shut off.”
Hamlin expressed his concern over the mechanical issues but remained focused on the bigger picture, stating, “I’m obviously concerned about the mechanical problems, but there’s obviously nothing I can do about it. We’ll live with it, and hopefully we’ll get back next week, and we are just going to have to see how it goes. I’m confident in the speed that we’ll have next week.”
The driver emphasized that the failure occurred suddenly, leaving no warning signs. He acknowledged the challenge ahead but maintained optimism about his team’s ability to perform in Phoenix. Hamlin also recognized a positive aspect of the race, noting that Goodyear’s left-side tire experiment forced drivers to adapt their strategies, leading to competitive racing as the track gained rubber.
Mechanical issues have plagued Hamlin throughout the postseason. Just one race prior at Talladega, he dealt with a throttle problem caused by debris, which necessitated an extended pit stop and relegated him to a 24th-place finish. Fortunately, his earlier victory in Las Vegas secured his position for the playoff finale, but the continued reliability concerns remain troubling.
Earlier in the playoffs at Kansas, Hamlin narrowly lost to Chase Elliott after a controversial maneuver that involved pinching his teammate, Bubba Wallace, into the wall, which hindered his speed. He also faced a power-steering failure and a sluggish pit stop during that race. This season’s pattern has been haunting, as last year at Martinsville, a stuck throttle in practice eliminated his chance to compete for the Championship 4.
As he prepares for Phoenix, Hamlin is acutely aware that the margin for error has narrowed. The reliability of his vehicle will be critical as he aims to secure his title hopes and contend for victory in the championship race.
