Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently shared a candid perspective on Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR career as Hamlin approaches retirement. Hamlin has surpassed 700 race starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, a milestone few drivers reach. Despite his veteran status and over 57 race wins, including a recent victory in Michigan, many had doubted his chances of further success due to his lack of a championship title.

Earnhardt Jr. highlighted that only ten drivers in NASCAR history have won races after 700 starts, placing Hamlin among legends like Richard Petty, Kevin Harvick, and Jeff Gordon. However, Earnhardt Jr. believes Hamlin has only about eight or nine wins left in his career, a number that still exceeds expectations compared to other greats at similar career stages. For example, Gordon and Harvick were thought to have only six or seven wins remaining when they reached this milestone.

Earnhardt Jr. emphasized that Hamlin must accept this “cold hard truth” about the nearing end of his winning days, suggesting that while Hamlin is still competitive, his time to add to his win tally is limited. He remarked that Hamlin likely has only six more trips to Victory Lane ahead, underscoring the reality of an imminent career wind-down.

In addition, Hamlin has openly admitted to prioritizing his own success over team dynamics, explaining that his shorter window to win pushes him to be “selfish” on the track. This mindset was evident in a risky move he made against teammate Tyler Reddick, which helped Hamlin secure the Michigan win. Hamlin acknowledges that his teammates have longer careers ahead, so he focuses on maximizing his own opportunities while he still can.

Despite these realities, Hamlin remains a significant and influential figure in NASCAR, continuing to perform at a high level and demonstrating that age is not yet a barrier to winning races. His recent performances suggest he could still reach Victory Lane in upcoming events before retiring.

In summary, Dale Earnhardt Jr. offers a realistic but respectful assessment of Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR career, recognizing his achievements while pointing out that the veteran driver faces a natural decline in wins as he approaches retirement. Hamlin’s competitive spirit and self-focused approach reflect his understanding of this phase in his career.