Denny Hamlin 2016 Review
By Richard Tix
Season Grade: B
Season Preview: "After Denny's injury in 2013 it has been a slow climb back to the caliber he was at before it. Some of that was Denny, and some of that has been the season long power of JGR. In 2016 I think he continues his jump back to the old Denny once again. That means 3-4 wins, 12-14 top 5's, and 18-20 top 10's with a chance to notch his highest ever top 10 mark (currently it is 20). I do think Denny will be one of the top drivers of 2016 and will be a favorite heading into the Chase."
Season Review: Denny Hamlin made me look like a smart man (or one who can predict easy scenerios) by notching his highest top 10 amount of his career in 2016 (22). Even after a career best 22 top 10's and a career best 11.8 average finish it still seems like Hamlin had more in the tank while coming up short.
When I think about Hamlin's year it seems underwhelming like he didn't have a great year. But then, you take a look at the statistics he laid out and realize he put up some pretty decent numbers minus being a winning car each week (three wins but not always the fastest car week to week). First off, he won the 2016 Daytona 500 and put himself in the Chase after race one. Then he posted three wins, 12 top 5's, and 22 top 10's, which are solid numbers. He also ended the year with 17 top 15's and 15 top 10's in the last 18 races (which included seven top 5's and two wins).
He did all of this while enduring a ton of self inflicted pain in the form of speeding penalties (seriously, like a million penalties on pit road). I mean, has anyone had more in the last five years then Denny has?
Hamlin still missed out on Homestead at the end of the day while JGR teammates Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch advance, but Hamlin does have some building blocks to start with for next season and he can officially start his Daytona countdown. However, the rest of us can't because we do not work in NASCAR, are not part of a NASCAR team, or a driver.....
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