For Hamlin and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team, their current focus lies in maximizing performance at tracks where they traditionally excel and ensuring flawless execution in races where they possess winning potential.
The upcoming race at Richmond Raceway holds particular significance for Hamlin, given that it’s his home track in Virginia. With four victories and 18 top-five finishes in 34 career starts at the ¾-mile track, including a triumph in this very race two years ago, it presents a golden opportunity.
“This is the point in the season where we start hitting tracks where we consistently contend. It marks the beginning of that phase in our schedule,” remarked Hamlin on Saturday. “After six races, we have a clear understanding of our strengths and weaknesses. Now, it’s about capitalizing on tracks like Richmond where we’re always in contention. It’s all about execution rather than sheer speed, though we have that too. We need to ensure we execute flawlessly.”
Hamlin’s track record speaks volumes about his ability to compete at the highest level regularly. His recent win at Bristol has already secured his playoff berth, placing him fourth in the series standings with the most laps led (275).
“Credit goes to my pit crew this year; they’ve been exceptional. Our speed feels as strong as ever,” he noted. “Despite not always finishing in the top-five, we’re consistently running there. I’m quite optimistic about our performance.”
Starting 11th in Sunday’s race, Hamlin narrowly missed advancing to the final round of Saturday’s qualifying. However, history suggests starting position isn’t a decisive factor for him at Richmond, with two of his four wins coming from 13th place or worse.
“I’m eagerly anticipating this race. I’ve been looking forward to it all week to gauge our performance,” he expressed. “Given our recent track record at Richmond, along with JGR’s strong history here, and the momentum our cars have, I’m confident. Hopefully, we can leverage that momentum to gain that extra edge we’ve demonstrated recently.”