Denny Hamlin 2017 Season Recap

By Pat DeCola | Published: December 19, 2017 9

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Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished sixth in the 2017 Monster Energy Series standings. Here are the highlights from his 12th year in NASCAR’s top level.

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The year started off on a good note for Hamlin, as he and Joe Gibbs Racing announced a contract extension with FedEx just days before the Daytona 500.

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While he was consistently above average throughout the first half of the year, Hamlin didn't break into Victory Lane until the 19th race of the season at New Hampshire, where he led 54 laps en route to the win.

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In August, Hamlin and Jordan Fish announced their family had grown with the birth of their second child, Molly Gold. Hamlin and Fish also have a four-year-old daughter, Taylor.

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With the Playoffs nearing, Hamlin earned some momentum with a dominant victory at Darlington, leading 124 laps to claim the Southern 500 victory.

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Hamlin picked up some serious speed midway through the Playoffs, notching his first Coors Light Pole Award of the season for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte.

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Hamlin and Chase Elliott made headlines in the Round of 8 at Martinsville, where Hamlin moved Elliott from what would've been the sophomore's first career win, lighting a fiery feud between the two drivers.

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Elliott got his payback two weeks later at Phoenix, moving Hamlin in the late stages of the race and knocking him out of title contention.

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While out of the running for the championship, Hamlin showed he would have had the car to compete for it by winning the final Coors Light Pole of the season at Miami.