Denny Hamlin makes 750th Cup start as one major career achievement still remains unfinished after two decades, 64 wins and three Daytona 500 victories

Denny Hamlin reached 750 NASCAR Cup Series starts on Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, becoming only the 15th driver in series history to hit the mark. The 45-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver has spent his entire Cup career in the No. 11 Toyota, building a record that includes 64 wins and three Daytona 500 victories. Yet the milestone also brings back the one achievement missing from his career: a Cup Series championship. Hamlin entered Bristol leading the 2026 Chase standings, but Kyle Larson moved ahead after finishing second while Hamlin placed eighth.How did Denny Hamlin reach 750 NASCAR Cup Series starts with Joe Gibbs RacingHamlin’s 750th start came nearly 21 years after his Cup debut at Kansas Speedway in October 2005. He has driven full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing since 2006, and every one of his Cup starts has come in the No. 11 car.That kind of long-term run is unusual in NASCAR. Drivers change teams, car numbers and manufacturers over the years, but Hamlin has stayed with the same organisation throughout his Cup career. His career has also stretched across major changes in NASCAR, including different car generations and changes to the championship format.The numbers show how much he has achieved during that time. Hamlin now has 64 Cup Series wins, which ranks ninth on the all-time list. He has won the Daytona 500 three times, in 2016, 2019 and 2020. He has also won the Southern 500 three times and the Coca-Cola 600 once.Bristol has also been a strong track for him. Before his 750th start, Hamlin had four Cup wins there, including three victories in the Bristol Night Race, in 2012, 2019 and 2023.His 700th start came only 50 races earlier, at Nashville Superspeedway in June 2025. He finished third that night after leading 79 laps. Reaching 750 so soon after another major milestone shows that Hamlin is still adding to his record rather than simply looking back at it.Why is Denny Hamlin’s 750th start still linked to his missing Cup championshipFor all those wins, Hamlin has never won the NASCAR Cup Series championship.That has become one of the defining parts of his career. He has reached the Championship 4 four times, in 2014, 2019, 2020 and 2021, but each season ended without the title. He also came painfully close again last year.At the 2025 season finale at Phoenix Raceway, Hamlin entered the final race with a chance to win the championship. He led late in the race, but a late caution changed the situation and he ultimately finished second in the final standings. NASCAR’s analysis noted that Hamlin has said a championship would still mean a great deal to him, even though he is already proud of what he has achieved.“It would mean a lot personally, but also if I quit today, I’m still really happy with the stats we were able to put on the stat sheet and the wins that we’ve been able to get,” Hamlin said. “It certainly would be very gratifying. But what matters to me is my dad saw me when I was at my absolute best, and that was at Phoenix last year.”Hamlin has repeatedly put himself in position to win the title, but the single-race nature of the modern Championship 4 finale has left little room for mistakes.How strong was Denny Hamlin’s 2026 NASCAR season when he reached 750 startsHamlin did not arrive at Bristol simply to celebrate a career milestone. He was still firmly in the championship fight.Before the Bristol race, Hamlin led the Chase standings after the opening two playoff races. He had four wins, 14 top-five finishes and 18 top-10 finishes through 28 races, along with an average finish of 8.6. He had also finished on the lead lap in 27 straight races, one short of Carl Edwards’ Cup Series record.His 2026 season has included another important stretch of form. NASCAR lists his most recent victory as his June win at Pocono Raceway, where he completed a run of three straight wins in a season for the first time in his career.Bristol itself did not produce another Hamlin victory. He finished eighth in his 750th start, while Joey Logano won the race and Kyle Larson finished second. Larson’s result moved him one point ahead of Hamlin in the Chase standings.That result changed the meaning of the milestone almost immediately. Hamlin reached 750 starts, but the championship fight continued with Larson now holding the points lead.What does Denny Hamlin’s future look like after 750 NASCAR Cup startsHamlin’s career is no longer only about what he does behind the wheel. He is also a co-owner of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, giving him responsibilities beyond his own No. 11 car. He has also built a major presence through his podcast, where he regularly discusses NASCAR and his own experiences in the sport.Still, his driving career is far from finished. At 45, Hamlin remains one of the leading drivers in the Cup Series, and his 2026 results show that he is still capable of competing for wins and the championship.The 750-start mark also puts his career alongside some of NASCAR’s most durable names. Hamlin became the 15th driver to reach the number, with former teammate Kyle Busch becoming the 14th last year.What comes next is therefore more important than the number itself. Hamlin has already built a career with 64 wins, three Daytona 500 victories and 750 Cup starts. The only major line still missing is the championship.For now, he still has a chance to add it.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.