Denny Hamlin’s old foe in NASCAR makes bold proclamation: “Last guy to 60”

Kyle Petty, a longtime NASCAR analyst and former driver, has made the bold proclamation that Denny Hamlin will be the last driver to reach 60 Cup Series wins. This claim came in after Hamlin secured his 57th Cup Series win at Michigan (June 8).

The dynamic between Petty and Hamlin is defined by the former's role as a veteran analyst who has at times critiqued Hamlin’s racing style and strategic decisions in the past. There was an instance in 2024 where Petty publicly questioned Hamlin’s conservative approach in the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta, where Hamlin opted to stay at the back to avoid wrecks and accumulate points.

Kyle Petty has often used his podcast to discuss Hamlin’s career trajectory, playoff struggles and the broader context of NASCAR’s generational shift. He said on Kiss My Asphalt:

"Denny Hamlin continues to get it done. And yes, as I said, that top 10 who have done it, who have won races past their 700 start, only four of those guys have won over 60 races. Denny Hamlin would add himself to that list, and he would be the fifth guy. And I say that because of this. I'm going to use the word great. Denny Hamlin is one of the greatest drivers to ever sit in a Cup car."

"I don't care whether he wins a championship. I don't care what he does for the rest of his career. He's going to be a Hall of Famer. He's going to go down in history, and he may be, I say he is the last guy to 60", he added.

Denny Hamlin’s enduring brilliance in NASCAR is defined by his remarkable consistency, late-career resurgence and a record that places him among the sport’s elite. In 2025, at age 44, Hamlin has already secured three Cup Series victories including a dramatic win at Michigan.

He led at the Cup Series race only in the final laps. His latest triumph marks his 57th career Cup win leaving him just three shy of tying Kevin Harvick for the 10th spot in the all-time list. Hamlin has now achieved at least three wins in a season for the ninth time and Michigan became the 11th different track where he has won three or more Cup Series races.

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Denny Hamlin on taunting fans with iconic celebration at Michigan

Denny Hamlin celebrated his third win of the 2025 season at Michigan by playfully taunting the crowd, many of whom were booing him. He revived his iconic phrase, “I beat your favorite driver”, and added a new twist, referencing his father with, “Son knows best. Just going to have to live with it”.

Hamlin added that he had planned a celebratory burnout in turns three and four but had to cut it short because he was nearly out of fuel. He said via CupScene:

"It’s a lot of fun for me. I love making people feel a certain way. Positive or negative, I do not care. All the fans that I’ve been face to face with have been very respectful. What they say outside on the other side of the fence, free rein. Do whatever you want to do, say whatever you want to say. They’ve been very respectful in the small arena."

Hamlin also reflected on his approach to celebrating wins, noting that he previously took victories for granted and moved on too quickly. Now, he’s more intentional about enjoying the moment, especially when cheers begin to outweigh boos.