Denny Hamlin reminisces ‘Fat Chance table’ moments with Dale Earnhardt Jr. from his rookie NASCAR season

Denny Hamlin recently took a look back at his "Fat Chance table" moments with drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2006. Hamlin managed to qualify for the playoffs, formerly known as the Chase for the Nextel Cup, as a rookie in that year.

The Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota driver, who had only won two races at that time, felt the pressure going up against nine other drivers in the playoffs. Drivers like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon were in the mix with Hamlin gunning for the championship title.

“Whatever I remember about playoffs from my rookie season was being on stage with 9 other drivers who were a lot better than me. I looked around and these drivers had been in the sport for many many years, won tons of races and I at the time had won only 2 races,” Hamlin said via NASCAR’s Instagram broadcast channel.

Hamlin shared the feeling of being in the mix to win the title as a rookie, saying,

“I felt a little bit overwhelmed, you know, the playoffs went by so quick, but being on the stage at Homestead with a shot to win the championship in my rookie year, I’ll never forget that.”

“We called it the fat chance table, me, Dale Jr., and somebody else, we were off to the side but mathematically had a chance,” Hamlin added.

Hamlin may not have achieved the dream of winning the championship in his first year, but he brought home the Rookie of the Year award, beating other newcomers like Martin Truex Jr. He finished third in the standings and achieved the best points finish by any rookie since James Hylton in 1966. His first season was highlighted by two wins from sweeping Pocono.

The 2006 season saw 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson emerge on top, securing his first championship title.

---

Denny Hamlin is still competing for his first NASCAR Cup Series championship

Despite finding himself competing in the playoffs almost every year, JGR driver Denny Hamlin has yet to bag his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. The only season in which he missed the postseason was in 2013, when he suffered a back injury in a crash with former teammate Joey Logano during the final lap of the Auto Club 400 in Fontana, California.

The 43-year-old is part of an exclusive club of drivers with 50 or more wins without a championship, joining NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson. He has amassed 54 wins throughout his career, including three Daytona 500 victories in 2016, 2019, and 2020

Denny Hamlin's championship hopes are still alive (image via Imagn)

Despite his lack of a Cup Series championship, Hamlin, now in his 19th season, is content with his legacy. He believes he’s a championship-caliber driver who stands out even among other title holders.

Entering the 2024 postseason, Hamlin is currently ranked sixth in the standings with 2015 points. He has achieved three wins, six stage wins, nine top-5 finishes, and 12 top-10 finishes this season.

The first playoff race will be held at the Atlanta Motor Speedway on September 8. If Hamlin wins the championship, he will join Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliot as Series Champion drivers who have received the ROTY award.